Godfrey Bivbere
5 January 2009
In a bid to ensure compliance to the International Maritime Organisattion (IMO) convention on the phasing out of Single Hull Tankers, the Nigerian government is working out modalities to beat the 2010 deadline of the international body.To this end, the nation through its apex maritime regulatory agency, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), is partnering with indigenous ship owners under the aegis of Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) to ensure that the country beats the deadline.
The agency in a meeting with ISAN in Lagos, a joint technical committee to harmonise the modalities for the implementation of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, Regulation 13G which borders on the Phase-out of Single Hull Tankers from Nigerian waters, was constituted.
According to a statement signed by the agency's Head of Public Relations, Hajie Lami Tumaka and made available to Vanguard, the 10-man Committee with five (5) members each from NIMASA and ISAN was inaugurated shortly after the meeting with a mandate to resolve grey areas in the implementation of the IMO, Regulation 13G which borders on the Phase-out of Single Hull Tankers. The committee is expected to submit its report within six weeks.
The Director-General of NIMASA Dr. Ade Dosunmu restated his commitment to consultation in the implementation of local and international policies in the Nigerian maritime sector.
According to him, this is to ensure that regulatory policies are effectively implemented in Nigerian waters, without necessarily jeopardising the interest of indigenous operators. In the Director-General's words,"I believe that it is imperative for us to work together and critically examine the implications of the deadline date for implementing the phase out of single hull tankers in our country and draw up a programme for its effective implementation."
In his response, the Chairman of ISAN, Chief Isaac Jolapamo commended the NIMASA DG for scheduling the meeting which he believed would go a long way in ensuring the protection of the interests of indigenous operators in the Nigerian maritime sector bearing in mind the stiff competition provided by foreign companies in Nigeria.
The agency had in line with Nigeria's obligation under the MARPOL 73/78 Convention on the phasing out of Single Hull Tankers issued a deadline of 2010 as the final phase-out date. This had prompted a rejoinder from ISAN requesting NIMASA to employ the Condition Assesment Scheme System (CASS) to enable Nigeria Flagged Single Hull Tankers operate till 2015 or to enable the 25 years age limit as provided by IMO for vessels on foreign trade amongst other demands.
The shift to tankers with double hulls is in line with IMO's determination to reduce pollution incidents to the barest minimum and ensure cleaner oceans and the safety of navigation, cardinal objectives for which the organisation was established.
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