The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is unhappy that Africa is not on the world’s shipowners’ list.
To NIMASA,it is not good that no carrier from the continent is on the list.
As a way out, the agency plans to develop a ship tonnage growth strategy and promote best practices to attract vessels in the nation’s ship registry.
In a message to the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) Conference at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, NIMASA Director-General Dr Dakuku Peterside said African governments and maritime administrators must develop ship tonnage strategy and practices to attract more vessels in African Ship Registry (ASR) to boost their economies.
NIMASA, he said, was considering an approach that would address low tonnage and Nigeria’s inability to compete in global maritime trade.
NIMASA’s Director for Special Duties Hajia Lami Tumaka, led Nigeria’s delegation to the confrence.
In AAMA Chairman’s report, covering 2017 and 2018, exclusively obtained by The Nation, the Executive Council resolved that Maritime Administrations (MARADS) should:
consider training and capacity building in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) of fisheries activities;
collaborate with relevant institutions to build capacity in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of fisheries management and fishing activities in African waters;
enhance Africa’s Maritime surveillance for the benefit of ship management safety and security;
strengthen collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAQ) on enforcement of Port State Control guidelines on shipping activities; and
development of Near Coastal Trading Certification and Competency Code to foster Economic cooperation between Maritime Administrations.
The Executive Council also considered the concept note presented by the Abuja MOU, which stated the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-Keeping for Seafarers (STCW) I978, set minimum standards for training, certification and watch-keeping for seafarers that member states are obliged to meet, or exceed.
It also considered the work undertaken by the secretariat in developing Near Coastal Trading Certification and Competency Code to be adopted to foster economic cooperation among maritime administrations.
The General Assembly is expected to consider other areas of interest designed to address enhancement of maritime pollution prevention and control to ensure protection of marine environment.
The Executive Council noted with concern the role of MARADS in enhancing maritime pollution prevention and control, to ensure protection of maritime infrastructure. It urged maritime administrations to ratify and domesticate relevant IMO instruments on marine pollution, prevention and control which, if fully implemented, would help achieve the drive towards a sustainable use of the African ocean and seas.
