The commencement of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMAS) in electronic registration of sailors is to intensify the reliability of database for seafarers in Nigeria.
The Head of Public Relations department of the agency, Mr. Osage Edward, Director General of the NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, signed a statement that says that one of the cardinal principles of the Cabotage regime is the localization of manning of vessels operating in Nigeria waters.
NIMASA ensured the placement of Nigerian seafarers on board Cabotage Vessels accordance with its placement function and provisions of the Cabotage Act, 2023 says Jimoh, he added that Cabotage manning applications are now processed on the condition that all foreign crew, especial ratings, onboard vessels are to be replaced with Nigerian seafarers/cadets within two-three weeks of operations,
He expressed how: “NIMASA under the current administration has placed 3,705 seafarers onboard Cabotage vessels in the year 2021, while 7,238 seafarers were placed in 2022 and 1,013 placed in 2023 (Jan – July). Overall, a total of 11,956 Nigerian seafarers have been placed onboard Cabotage vessels from January-2021 to July- 2023.
“Registration and Documentation becomes digitalized as the invention of the e-registration platform will enable online and real-time registration of maritime labour (seafarers & dockworkers), maritime labour employers (shipping companies, manning/crewing agents, stevedoring companies, jetties/terminals operators) and operators (bonded terminals, inland container deports, off dock terminals, dry ports offshore platforms) in Nigeria;
“It is worthwhile to mention that the maritime labour E-registration platform is a robust integrated information, verification and communication facility that provides real-time information on maritime labour registration processes and operaions as well as enables the online registration and verification of documents, and the issuance of operational licenses timely.
“The platform is also meant to serve as a database from which statistics can be extrapolated for national planning, policy formulation, human and infrastructural development and research purposes. NIMASA is in the process to host the E-registration platform on the Agency website.
“Furthermore, 3,219 and 3,619 seafarers were registered in the years 2021 and 2022 respectively with 1176 registered in the year 2023 (Jan-July).
”In the same vein, 24 MLC, 2006 certificates were issued in the year 2021, 49 MLC, 2006 certificates issued in the year 2022 and 63 MLC, 2006 certificates have been issued in the year 2023 (Jan-July). Thus, a total of 8,014seafarers have been registered from 2021 to 2023 (Jan-July) and 136 MLC, 2006 certificates issued after inspections within the same years.
“Additionally, 65 stevedoring companies, 26 terminal/jetty operators and 1,395 dockworkers have been registered from 2021 to 2023 (Jan-July).”
