NIMASA domesticates 5 IMO laws to improve safety of ships at sea

Determined to improve the safety of ships calling the nation’s seaports, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has taken a major step towards concluding the process of domesticating five International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) regulatory instruments with the submission of the instrument of assent in London recently.

The instruments include the Safety of Lives at Sea Protocol 1988 (as amended); the Marine Pollution MARPOL Protocol of 1997; the Protocol of 2005 to the Suppression of Unlawful Acts (SUA) Convention 1988; Protocol of 1988 to the SUA Convention Against Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf and the Protocol of 1988 to the International Convention on Load Lines. This was achieved through the collaboration of NIMASA being the focal point of all IMO conventions in Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMOT).

In statement signed by Isichei Osamgbi, deputy director and head Public Relations and sent to BusinessDay, Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, the Nigerian high commissioner and permanent representative to the IMO, presented the instruments to Koji Sekimizu, the IMO Secretary-General, on behalf of the Nigerian Government.

Tafida stated that the submission was borne out of the desire of the Federal Government to curb the menace of piracy and promote shipping activities in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea in line with international best practices.

On his part, Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, the director general of NIMASA, who was represented by Bala Agaba, the executive director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, said that with the submission of the instrument of assent, the Agency was obliged to enforce the provisions of the conventions to the letter, not only on flag ships but also on Port State Administration.

“Nigeria will now domesticate and gazette these instruments, which will provide the basis to develop guidelines on the implementation of the conventions and protocols,” he assured.

Stating that Nigeria is not only highly placed, but also occupies a strategic position in world shipping business, the NIMASA boss said the signing of these instruments will therefore mark a turning point in the fight against piracy, pollution prevention and control as well as load line convention on the ship standards.