The Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE), operated by the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), has secured international certification from the United Kingdom (UK) Nautical Institute to enhance Nigeria’s global maritime training capacity and competitiveness of Nigerian seafarers.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed, announced the achievement during a press conference in Lagos yesterday, said the achievement would strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global maritime industry and affirms the competitiveness of the country’s standard of training and expertise.

Ahmed explained that internationally recognised certifications would improve the employability and mobility of Nigerian maritime professionals, enabling them to access opportunities across global shipping fleets and offshore operations.

He added that the certification would also reduce reliance on foreign training institutions while supporting local capacity development and reinforcing safety, professionalism and operational readiness within the maritime sector.
Ahmed disclosed that the license by the UK Nautical Institute would enable MCOE deliver key Dynamic Positioning (DP) programmes, including induction, simulator, revalidation and vessel maintenance courses.

He added that the facility is currently the only institute in West Africa with this level of Nautical Institute accreditation for DP training.

“Maritime operations demand discipline, technical competence and continuous learning. The certifications obtained by the MCOE affirm that the professionals trained here meet high international expectations in performance, safety and operational readiness,” he said.

He noted that the certification validates the quality and international relevance of training programmes offered by the MCOE – etablished as a hub for maritime training, research and competence development.

According to him, the centre serves maritime professionals from Nigeria, West Africa and beyond, adding that the facility is equipped with advanced simulators and modern training infrastructure designed to support the continuous professional development of seafarers and other maritime personnel through a growing portfolio of mandatory and specialised courses.

“This latest certification from the UK Nautical Institute is a strong validation of the quality, rigour and relevance of the training delivered at the Centre. It confirms that the MCOE meets internationally accepted standards for competence development and operational excellence,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed noted that the certification builds on previous accreditations already secured by the centre, including certifications from DNV under the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and the DNV-ST-0029 standards for Maritime Simulator and Training Centres.

The NSML boss further revealed that the centre offers a range of specialised courses accredited by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), covering areas such as Gas Tanker Operations, Dynamic Positioning, Human Element Leadership and Management, Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), and High Voltage Training at both operational and management levels.

Beyond the maritime industry, Ahmed noted that a stronger and more skilled workforce would contribute to trade, shipping, offshore operations and the growth of Nigeria’s blue economy, creating jobs and enhancing national competitiveness.

Ahmed attributed the success to sustained investment in infrastructure, curriculum development, instructor capacity and quality assurance systems, stressing that the goal was to build a true centre of excellence capable of meeting global standards.

Looking ahead, he said NSML remained committed to further strengthening the centre, expanding access to maritime training for young Nigerians and deepening partnerships that align with international best practices.

He said the company’s ambition is clearly to build a maritime institution in Nigeria that is respected across the global maritime community.