Nigeria: NIMASA Finishes Auditing of Local Ships

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has conducted an audit of available ships and their capacity in the country in anticipation of their active involvement in the lifting of petroleum products and other cargoes presently being dominated by foreign shipowners.

President Goodluck Jonathan has emphasized the fact that local operators should be incorporated as soon as possible.

A number of meetings have been held between NIMASA and the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) after what certain decisions were reached. All activities directed towards making local operators benefit from shipping business in the country and assisting them in getting better vessels to meet the requirement of oil companies are underway.

NIMASA will facilitate the process of owning vessels and get them the jobs what greatly depends on a dialogue with the oil companies.

President Jonathan added that the agency has entered into consultation with the major oil companies to come up with the modalities for the incorporation of local operators.

However, the issue of piracy is still unresolved and local shipowners should be careful with accepting vessel chartering proposals.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, December 16, 2011; Image: NIMASA