Nigerian Port State Control (PSC) officers have been adjudged one of the best three in the whole of region next to South Africa and followed by Togo.
This commendation was given by the immediate past Secretary General of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control for West and Central Africa, Mrs Mfon Usoro at a forum in Lagos last week.
Mrs Usoro said that Nigeria has the largest number of port state control officers who are qualified and who do their jobs.
In regards to other countries of the sub-region, she said the Abuja MoU had received several complaints that have to do with un-professional conduct of port state officers in those countries. She however stressed that none of the complaints emanated from Nigeria.
Port State Control (PSC) is vital to efficient port operations worldwide. It is the inspection of foreign ships in other national ports by PSC officers or inspectors. The purpose of the inspection is to verify the competency of the master and officers on board, and the condition of the ship and its equipment to ensure they comply with the requirements of international conventions.
The Abuja MoU is hosted, and largely funded by Nigeria with its secretariat in Lagos.
However, speaking at the event last week, the former scribe of the Abuja MoU said: “In terms of our port state control, that is the foreign vessels that berth at our ports, Nigeria is one of the best three in the sub-region, from Albania to South-Africa”
“We normally receive complaints from ship owners, shipping companies on the non-professional attitudes of port control officers, none of these complaints come from Nigeria, it is a good thing”
“We have not received any complaints from any shipping companies against Nigerian port state control officers” Usoro stated
According to her, among the most compliant countries of the sub-region, South Africa comes first, Nigeria comes second and followed by Togo.
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