By Anozie Egole
The Nigerian Chamber of Shipping has urged the United States to train officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency on the Port State Control regime in the nation.
The President of NCS, Aminu Umar, made this call in Lagos on Thursday when he hosted the maritime advisor to the United States Consulate, Lagos, Lieutenant Commander Patrick Moon, and Economic Adviser, Ms Jordan LaChance.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Umar encouraged the team to have an engagement with the Nigerian government regulatory agencies to train them on PSC.
He added that the United States has one of the best PSC practices in the world.
He said, “We encouraged the US team to have an engagement with the Nigerian government regulatory agencies to train them on PSC because the US has one of the best PSC practices in the world.
“Nigeria can learn from them and NCS will like to facilitate this move. We support this partnership and we will be available to assist in deliberations anytime we are called upon.”
Umar, who is also the chief executive of Sea Transport Services Nigeria Limited, noted that the chamber would like to see the US team avail NIMASA the requisite training.
He said the training would enable the agency to attain global standards, especially on the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code implementation which was discussed when the US Coast Guards visited NIMASA headquarters recently.
Umar promised to engage NIMASA on strengthening their collaboration with the US team.
Moon, said that the Nigerian maritime industry was actively involved in ensuring safe and secure shipping in an international business that affected people around the world.
“One of the reasons the US Coast Guard was asked to come to Nigeria is to provide that connection and greater understanding between the maritime industry and regulators in Nigeria with the US mission,” he said.
Source: The Punch
