BY: DG/CEO NIMASA
DR. DAKUKU ADOL PETERSIDE
BACKGROUND
In order to remain focused on our mandates, the Agency in its entirety adopted a new VISION, MISSION and CORE VALUES, which is to serve as a compass towards realizing our goals of making Nigerian maritime sector a hub in Africa.
As we know the MEDIA are the gatekeepers, hence the need to keep you abreast of all our activities so that through you, the public can be enlightened about our resolve as an Agency to achieve a robust and business friendly maritime domain in Nigeria.
OUR VISION AND MISSION
OUR VISION:
To be the leading Maritime Administration in Africa advancing Nigeria’s Global Maritime Goals.
OUR MISSION:
To achieve and sustain safe, secure shipping, cleaner oceans and enhanced maritime capacity in line with best global practices towards Nigeria’s economic development.
OUR CORE VALUES
Abbreviated as CAPITEL-D which entails:
Commitment
Accountability
Professionalism
Integrity
Teamwork
Excellence
Leadership
Discipline
INTRODUCTION
It is remarkable to note that the past three years have been very eventful for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
After appointment of the new Executive Management of the Agency, the team understood the critical need for overall reform in the Agency to break away from the old ways of doing things and conform to the mantra of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), which required a new and purposeful start for Nigeria in all sectors of our national economy.
Beginning with a quick Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP), in alignment with the programme of the Federal Government, the NIMASA Executive Management has initiated series of management performance briefings and critical reform intervention sessions, where the priority actions to put the Agency on a path of sustainable growth to impact the maritime industry as well as promote and ensure overall development of the sector were taken.
REVIEW OF NIMASA BENCHMARK FREIGHT RATES
Within the period, the Agency reviewed freight rates benchmark for 3% levy billing. The review was done to reflect prevailing realities in shipping based on the request by operators. The significance of the new benchmark is that it has fostered harmonious regulator-operator relationship.
Also, the review brought about positive trends in the industry leading to more patronage. So far, in 2018, total cargo throughput (January-June) is 96,626,737.96 MTs / CBM showing 31.24% increase from the cargo throughput of same period in 2017 which stood at 73,628,546.62 MTs/CBM
SPECIAL INTEREST RATE AND INTERVENTION FUND FOR VESSEL ACQUISITION AND ANCILLIARY TRANSACTIONS
The Agency is working on a special forex intervention for vessel parts acquisition and loan repayment processes to enable indigenous operators to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts. We have approached the Central Bank of Nigeria and a Committee has already been set up to work out modality to implement the policy.
SHIPPING DEVELOPMENT
Reduction of Transaction Time from 72 Hours to 12 Hours for Dry Cargo/RORO and MANIFESTS to 6 Hours for WET/GAS & BULK HOMOGENOUS DRY CARGO.
Development of a software that issues Ship Identification Number at the Manifest desk to prevent double entry and double billing.
Improved communication with stakeholders through dedicated electronic channel
CHANGE OF TRADE TERMS FROM FOB TO CIF
Since we started the clamor for a change of terms of trade from Free on Board (FOB) to Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) term of trade for the affreightment of Nigerian crude oil cargo, more stakeholders are now better informed.
We have approached the NNPC and a team has been put together by both organizations to review and come up with modalities for implementation.
CABOTAGE
Increase in indigenous participation on Cabotage vessels Manning, Ownership Building and Registration as a result of Zero Tolerance on Granting Manning Waivers.
Introduction of Electronic Software for Vessels Monitoring and Investigation.
Improved interface with the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) leading to a harmonized marine vessel categorization standards to deliver a common data base.
Increased Port State and Flag State inspections have led to significant reduction of sub-standard vessels on our waters.
The number of Nigerian Seafarers placed onboard vessels from January to June this year (2018) is 2,337 representing a 58.9% increase in the number of seafarers employed.
We have also witnessed an increase in total number of wholly Nigerian owned vessels on the Nigerian Cabotage register. Half year result shows 125 vessels registered representing a 33% increase when compared with the 94 registered in the corresponding period in 2017.
Introduced the New Cabotage Compliance Strategy.
VESSELS OWNED BY NIGERIANS: A total of 125 vessels were registered in 2018 as against 94 vessels in 2017, which is an increase of 33%.
VESSELS MANNED BY NIGERIANS: A total of 2,840 Nigerian officers and ratings were recommended to be placed onboard Cabotage Vessels in 2018 as against 1,789 Nigerian seafarers in the same period in 2017 which reflects an increase of 58%.
NSDP:
243 graduates and 1600 cadets at various stages of completion of the programme, 887 of which are ready for sea-time training. We are currently tackling the issue of sea time head-on; via full sponsorship.
FULL SPONSORSHIP OF SEATIME BY NIMASA: 150 cadets have commenced their on-board Sea Time training in phase 1
, while another group of 89 cadets are now onboard training vessels facilitated by the South Tyneside College, UK, making a total of 239 cadets in the first phase of this programme.
IN HOUSE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
As part of the succession plan of the current leadership of the Agency, an in-house knowledge transfer session was introduced where the professionals in the employ of the Agency trains the younger officers in order to impact more knowledge about the sector to them. NIMASA is raising a generation of thorough bred professionals and I make bold to say that NIMASA is a knowledge based organisation, hence we can say, the future is bright for the Nigerian maritime sector.
To give a boost to our in-house capacity, we have also entered into partnership with the World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden in a four-year renewable Memorandum of Understanding setting out the areas of cooperation between WMU and NIMASA. The MoU covers academic collaborative and reciprocal activities in the field of education, training, research and other areas of capacity-building to be provided by WMU to NIMASA.
NSURVEY, INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME
Under our Survey, Inspection & Certification Transformation Programme, Certificate of Competency CoC examinations were conducted at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron leading to the issuance of different categories of CoCs to successful candidates. In 2017 alone, NIMASA issued 3,752 certificates to successful seafarers. Representing a 149 % increase from the CoCs issued in 2016
We are also enjoying the confidence of stakeholders as they now willingly verify certificates with us without prompt. A total of 1,880 certificates were authenticated for stakeholders in 2017 alone, a significant rise when compared to the 1013 CoCs verified in 2016.
SURVEILLANCE AND PATROL OF MARITIME DOMAIN
Fast intervention security vessels the Agency leased under the maritime security strategy project is making impact. Port State inspections rose by 10.53 % in 2017 moving up from 475 in 2016 to 525 in 2017. Flag State inspections are also experiencing an upswing from 77 in 2016 up to 98 in 2017 representing an increase of 27% and it’s sure to increase by the end of 2018.
IMO MEMBER STATE AUDIT SCHEME
International Maritime Organization, IMO are in Nigeria to conduct the IMO Member State Audit Scheme, IMSAS, which was made mandatory for all member states since December 2013.
When the IMO conducted same IMSAS Audit for Nigeria in 2016, the identified gaps to ensure we meet our obligations and responsibilities as Flag and Port State Administration were corrected and we decided once again to open our doors to the IMO for audit.
MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS FOR EFFECTIVE COMLIANCE ENFORCEMENT
The Agency has been able to establish a satellite surveillance control and command center that has a coverage of up to 312 nautical miles from coast line (approximately 100 nautical miles off our EEZ). The system can detect vessels with AIS transponders switched off as a synthetic aperture raider (SAR images which can be interrogated) immediately by near – point of sight patrol / enforcement boats.
The Agency secured the reactivation of the maritime domain awareness capability. This has enabled effective enforcement of regulations. Our surveillance system enables us to ensure the preservation of Cabotage Trade for indigenous operators by identifying and differentiating Ship-To-Ship (STS) operations that take place at the secured anchorage and offshore locations from Cabotage Trade to avoid foreign domination in Cabotage trade under the guise of STS.
In the last six months, a total of 1,685 tanker operations were captured by the Satellite Surveillance System. Of these operations, 284 were carried out at the anchorage area through lightering. Effectively, through surveillance guided enforcement operations, the 284 tankers that were lightened at the anchorage were hindered from participating in Cabotage Operations.
This has impacted positively on Cabotage trade creating room for more local participation. This was not the case in 2017 when we could not separate between anchorage operations and Cabotage trade with high likelihood of 532 international vessels proceeding on Cabotage trade after lightering operations at the anchorage.
NIGERIAN MARITIME INDUSTRY FORECAST:
The Nigerian Maritime Industry Forecast for 2018 and 2019 which is the first of its kind in the sector is intended to serve as a compass for local and international stakeholders willing to do business in the Nigeria maritime domain. It is part of the initiatives of the current Management of NIMASA aimed at realizing a robust and virile maritime industry in Nigeria.
NIGERIAN MARITIME INDUSTRY FORECAST:
The forecast period 2018-2019 covers a time of continuous recovery from recession, to the 2019 general elections and finally culminates in the post-election era. Also, the forecast intends to review developments in the Nigerian maritime Industry in 2017, expected international and local developments in policy and regulatory environment for the maritime sector in 2018 and 2019 and also emerging opportunities and challenges with implications for the Maritime Industry
AAMA:
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen; members of the Association of African Maritime Administration AAMA are scheduled to converge in Egypt for the 4th Conference of the Association.
From the 3rd conference, where I was elected Chairman of the association, we have been able to launch Africa as a united front to demand for a better structure of the global maritime trade.
It is my belief that Africa would continue to move forward under this period.
ARRIVAL OF NIMASA FLOATING DOCK
NIMASA has taken delivery of the modular floating dockyard, considered to be the 5th largest on the African continent.
This Dockyard will save the Federal Government of Nigeria, at least, 100 million dollars annually. This will be direct savings from the dry docking of vessels operating in Nigeria, which are mostly done outside the country.
NIMASA exploring a PPP arrangement to manage the facility.
The dockyard will be available for training cadets/ undergraduates.
PICTURE OF THE NIMASA FLOATING DOCK
THE NIMASA FLOATING DOCK
