Marine Surveyors, Boat Operators Tackle NIMASA Over  Water Craft Policy

The Centre for Marine Surveyors in Nigeria and the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBWATON) have set up a committee to tackle the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency over  the new policy on water crafts.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos yesterday, President of the Centre, Engr Adebambo Ademiluyi told newsmen that NIMASA needed  to explain the Marine Notice it issued with regards to the kind of boat engine they want on the waterways.

Both groups also wondered why NIMASA will want to refer them to the Office of the National Security Adviser before the purchase of boat engine.

Recall that NIMASA recently published a Marine Notice to intimate boat operators of the change of boat engines permissible on the nation’s waters.

Ademiluyi said that the Committee would  study the Notice that NIMASA has sent out to stakeholders in the water transport sector.

The  committees terms of reference , according to Ademiluyi are to look at the definition of boats and small crafts, the laws governing their usage on safety, certification of the crafts and education of practitioners on safety.

He explained that the Centre would try to create an enabling  atmosphere between the operators and the regulators so both parties will understand each and resolve the issues at stake.

SImialrly, the General Secretary of ATBWATON, Mr. Kolade Adesiyan who admitted sighting  the Marine Notice from NIMASA said that the group has been making moves to meet with the agency.

“We saw the Marine Notice and we have been trying to reach the management of NIMASA to come and explain certain aspects of the Notice to us. We want to know the measures the agency wants to use for the registration of the 200 horse power engines. I think what they (NIMASA) want  to do is to curtail the activities of sea pirates in the country but what we expected them to do is have consulted stakeholders for suggestions before churning out a marine notice.” He said.

On the involvement of the office of the NSA, Adesiyan said that boat operators were yet to come to terms with that.

“It will be very cumbersome for us to go to the NSA before buying engines to operate our businesses.”