As the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has concluded plans to phase out single hull tanker vessels by December 2020, the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has said that the action is long overdue.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily last week in Apapa, the president of NAMM, Captain Tajudeen Alao explained that the association is totally in support of the decision by the nation’s apex maritime regulatory agency, adding that there have been awareness campaign in that regards for a long time.
“We are totally in support; this is in line with IMO convention. There have been Marine Notice from Government Inspector of Shipping to this effect since 2002, followed by the then- National Maritime Authority notice and awareness campaign to the industry”
Alao nevertheless said that the country is 15years behind in the global plan to phase-out single hull tanker vessels, adding that ship owners have been given enough time to comply.
He also advised that safety should always be given preferential considerations more than commercial gains.
“And since over five years, ago, NIMASA has been putting restrictions on expiry dates on renewal of certificate of registry of Nigerian-flagged ships. The law is clear, enforcement as per responsibility of flag state, we are 15 years behind phase out. Ship owners have been given enough time, commercial implications, there should always be safety above commercial considerations”
“There are many double hull vessels older than 25 years on international waters, shipping is international. Will you continue to allow rickety vessels on your road at the expense of safety of life and property? Nobody will insure these categories of vessels again”, he said.
Also speaking a master mariner, Captain Adewale Ishola reiterated that there should not be any implications, adding that NIMASA has given ship owners enough time to get prepared.
“NIMASA gave ship owners five years to get prepared for that. Because single hull tankers have been phased out internationally since 2015. So the agency gave ship owners five years to prepare for that and that grace period expires this year. It is an international law which will be enforced by NIMASA because it has already been phased out since 2015. So ship owners should try and comply with the directive from NIMASA”, he concluded.
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