The Nigerian Association of Masters Mariners (NAMM) has stated that payment of Secured Anchorage Fee is a misnormal and against international Conventions and Law of the Seas.
Speaking on Monday during a press briefing in Lagos, the president of the association: Capt. Tajudeen Alao who spoke on various factors inhibiting the maritime industry, stated that it is abnormal for ships to pay for protection at the Anchorage, adding that it is the responsibility of coastal states to provide succuor, protection and safe passage for ships at no cost.
According to him "What we do in international shipping is regulated by United Nations Conventions on Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS) and under the relevant section of UNCLOS, it is the duty of a flag state who is a member state of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) responsibility to I nternational community to provide succour, safety, security management of the enviroment, search and rescue for ships that are going through your coastal waters including innocent passage.
"And as a nation, when ships are passing through your port, you have the responsibility to welcome that ship and ensure that they are not attacked and there by ensuring that they have a safe anchorage at no cost. And this is one of the responsibility of a coastal state. People must not provide security for themselves its against International laws." he said.
You will recall that the National Assembly recently gave a verdict that Ocean Marine Solution Limited (OMSL) a private firm providing security for ships at anchorage should continue its services at the anchorage, after being asked to stop working by Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). The Senate has said the firm should continue its service at the anchorage since it does not add any extra cost to the government.
However while reacting to the statement of the Senate, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu a member of the association faulted the claims by the Senate, as he said the payment for secure anchorage has a direct effect on goods coming into the country and as such add up to the cost of goods and services in the country.
He added that many of the shipping companies are tolerating Nigeria as a result of the big market, but when it comes to where decisions should be taken at International level, the country will be jettisoned, due to the abnormalies going on in the country's maritime domain.
"People can tolerate us and pay such huge money because we are a big market, but when it comes to maritime circle where we go and ask to be members of category C it is then people will begin to mock us, section 17 of UNCLOS says that coastal states must provide facilities including Anchorage",he stated.
On the recent announcement of the Minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Ameachi, that the Cabotage VesselFinancing Fund (CVFF) has got approval for disbursement by the presidency, the association commended the government for the courage to disburse the CVFF for coastal trade.
The association however urged the government to ensure that the fund is disbursed to the right people.
According to the president of the association "we want to commend the government for the courage to disburse the CVFF, it means the government has woken up and they must not forget that the CVFF is for coastal trade.
"And we would want the government to engage the right people in the disbursement, we want government to give the money to serious industry players that will make the industry grow and not potmanto shipping companies who will spring up because they have heard that there is money some where", he said.
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