NSML MD Ahmed harps on finance, says it is key to ship acquisition, growth of maritime sector
By Uzor Odigbo
The MD/CEO of NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), Abdulkadir Ahmed has 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.
He said financing will ensure that ships are not only built and operated to the highest quality and safety standards but are also able to trade both locally and internationally.
The NSML MD remarked on Thursday in his keynote address at the 2024 edition of the Association of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (AMJON) Maritime Finance Conference in Lagos.
He explained that ship owners and prospective players need to ensure a proper understanding of the dynamics that lead to success in the constantly evolving maritime sector
His words: “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 overemphasized.
“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 conceptualizing 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.
According to the Petrofin Index for Global Ship Finance, the quantum of lending by the top 40 banks to shipping in 2023 was US$284.27bn, and the total global bank lending of all banks, including local banks approached US$375bn in 2023.
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.
In the area of shipping standards, he explained that the landscape of maritime regulations is becoming more stringent with a resultant impact on the design and operations of both new and existing assets.
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 tradeable.
“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.
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