By Uzor Odigbo
The NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) has restated commitment towards ensuring that ships under its management undergo high, auditing, maintenance standards in line with international best practices.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed during a chat with Journalists disclosed this at a programme put together by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos .
According to him, the NSML is unwavering in its operations of ensuring the vessels of clients are maintained to the highest standards globally, ensuring they are seaworthy, cargo-worthy and globally.
He stated that access to finance is key for acquisition and construction of ships that will propel the Nigerian maritime sector towards emerging as a global player.
Thus, he noted that strict compliance with standards will ensure that ships are not only built and operated to the highest quality and safety standard but are also able to trade both locally and internationally.
He explained that shipowners and prospective players need to ensure a proper understanding of the dynamics that lead to success in the constantly evolving maritime sector.
“Shipping is a hugely capital-intensive activity, and accessing financing is key for acquisition and construction activities.
“Irrespective of the market owners play in, the importance and role of finance cannot be overemphasised.
“The need to have fully compliant vessels trading internationally is of paramount importance and all stakeholders must understand the ever-changing dynamics to ensure compliance right from the point of conceptualising the acquisition or construction of the vessels”
Speaking further, the NSML boss pointed out the importance of financial institutions including insurance institutions in the acquisition, construction and operations of vessels globally.
Ahmed noted the significance of technical competence and expertise in shipping acquisition and construction, highlighting the complexity of the modern vessels, with the raft of advanced technology features, which demands a high level of skill and knowledge right from the design and acquisition phase up to their operation.
On the area of shipping standards, he explained that the landscape of maritime regulations is becoming more stringent with resultant impact on design and operations of both new and existing assets.
“By so doing, we ensure that the owners enjoy a good return on investment (ROI) which is important to ensure the repayment of their loans”.
“The shipping and maritime industry is a highly regulated one with great emphasis on safety, reliability and environmental sustainability. Compliance with conventions, regulations and guidelines primarily issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). IMO’s SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention, MARPOL (Maritime Pollution) convention are core pillars of operation in the global maritime industry.
“With the drive for decarbonization and emphasis on the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to combat the threats posed by climate change, there are a plethora of new rules and regulations owners need to be aware of when acquiring vessels.
“For us in NSML, we have been at the vanguard of driving compliance with standards and the regular training and development of our personnel to future-proof them in the ever-dynamic maritime industry”, he added.
