Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — In a bid to ensure that Nigerian trained seafarers gets engaged after their training by countries in need of sea faring services, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has commenced moves to enter into bilateral agreements with other countries with to recognizing and accepting the Certificate of Competency, CoC issued to Nigerian sailprs.
Speaking at the flag off of the third phase of the National Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP, in Lagos, Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh said that the Agency was working on signing bilateral agreements with some countries to facilitate greater recognition and acceptance of the country’s seafarers as well as optimisation of the benefits of the programme.
Jamoh also said that with this latest phase, the country was set for a better, more innovative maritime manpower development experience.
He said, “NSDP-3 brings our maritime manpower development strategy to the next level. It is a complete package, which offers the cadets everything they need to qualify as seafarers, from shore-based training, to sea time training, and attainment of Certificate of Competency, CoC.
“TheAgency was working on signing bilateral agreements with some countries to facilitate greater recognition and acceptance of the country’s seafarers as well as optimisation of the benefits of the programme.
“To prepare ourselves for the coming opportunities, the Agency will make concerted efforts to sign bi-lateral agreements of mutual recognition of Certificate of Competency to open opportunities for Nigerian seafarers to work locally and internationally.
“The Agency was working on signing bilateral agreements with some countries to facilitate greater recognition and acceptance of the country’s seafarers as well as optimisation of the benefits of the programme.
“We are working with industry experts to ensure that our Maritime Education and Training (MET) meets international standards.”
