…As NIMASA Unveils High-Tech Registration Certificate
….Stakeholders Pledge Support for Automation
L-R: MD/CEO Elshcon Nig. Ltd, Dr Emi Mebere; Vice Chairman CoT Leasing Plc, Mr Emeka Ndu; Member, Governing Council Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, Mr. Mina Oforiokuma; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Engr. Emmanuel Ilori; and the 1ST Vice President Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) Mr Jonah Williams; during an Interactive Session on the automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry with Ship Owners in Lagos, recently
In a bid to have a world-class Ship Registry and enhance the Ease of Doing Business in the maritime sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has concluded plans to set up an automated ship registration process through online and electronic procedure.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, stated this recently in Lagos at an interactive session with ship owners.
The forum discussed how to improve the quality of the Nigerian Ship Register, with stakeholders promising to support the initiative. They specifically pledged to fund the ship registration automation process.
Dakuku told the stakeholders that the Agency had acquired software licence for the automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry, which is rated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as the second largest in Africa, by tonnage, after Liberia, and 46th in the world. He said automation was the only way to boost the worth of the registry and quicken business processes.
According to the DG, “Our principal aim is to achieve online electronic registration, accept electronic copies of documents and issue electronic certificates. Our goal as a Maritime Safety Administration is to create a world class Ship Registry, which will be attractive to shipowners with the aim of maintaining the influence of Nigeria in evolving international commercial and regulatory environment for shipping.”
The Director-General also highlighted the effort the Agency had made to secure an internationally competitive ship registry for the country, which include auditing the register of Nigerian vessels, redesigning and producing new ship registry certificates, and automation of the ship registry. Others are upgrade of the ship registry filing facility, review of ship registration guidelines, and ISO 9001: 2015 Certification.
The DG called on stakeholders to assist the Agency’s new computerisation initiative
L-R: Former President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Mr Greg Ogbeifun; Executive Director, Operations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Engr. Rotimi Fashakin; Chairperson, Ship Owners Forum, Mrs Margaret Orakwusi; Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Executive Director, Finance & Administration, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; display samples of the new high-tech ship registration certificates by NIMASA during an Interactive Session on the automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry with Ship Owners in Lagos, recently.
In his presentation on background and development of ship registration, a governing council member of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Mina Oforiokuma noted that technically, Nigeria’s registry was the largest in Africa.
Oforiokuma said this was based on the fact that Liberia operated an open registry, domiciled in the United States of America. More so, most of the vessels registered in Nigeria trade in Africa, he stated.
Speaking also, the Chairman of the Ship Registry Committee, Engr. Emmanuel Ilori, urged NIMASA to set clear timelines for the administrative process of ship registration and put in place precise change in flag instructions.
The high-point of the event was the unveiling of the new high-tech ship registration certificates, which comes in various categories namely; Certificate of Nigeria Registry; Certificate of Nigeria Registry (provisional); Nigeria Certificate of Registry (Fishing Vessel); Nigeria Certificate of Registry (Fishing Vessel Provisional). Others are Nigeria Certificate of Registry (Bare Boar Charter Vessel) and Certificate of Nigeria Ship Registry (Cabotage).
