NSML, NIMASA domesticate international maritime skill sets

As part of moves to domesticate international maritime skill sets, the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), in collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has put forward 50 cadets for an enlarged international shipping career.

The group is the first set of 50 cadets to be trained for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) in the United Kingdom. The CoC is the final stage of training which leads to the acquisition of the CoC license and opens the global doors of employment opportunities for the cadets.

Speaking at the NIMASA Romania Cadets Induction Programme in Lagos, the Managing Director, NSML Abdulkadir Ahmed, said: “This is an important occasion for us in NSML because it touches the purpose of the company, which is domesticating international maritime skill sets.”

According to him, NSML was set up as a shipping and marine services arm of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG). Disclosing that before setting up of the company, all LNG vessels were managed offshore, he said: “The setting up of NSML was around creating a platform where we can bring those skill sets locally, domesticating and getting Nigerians to participate in technical management, crew and operations of LNG vessels.

“Over the years, NSML has evolved from a purely managing entity. Now, we are into integrated marine services. We do not only manage LNG vessels, we equally manage LPG vessels and crew them.

“We have attained 85 per cent Nigerianisation which means our vessels are managed by Nigerians,” he stated. Also, the Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Bashir Jamoh, applauded NSML for supporting local capacity development in the shipping sector.

Jamoh, represented by the Director, Special Duties, NIMASA, Isiche Osamgbi, said: “Two batches of Nigerian Seafarers Development (NSDP) cadets were offered admission in Romania and more than 97 per cent of the cadets trained in the school have completed their academic requirements and were awarded bachelor degrees.”

He described the batch of 50 is the first batch of cadets for the CoC, stating that many other batches are being prepared to complete their training with NSML.

He said over 150 NSDP Romanian cadets have completed their onboard mandatory seatime training and are ready to proceed for the Certificate of Competence training and examination. He assured that the NIMASA agreement with NSML will go a long way to ensure that all the backlog of Romanian cadets awaiting CoC are cleared.

The General Manager, Human Resources, NLNG, Bamitale Erinle, urged the cadets to make the best of the opportunities that presents itself, assuring that NSML will continue to support them to get to the peak.

The Head of the South Shields Marine School, England, Christopher Grey, expressed her pleasure in the partnership with NSML and NIMASA, hoping to receive the cadets soonest.

The Manager, Maritime Centre of Excellence, Dr Effiong Ekanemata, said the training programme takes between 12-14 months, adding that the cadets will be attending the South Shields Marine School, (Tyne Coast College) in England which is regarded as one of the best marine training schools in the world.