NIMASA targets 100% compliance in ISPS Code as USCG set to rate ports

Three years and nine months after the Federal Government appointed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as the Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code in Nigeria, the nation’s level of compliance to the provisions of code has grown significantly.

ISPS code, a convention of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), contains set of measures for achieving international security and also prescribes responsibilities to government authorities, port authorities, shipping companies and seafarers operating in seaports.
The Code, which was aimed at fighting terrorism, was also drafted after the historic September 11 terrorist attack on the twin towers in the United States of America (USA), showing that international security was at stake.
To ensure effective implementation of the Code, the US Coast Guard (USCG) carry out routine assessment of port facilities of various maritime nations especially, countries that have bi-literal trade relations with US, which helps them to certify the eligibility of ships bringing export cargoes from the originating countries, to have access into US ports.
Recall that before NIMASA was designated to implement the Code in May 2013, there were less than 10 port facilities in Nigeria that had effective anti-terrorism measures and this forced the USCG to therefore place Nigerian ships on Port Security Advisory, and accordingly, Conditions of Entry (COE) were imposed on vessels originating from non-compliant ports in Nigeria to be subjected to further security checks, before being allowed into US.
According to the diplomatic note given to Nigeria at that time, “the COE are not trade sanctions and do not ban Nigerian ships from entering US Ports but it requires ships to take certain security measures while at non-exempt Nigerian ports facilities. It deals only with ships departing Nigerian ports that were destined for the United States”.
Apparently due to pressures mounted on Nigeria at that time, NIMASA went all out to exercise its powers as the DA by shutting down port facilities that refused to comply with the stipulations of the Code as mandated by IMO.
Consequently, facilities such as the Magcobar Manufacturing Limited jetty in Port Harcourt; the Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited Jetty at Ibafon and Shoreline Logistics Limited in Calabar among several other facilities were shut down at one point, which compelled them to comply.
As Nigeria waits for another assessment and rating by USCG, industry close watchers believed that the story however, has changed in the positive direction and that Nigeria will have better rating as the number of port facilities that now comply with the Code, grew tremendously.
“NIMASA is solely responsible for promoting indigenous shipping and ensuring maritime safety and security on the nation’s waterways, I believe that the agency is presently working towards making Nigeria safe for business and a hub of maritime activity in Africa,” said Adewale Ishola, a master mariner.
In terms of ISPS Code implementation, he said that the agency has proven to have the capacity to not only ensure that the nation’s port facilities complies with the provisions of the Code, but also guarantees safety of ships on the nation’s maritime domain.
Speaking recently in Port Harcourt, Dakuku Peterside, the director-general of NIMASA said the compliance level of Nigerian Port facilities has moved from nine percent to 79 percent at the end of 2016, which will help to upscale Nigeria’s rating to becoming one of the top four nations in Africa.
The NIMASA boss, who assured that the agency was prepared for the coming of the United States of America Coast Guards for reassessment of Nigeria’s seaports facilities in April 2017, said that Nigeria is determined to be rated as one of the countries that have achieved 90 percent in compliance.
“With our increasing security rating, more investors have been attracted into Nigeria’s maritime sector. This has helped in boosting the Federal Government’s revenue profile. Our worry is that though we have increased our naira revenue, but our dollar earnings get lower due to depreciating naira value.”
Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, assured USCG of the country’s commitment to full implementation of the code and safeguarding the maritime domain. “NIMASA has performed creditably well by moving the compliance level from nine percent in 2013 to 79.3 percent in 2016.”
The Minister also requested the US government to review the COE earlier placed on vessels that have called some port facilities in Nigeria which were not compliant with the code saying that over 80 percent of those facilities have since complied with the code and needed to be removed for the list.
NIMASA determination goes beyond complying with the stipulations of the Code to involve fight against the menace of pirate attacks and other related criminalities on the waterways. In doing this, the agency says it’s in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and the navy authorities other neighbouring countries of Togo, Cameroon and Benin Republic to curb piracy.
The Nigerian Navy uses aerial surveillance system to survey the nation’s coastal waters, which enables it to view every ships coming and leaving Nigerian maritime domain. On the other hand, the collaboration with other countries enables information sharing especially in the event of any suspected attack on ships.
To give legal backing to the war against piracy, we have prepared an Anti-Piracy Bill, which would expect the National Assembly to pass it into law, which is going to be the first in Africa. It has passed through the Ministry of Justice and will be an Executive Bill.

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie