Cabotage implementation: NIMASA introduces new compliance strategy

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it had introduced new Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS) for a successful coastal and inland trade regime. The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, made this known in a statement issued by Mr Isichei Osamgbi, the agency’s Head, Corporate Communications, in Lagos. Peterside said that NIMASA came up with the facility to secure jobs for qualified Nigerians in the maritime sector.

He said that with the NCCS regime, NIMASA would no longer consider applications for grant of waiver on manning for prescribed categories of officers in vessels engaged in cabotage trade. “The era of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are qualified for in the maritime sector is over. The NCCS will point a new direction to our cabotage regime as the agency will no longer consider application for grant of waiver on manning requirements for vessels engaged in coastal trade. This is with regards to 2nd officer, 2nd engineer, 2nd mate, down to able seamen, ratings and stewards,” he said.

In his words “the era of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are qualified for in the maritime sector is over. The NCCS will point a new direction to our Cabotage regime as the Agency will no longer consider application for grant of waiver on manning requirements for vessels engaged in coastal trade with regards to 2nd officer, 2nd engineer, 2nd mate down to able seamen, ratings and stewards”.

The NIMASA DG also pointed out that special applications for Captains, Chief Engineers, Chief Officers, First Mate in the absence of qualified Nigerians shall be considered on merit, but on the condition that such organization will make a plan to train a Nigerian and put in place a transition plan to ensure that the Nigerian takes over the job within one year. He said that the whole essence of this was to ensure that Nigerians are not deprived of the jobs due them on showing requisite qualifications for the job. Dr. Peterside used the opportunity to assure stakeholders that the Agency will continue to work closely with them, adding that NIMASA will continue to support and promote indigenous participation in the Nigerian maritime sector.

The NIMASA DG also called on all relevant government Agencies and International Oil Companies (IOCs) to collaborate with the Agency in order to harness the opportunities available in the nation’s maritime space. It may be recalled that at various fora Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that NIMASA remains committed to all the ideals that will help grow the maritime sector and he has continued to engage in all sorts of collaborative meetings both locally and internationally, all geared towards the realization of a virile maritime sector.