NIMASA Introduces Seafarers’ Certification Documents

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has introduced new Seafarer’s Medical Certification documents.
This is contained in a statement by Hajia Lami Tumaka, the Deputy Director, Public Relations of NIMASA on Friday in Lagos on Friday.
The statement said the medical certification documents were introduced in compliance with the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW) 1998, as amended.
It said NIMASA’s Acting Director-General, Mr Haruna Jauro, was represented at the presentation of the documents to stakeholders by Mr Vincent Udoye, Director, Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standards Department.
The statement quoted Jauro as saying that it was one of the key areas the agency played its role of domesticating international maritime laws and conventions.
It said the NIMASA chief noted that the new medical documents were more secured as they were printed with better security features in collaboration with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Corporation (NSPMC).
“This will ensure that medical certificates of fitness for seafarers in Nigeria are authentic and in line with international standards.
“NIMASA as an agency of government will continue to strive to meet the needs of the sector through better safety administration and safety standards in all facets of maritime operations,’’ it added.
The statement said the agency was complying with international maritime laws to which Nigeria was a party; notably the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS ’74) and the Search and Rescue (SAR) 1978 Conventions.
It said the agency had procured patrol boats, ambulances and operational vehicles in addition to facilitating capacity building of human resources toward the successful implementation of the conventions.