NMA Tackles Shipping Firms on Safety Rules
By Francis Ugwoke
Shipping firms which have not taken serious the issue of security may have itself to blame as the National Maritime Authority (NMA) has begun a clampdown on vessels violating safety rules on the nation's territorial waters.
The authority, it was gathered has been directed by the Ministry of Transport to bring to book any shipping company that has not obeyed the rules and regulations governing international shipping.
It was in compliance with this directive that the Authority early this week announced the barring of two ships from operating in the country's territorial waters.
The regulatory body in a statement early in the week said that , MV Red Pelican and MV Ibom will remain barred from further operations in the Nigerian waters until their owners conform to security standards on ships.
The owners were asked to submit their security plans for approval by the Transport Minister before they will be allowed to operate.
Part of ensuring safety of vessels on the nation's waters include the notice to all shipping firms which have ships and wrecks that have been abandoned for years to remove them within 30 days.
This is contained in a new maritime safety guidelines introduced by the regulatory body to ensure safety at sea.
Warning of the consequence of failing to remove the wrecks, the NMA also expressed displeaure that shipping firms had ignored its pleas on the issue of finding a safer place for abandoned vessels.
Head of Corporate Affiars, Dr. Illiyasu Dhacko explained that the new safety guidelines were inevitable as ships and ship wrecks have continued to constitute threat to users of the country's coastal and inland waterways as well as normal port operations.
Similarly, the Authority requested shipowners to enter into agreement with seamen engaged in any sea operation, warning that it will no longer tolerate a situtation in which seamen were engaged onboard without the approval of the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office.
As part of the guidelines, ship owners were equally expected to dry dock ships at least two times in a period of five years while the interval between any two dry docks shall not be more than three years.
The Authority also directed ship owners to invite a surveyor of the administration for survey of the vessel to be dry docked as a matter of procedure, and added that such vessels mustobtain a Dry Dock Certificate to prove sea worthiness to avoid embarrassment of intangible dry docking evidences.
The guideline stated that all ships shall henceforth carry a Safety Management Certificate (SMC) issued by the administration after due documentation carried out by a recognised organisation.
The ship shall also be operated by a company holding a Document of Compliance duly issued by the administation, a copy of which shall be permanently placed on board, the guidelines said.
This requirement, the authority explained was in accordance with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code required for the issuance and renewal of vessels satutory certificates.
For the issuance of internationally accepted certificates confirming sea worthiness, the Authority said it has delegated such functions to recognised Classification Societies except on the issue of Safety Equipment certificates, safety radio certificates and minimum safe manning certificate.
According to the guidelines, owners and operators of ships of the category 500 GT and above were to obtain necessary classification and certification within a time limit of three months or be sanctioned.
Similarly, for new construction of ships, specifications and plans shall be submitted to the authority for approval prior to the beginning of the work.
As part of the compliance with the safety standards, the regulatory body said that two vessels, MV Red Pelican and MV Ibom have been barred from further operations in the Nigerian waters until their owners conform to security standards on ships.
The owners were asked to submit their security plans for approval by the Transport Minister before they will be allowed to operate.
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