The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), has said it would not recognize certificates issued by any of the private maritime academies it does not accredit.
This came few months after the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) declared private maritime academies in Nigeria illegal over non-accreditation by the apex maritime regulatory body.
A document released by the agency and obtained exclusively by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY stated that the agency would not recognize any certificate issued by the maritime academies not accredited by it.
According to the document, “In pursuance of the international convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 1978 as amended and the Merchant Shipping Act 2007 which aimed to promote safety of lives and property at sea and protection of training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers, NIMASA is committed to the maintenance of the highest seafarer training examination and certification standards and will therefore take action necessary to ensure that this commitment is met.
“As part of the measure towards the maintenance of standards in training, examination and certification, the Agency recently concluded the reappraisal of approved training institutions and centres in Nigeria.”
The recognized maritime training institution according to NIMASA are the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron; College of Fisheries, Victoria Island, Lagos; Chalkins Maritme Safety Centre; Elkins Marine, Joe Marine, Coastal Marine; Tolmann Allied Services; Mantral Maritime Centre, Izizco Obosco Institute and Falck Prime Atlantic.
The agency warned that only maritime institutions stated above are recognized and accredited by the agency to offer maritime education and training in line with the provision of the NIMASA Act 2007 and the STCW Convention.
Curiously, such big names as Certified Institute of Shipping, Nigerian Institute of Shipping and Stars Maritime Academy were conspicuously missing on the list of accredited maritime training institutions.
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