The nation’s apex maritime regulatory organ, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced an exercise to verify all Certificates of Competency issued and/or endorsed to all seafarers to ascertain the number of seafarers under the flag administration.
Indication to this effect is contained in a Marine Notice sent by the agency to ship owners, ship operators, shipping companies, ship managers, ship agents, ship masters, manning agents, maritime institutions, approved seafarers medical hospitals and seafarers in the country.
NIMASA stated that the verification exercise is pursuant to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulation, 2010.
“This is in line with the Agency’s mandate to facilitate the training requirements, employment and welfare of maritime labour and build capacity for the industry. Stakeholders are therefore advised to offer their maximum cooperation in this exercise,” NIMASA stated in the Marine Notice.
The Agency directed all affected seafarers to visit a dedicated website to complete and submit the verification application forms.
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