*Collaborate with NIMASA to strengthen Nigerian Ship Registry
Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — THE management of the shipping arm of the Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, NLNG Ship Management Limited has given reason for having its vessels registered in the Nigerian Ship Registry but in the Bermudian Ship Registry.
Disclosing this at the weekend, Managing Director of NSML, Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed said that non of the NLNG-NSML vessels are Nigerian flagged as the acquisition of the vessels were through international funding adding that there are also conditions tied to funding these acquisitions.
Ahmed also said that the Bonny Gas Transport Company BGT vessels are registered in Bermuda
NSML boss explained that the flagging or registration of vessels in Nigeria is a desire of the shipping arm of the NLNG but that regulation and other factors to make that work in Nigeria must be in place such that it also must be internationally accepted.
He stated that the financiers of these vessels insist that these vessels must be flagged in an internationally accepted Ship Registry recognized by Lloyds listed flag state.
He said; “There is a reason for not having these vessels registered in Nigeria and that is because the financials of these vessels give condition and some of the condition is to ensure that these vessels are flagged in internationally recognized Lloyds listed Ship Registries.
“That the sailors that will crew the vessels have trainings that are of international standard and from maritime institutions whose certificate are also accepted worldwide.
“We are collaborating with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to building and developing capacity for the regulatory agency in Nigeria to ensure that its Registry is recognized and accepted, it is work in progress.
“Most importantly is for shipping companies is that what you want is for your vessels to be accepted everywhere they go
“The flagging of vessels in Nigeria is a desire, it is an objective, it is a national objective and we at NMSL are happy to key into that but it requires a lot of work, it requires all hands to be on deck to ensure that we work together to build that agency where the Nigerian flag will be accepted internationally.
“We are working together with all the stakeholders to ensure that we actually achieve that goal. It is a process that has started and we believe that with the current management of NIMASA, we have started discussions and a body has been set up on the Nigerian Flag and we are contributing to that.”