Maritime operators adopt alternative dispute resolution strategy

Operators in the maritime sector have adopted new strategies to provide efficient alternatives for dispute resolution of maritime disputes in Nigeria through of arbitration proceedings and other viable methods.

President, Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Omogbai Omoeboh, yesterday said the group is at the verge of gathering members that are ready, willing and able to serve as arbitrators of disputes arising in businesses involving all aspects of maritime, energy and related activities.

Speaking during the official visit of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Omoeboh said the council is committed to ensuring that MAAN maintains internationally accepted standards and best practices with local expertise.

“MAAN is borne out of the essential need to offer Nigeria as an alternative resource and venue following recent developments in the industry and the growing cost of arbitration in foreign countries and the pressure on the litigation system to deliver timely solutions.

“It is a membership organization open to industry practitioners; service providers; consumers of arbitration services and all stakeholders at large,” he said.

Omoeboh also said the group aims to become a worldwide recognized leader in commercial maritime dispute resolution by supporting and facilitating domestic and international arbitration and promoting Nigeria as a venue for the settlement of maritime disputes through arbitration and ADR.

Chairman of STOAN, Princess Vicky Haastrup, applauded the use of arbitration, mediation and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in settling commercial disputes in the maritime industry.

Haastrup expressed believe that resolving maritime industry disputes through ADR will be much faster and less acrimonious than litigation.

“I am happy to note that we have competent persons who can handle arbitration in Nigeria. I will encourage the use of arbitration as much as possible because it has significant advantages over litigation in court, such as party control of the process, typically lower cost and shorter time to resolution, flexibility and privacy,” she said.