Business

NIMASA automates ship registration verification

From Anthony Nwachukwu,Lagos

The Nigerian Maritime Administration andSafety Agency (NIMASA) said it has embedded in its new Ship RegistryCertificates the quick response codes (QR Codes) to enable ship owners,stakeholders and regulatory enforcement officers verify the validity of thecertificates.

   It has also commenced theenforcement of full compliance with the marine environment protection statutoryrequirements and documentation on local and foreign-flagged vessels operatingwithin the nation’s maritime domain.

   This is pursuant to theagency’s statutory mandate to implement all provisions on marine environmentprotection and documentation as enshrined in the International Convention forthe Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), 1973, the Merchant ShippingAct, 2007, and the NIMASA Act 2007.

   To this end, all shipowners and operators are now required by law to update their vesseldocumentations, including all permits or exemptions, levies, record books andplan approvals.

   Being a pre-condition forfurther processing of any vessel or company requests, NIMASA said it wouldsanction operators who do not comply with the relevant requirements.

   According to NIMASADirector-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, effective application of environmentalprotection regulations in the maritime domain is crucial to Nigeria’s quest foreconomic development.

   He stated the agency’sinterest in bringing relevant stakeholders on board to facilitate a sound andseamless certification and marine environment protection regime.

   “We are deliberate,methodical and strategic in the enforcement of the environmental protectionrequirements as they relate to our own laws and international regulations thatwe accede to,” NIMASA Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edward,quoted Jamoh to say.

   “A well protected marineenvironment guarantees investors’ confidence, which is a basic necessity forthe maximisation and optimisation of our rich maritime endowments. This touchesdirectly on the country’s economic diversification and sustainable developmentdrive.”

   He added: “We areenthroning a sound and sustainable marine environment protection system thatserves the interests of both the country and the operators, and necessary stepshave been taken to ensure we have stakeholders on the same page.”

   Meanwhile, Jamoh noted thatfor the electronic verification of certificates, the agency “has adoptedtechnology to guarantee more security for our documents and give stakeholdersand the international shipping community greater confidence in our services.”

   Also, the Registrar ofShips, Mrs. Nneka Obiayor, disclosed that

“safety and security of ships as well asease of doing business are the uppermost priority in the design andimplementation of the electronic verification of our newly-introduced ShipRegistry Certificates.

   “With a blend of technologyand creativity, we have introduced new features intended to make our shipregistration certificates more secure and easier to process.”

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