Adelanwa Bamgboye
5 January 2009
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) have set up a joint technical committee to harmonize modalities for the implementation of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) regulation 13G which borders on the Phase-out of single hull tankers from Nigerian waters.
The Committee was set up at a meeting between the Management of NIMASA and Executive members of the Association led by its Chairman, Chief Isaac Jolapamo which took place in Lagos.
The 10-man Committee with five 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 and 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 jeopardizing the interest of indigenous operators.
He said, "I believe 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 remarks, the Chairman of ISAN, Chief Isaac Jolapamo commended the NIMASA DG for calling 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 Phase-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 Assessment 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 organization was established
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