The management of NLNG Ship Management Limited, NSML, has said that vessels in their fleet are not listed under Nigerian Ship Registry, but on Bermudian Ship Registry because the NLNG-NSML vessels were acquired through international funding, and the condition was tied to the acquisitions.
While flagging or registration of vessels in Nigeria is the desire of the shipping firm; the regulation and other factors to make that work in Nigeria must be put in place such that it must be internationally accepted, the management stated.
According to the management, the financiers insisted the vessels must be flagged in an internationally accepted Ship Registry recognized by Lloyds listed flag state. He stated: ‘‘There is a reason for not having these vessels registered in Nigeria and that is because the financiers of these vessels give condition and some of the condition is to ensure that these vessels are flagged in internationally recognized Lloyds listed Ship Registries.
‘‘The sailors that will crew the vessels must have trainings that are of international standard and from maritime institutions whose certificate is also accepted worldwide. ‘‘We are collaborating with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to build and develop capacity for the regulatory agency in Nigeria to ensure that its Registry is recognized and accepted; it is work in progress.
‘‘Most important to shipping companies is that your vessels to be accepted everywhere they go. ‘‘The flagging of vessels in Nigeria is a desire, it is an objective, it is a national objective and we at NMSL are happy to key into that but it requires a lot of work, it requires all hands to be on deck to ensure that we work together to build that agency where the Nigerian flag will be accepted internationally.
‘‘We are working together with all the stakeholders to ensure that we actually achieve that goal. It is a process that has started and we believe that with the current management of NIMASA, we have started discussions and a body has been set up on the Nigerian Flag and we are contributing to that.’’