The maritime industry has been described as a data driven one which requires access to adequate information for its effective regulation and the implementation of relevant instruments.
This assertion was made by the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside while rounding off the Management’s tour of the operations and facilities of the Agency in the Eastern Zone in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside who commended the Coordinator and staff of the Eastern Zonal Operations for maintaining a good data profile also noted that the Agency is committed to accessing the most relevant data for the effective implementation and enforcement of its mandate.
The DG said that the Agency has upgraded its subscription of the Lloyds List Intelligence to a full bouquet which is beyond the previous capacity of the Sea Searcher and that this will guarantee unfettered access to the most current data in the industry.
According to him, “this industry we are regulating is a data driven industry. You can see that we are working very hard everyday to improve the volume and value of the data at our disposal. We used to have Lloyds List Intelligence which was restricted to Sea Searcher but now we have upgraded our subscription to a full bouquet of all the data and statistics that is available at Lloyds. Right now we do not only have access to wet cargo data and dry cargo data but the historical analysis is also available to us”.
Dr. Peterside further noted that there are other benefits that the Agency and indeed the Nigerian maritime industry will benefit from arising from the upgrade of the Lloyds subscription.
The DG also said that the Agency has increased the number of personnel with access to information emanating from the maritime domain awareness assets of the Agency, particularly the Satellite Surveillance Facility.
“And so in terms of data, in the days ahead it is obvious that our people will have access to so much data that no operator or operative in the industry will be able to short change NIMASA in our regulatory and enforcement drive” Dr. Peterside affirmed.
While noting that the Eastern Zonal operating area of the Agency seem to be the hotbed of piracy and other related crimes at sea, the DG said that the acquisition and deployment of operational vessels coupled with the Lloyds List Intelligence, the Agency’s Satellite Surveillance system and the collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, the successes already achieved in tackling the menace will be consolidated to eliminate criminality in Nigerian waters.
He also said that with access to data and the availability of operating platforms, the Agency will henceforth place more emphasis on the enforcement of its mandate on off shore platforms including Floating Production, Storage and Offloading facilities (FPSOs), rigs and a network of pipelines.
Dr. Peterside reiterated Management’s commitment to staff welfare and the provision of a conducive working environment noting that the human resources are the Agency’s greatest assets.
The DG was accompanied on the tour of the facilities and operations of the Eastern Zone by the Executive Director Operations, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Ahmed Gambo as well as some top Management staff of the Agency.
