Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has promised to assist Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre training institute to grow to an enviable height to the benefits of Rivers State indigenes and Nigerians in general.
Wike gave the assurance at the unveiling of Nigeria’s first ever land ship, MV Rivers Pride built by the training institute and the foundation laying of 200 cadets accommodation block in the centre.
He also approved a certificate of occupancy for the land in which the land ship is situated at Ozuoba, along the East-West Road, Port Harcourt.
Wike lauded the Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Charles Wami and the management for the achievements recorded by the centre since it was established even as it directed Wami to meet with the Director of Lands to bring up his file on his table to append his signature.
Several dignitaries and stakeholders in the maritime industry including the Royal Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside lauded the centre for the efforts it has put in human capacity development in the maritime industry over the years.
Wami had earlier in his welcome address solicited for the support of the state government to ensure that the centre attain set goals and objectives and a certificate of occupancy to enable the centre get financial assistance from commercial banks for future developments.
Wami stated that the centre needs the encouragement of all stakeholders to continue to provide maritime education and training of international repute.
According to him, the institute has a trend of rendering and improving on high quality training to guarantee competence in a conducive and friendly environment. “It is a one-stop-shop for the marine, oil and gas training,”
He explained that the official commissioning of the facility was meant to bridge the gap in maritime education and training in the country.
The land ship comprises full mission navigational bridge simulator; ECDIS Simulation Room; GMDSS (Navigation) Simulation Room which conforms to the 2010 Manila Amendments by the global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); and the basic dynamic positioning class.
Other components of the land ship are advance dynamic positioning and examination class; nautical institute examination room; and the drilling system crane simulator.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.