The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it has launched an online application system that will enable verification of the authenticity of seafarers’ Certificates of Competency (CoCs) anywhere in the world.
Deputy Director, Public Relations of the agency, Isichie Osamgbi, who disclosed this in a press release sent to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY on Friday, stated that the new CoC verification system was presented to maritime stakeholders recently in Lagos at an interactive forum organised by NIMASA to highlight the special features of the system.
“In his welcome address, the Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi noted that the initiative is part of the Agency’s efforts to ensure that operations of NIMASA are in line with acceptable International best practice.
“The DG whose address was read by the Agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Capt. Ezekiel Agaba, explained that the online CoC verification system is cost effective and much more reliable,” Osamgbi stated.
He quoted the NIMASA Director General as stating: “Our commitment to ensure professionalism in the Nigerian Maritime Sector is unflinching. Our goal is to attain maximum efficiency in the process of certificate verifications which can now be done from any part of the world at any time. The era of fake certificate is over in the Nigerian Maritime Sector.”
He urged shipping companies seeking authenticity of the Certificates of Competency (CoC) for seafarers to take advantage of the online method.
“Agaba assured stakeholders of the Agency’s resolve to continue to build the required capacity to meet the domestic and international obligations adding that that could only be achieved through collective determination.
“Stakeholders at the event collectively applauded the efforts of the Agency’s capacity building initiatives and pledged their continuous support towards the growth of the sector.
“Captain Niyi Labinjo, General Secretary of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA), expressed the association’s readiness to work closely with NIMASA and appealed that more should be done in the area of training,” he stated in the press release.
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