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IMO Rules: Forum Seeks Compliance by Local Firms
By Francis Ugwoke, 12.06.2004
The need for Nigerian shipping companies to comply with the regulations of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on security of their ships has been advocated. In a communique issued at the weekend after a two-day seminar on Cabotage Law and the Oil & Gas Industry, participants noted that most of the IMO rules were to safeguard lives at sea and that compliance with such rules were desirable. One of the rules, International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code is aimed at ensuring that ships and ports introduce security plans to check any acts of security threat on board vessels or within seaports. Participants at the seminar who noted that Nigeria does not exist in isolation from the rest of the shipping world maintained that cabotage ships must comply with IMO regulations for safety. Apart from this, Nigeria will also comply with the IMO regulations on phasing out of single hull vessels currently going on in Europe. The move to phase out single hull vessels followed the MT Prestige tanker accident about two years ago leading to loss of large quantity of crude oil and the spillage caused by the incident. The communiqué also called on stakeholders and operators in the maritime and oil and gas sector to muster the will and commitment to ensure the successful implementation of the Cabotage Act by resolving to face the challenges and overcome difficulties inherent in the implementation of the new regime. Other highlights of the Communique issued by the General Manager, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr. Phillip Chukwu, Director-General of the National Maritime Authority (NMA), Arch. Ferdinand Agu and Principal Counsel, Uche Nwokedi & Co. , Mr. Uche Nwokedi include the need to train cabotage law enforcement officers with clearly defined roles. The seminar also called on the Federal Government to grant customs duty waiver on imported vessels, shipbuilding and vessel spares imports, as part of the fiscal incentives to develop the cabotage sub-sector. Other highlights of the communique which participants demanded from the Federal Government include the review of NPA charges for purposes of cabotage compliance, tax and fiscal incentives; •ensure that all petroleum product imports which are destined for Lagos should form part of the cabotage cargo whenever part of it is to be carried to other places within the country; •maintain pioneer status for Nigeria flagged vessels; •ensure that the training of vessels operations personnel are carried out not only at the Maritime Academy, Oron, but also on board vessel and should include DP and AHTS Captains; • ensure that the NMA takes urgent step to ensure the functionality of shipyards in Nigeria. The stakeholders were also required to develop world-class centres of shipping excellence in the area of ship building, manpower development and provision of ancillary services.
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