Two weeks after the United States Coast Guard placed Conditions of Entry (COE) on some non compliant terminals and jetties in Nigeria, National President of the National Association of Master Mariners’ (NAMM) Capt. Ade Olopoenia has said that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) should determine the compliance level of Nigerian terminals to the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code not the U.S Coast Guard.
During a telephone chat with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, Olopoenia said that IMO is the body responsible for maritime safety not the US coast guard which according to him should “be doing audit of the Nigeria ports.”
He said: “U.S Coast Guard should not determine ISPS code compliance of Nigerian ports, it should be the IMO that should do that because they are the international body in charge of maritime safety not US coast guard.”
He said that rather than be concerned with the U.S Coast Guard, terminals should operate in compliance with the ISPS Code in line with IMO and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) requirements.
“They should comply with ISPS code and be certify by the flag state which is the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency” Olopoenia stated.
SHIPS & PORTS DAILY had reported that the United States Government imposed Conditions of Entry (COE) on vessels originating or calling from some Nigerian port terminals which are yet to comply with the ISPS Code.
A statement issued by the United States Embassy in Nigeria said that the COE will require affected vessels to meet certain security measures prior to entering U.S. ports.
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