NIMASA DG wants marine surveyors not to compromise their duties for safer maritime industry

Funso Olojo, Calabar

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh,has advised marine surveyors in the industry to shun any form of compromise in the discharge of their duties but embrace integrity and professionalism that will enhance maritime safety.

Dr Jamoh gave the advice Wednesday in Calabar, Cross-Rivers State while declaring open a two- day Marine Surveyors meeting/ workshop.

The NIMASA DG, who was represented by Engr. Olu Aladenusi, Head of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, noted that marine surveyors both from the flag and classification 
societies etc. form an important part of the fundamental resources 
required to ensure the sustenance of maritime safety and 
environmental protection within the industry.

“As you focus on conducting effective flag and port state inspections within the provisions of our enabling Acts, Regulations. Guidelines,I encourage you 
all to always demonstrate undiluted integrity and professionalism, 
avoid unreasonable compromise and encourage practical knowledge transfer and appropriate mentorship/succession planning within the marine surveying profession” 

“It is crucial for us to remind ourselves that International Shipping has remained a highly competitive and profit driven business that needs 
to always comply with safety and environmental protection standards. 

“Maritime safety standards must always be adhered to and there 
should be no compromise from ships, seafarers, vessel managers or operators etc. 

“Maritime safety standards must always be adequately 
considered from the design stages of a vessel, to the construction 
stages, the competency of seafarers manning the vessels and down to operational stages and also in the decommissioning stage of the vessel”

“We should always ensure we work with integrity and endeavor to
improve the quality of our surveys by applying available technologies.

“Our collective determination and the way we go about our 
inspection/survey activities must earn us a positive image globally. 

“We all have a mandate to promote safe, secure and reliable shipping, 
so let us do it together.

Dr Jamoh warned that without credible and integrity- driven flag and port state inspections, “companies may want 
to operate their ships at levels below the internationally acceptable standards and this, we all know could have unredeemable 
consequences, such as; equipment failure, loss of lives, fatalities and 
even massive marine pollution amongst others” 

“To avoid such unredeemable consequences, an effective maritime safety administration is highly necessary to attain and maintain accepted standards”

He however commended the marine surveyors for sustaining the conduct of ship inspection/ survey in accordance with maritime safety standards as well as the digitization of  processes to promote sustainability, 
accountability and professionalism.

He noted that the importance of the workshop which he said allign with the NIMASA drive to 
actualize the maritime safety arm of the agency’ s tripod-S management strategy (Maritime Safety, Security and Shipping Development) which 
is currently boosting the growth of the Nigerian maritime industry.

The NIMASA DG therefore assured  the marine surveyors of the agency’s continued support to  perform their duties effectively.

“I would like to mention that the current management will continually strive to build the required technical capacity to meet the Agency’s maritime regulatory obligations in order to make our waterways safe 
and devoid of pollutants from vessels.

He asked the surveyors to therefore take advantage of this opportunity by continually working with the agency’s Training Unit in 
achieving this feat.

Meanwhile, the Head of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, Olu Aladenusi expressed  hope that participating surveyors at the workshop  will find the 
technical sessions highly valuable in implementing their port and flag state duties. 

“I am also sure that the interactive 
sessions and shared experiences will be most rewarding as we continuously strive to improve Nigeria’s maritime safety regime.


Mr Shehu Ahmed, Executive Director , Marine Operations  disclosed that the technical forum of marine surveyors was last held in 
July, 2021 during the COVID 19 era. 

He noted that Nigeria as a nation accounts for a significant volume of domestic shipping activities and seaborne trade within the
West African Region. 

“Our nation is and has remained 
potentially a great maritime nation. 

“The Nigerian maritime domain also has a lot of offshore activities via the operation of FPSOs, FSOs, FSUs and other specialized offshore vessels with some of these vessels currently ageing and operating beyond the design 
life span.

“Surveyors must endeavour to have adequate regulatory frameworks for key maritime related subject matters and 
ensure they work within appropriate enabling laws and regulations. 

“For effective Flag and Port State Control, relevant IMO Conventions must be ratified and an efficient Maritime Safety Administration capable of discharging its 
responsibilities as a Safety Administration is very 
pertinent. 

“Presently, this dispensation has sustained the 
drive to domesticate all ratified conventions and the enabling Acts that empowers us to regulate the maritime industry are currently in the National Assembly, which some of us are aware of.
 
“As a Safety Administration, we will continue to put structures in place to effectively regulate the maritime industry and also build capacity, digitize our processes and engage with our stakeholders

“The gains of this workshop to all delegates here will make remarkable impact in our maritime safety domain and this
will usher us into a new era for socio economic growth and 
development within the maritime sector” he declared.