Business

NIMASA Rescues Distress Voyage Vessel

Published

16 years ago

December 9, 2009

As part of efforts to demonstrates its commitment toward safe navigation on Nigeria territorial waters, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has successfully intervened in a rescue mission involving a Sao Tome&Principe flagged vessel which was on voyage from Gabon to Cotonou.

Source from NIMASA zonal office in Port Harcourt has informed The Tide that the vessel, “MV AL SALAM” which is a small general cargo vessel built for coastal trading, developed engine problems off Nigerian water and was adrift on the high sea for nine days with over 160 passengers on board, before calling for help.

It was gathered that shortly after receiving the distress call signal, the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMCC) located at the NIMASA Resource Development Centre in Lagos, relayed the distress signals to all vessels in the region, in other to locate and rescue the stranded vessel.

The effort paid off as “MV AL SALAM” was sighted and guided to Calabar breakwater

Under two by MT Mother Benedicta.

The rescued vessel was eventually docked at the former Dry-Dock Jetty of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Calabar, shortly after which the officials of NIMASA collaborated with officials of NPA, Immigration Service and Rescue clinic of NIMASA, evacuated over 160 passengers, including children and pregnant women, who were apparently weak and dehydrated.

NIMASA officials, according to source provided First Aid services to the very weak passengers, food for the starved and water for the thirsty. The agency also provided all logistics required to convey the stranded passengers by road from Calabar in Cross Rivers State, to Cotonue in Benin Republic.

Shortly after rescue operations of the passengers were completed, “MV AL SALAM” was detained in Calabar for Port State Inspection to be conducted on the vessel by the NIMASA district Surveyor in Calabar to determine her compliance with International Maritime Organisation, (IMO) regulation for Deep-Sea sailing and trading.

An interim investigation conducted by officials of the agency revealed that the vessel was unsea worthy, as it was loaded heavily with hundreds of bags of chewing Lumbers, personal luggage and over 160 passengers and 12 crew members, despite being a 276.16 gross tonnage vessel, the source said.

Meanwhile, NIMASA management has commenced the process of liaising with other member state in the SAR region on the need to increase inspections process on both port and flag state control measures.

Corlius Walter

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu