NIMASA seals three oil jetties over safety defects

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has sealed three oil firms.

They were sealed for poor compliance with the provisions of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) code.

The facilities are Heyden Petroleum Jetty, Index Petroleum Oil Jetty, Waziri Jetty operated by Hemsmor Nigeria Limited, NIPCO in Lagos, and the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Petroleum, Warri, Delta State.

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.

It was developed in response to the perceived threats to ships and port facilities in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

NIMASA’s Head of the ISPS Code Unit, Captain Elei Green Igbogi, said the affected jetties were given adequate notice to correct the identified anomalies.

He added that they failed to meet the conditions; hence the agency had no other option, but to seal the facilities until they meet the minimum standards.

Igbogi explained that the sealed facilities had also failed to implement physical and operational security measures in their premises.

This, he said poses great danger to the ships that call at their jetties and their facilities.

“In addition to this, they have also failed to pay fines imposed on them,” he stated.