A former sole Administrator of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Engr. Olu Akinsoji, has said that to enable Nigerian seafarers to access sea -time training, the Cabotage Act must be implemented completely.
Akinsoji said this while speaking to SHIPS & PORTS DAILLY in his office.
He said the law stipulated that ships are to be built, crewed and registered in Nigeria, which according to him, is the only way seafarers can get sea- time and on the long run, meet the purpose for which the act was enacted.
“For the 10 years the Cabotage Act has been implemented, it has not impacted on the activities of the Maritime industry, especially for the indigenous operators. But if we want the purpose of the act to be achieved, we must ensure that our ships are built, crewed and registered in Nigeria.
“That will also help in the provision of sea- time training for our cadets who find it very difficult to get sea-time.”
Akinsoji said the Cabotage Act also wants ships to be registered in Nigeria, so that Nigeria can have the capacity and the knowledge of ship registration with safety of ships guaranteed.
“Though, all these are present in the Cabotage Act, has there been any plan in the pipeline from the government to ensure that all these are implemented in other for our cadets to have access to sea- time with ease?” he asked.
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