AJOKE PHILIP
The director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has asked all vessel captains to maintain 24 hours vigilance and surveillance to detect strange movements around their craft.
This is part of the measures put in place by the apex regulatory agency to check security threats in the nation’s maritime domain and deter persons who may seek illegal means of entry into the country as stowaways.
Jamoh who disclosed this in a press statement by the acting deputy director, public relations of NIMASA, Edward Osagie and a copy made available to BUSINESSinsiderng in Lagos, said ship Captains should maintain 24 hours vigilance and surveillance to detect strange movements around their craft especially small boats and skiffs that may not be captured by radar.
According to the NIMASA boss, other measures include proper pre-departure search and completion of pre-departure form before departure from any port; switching on Automatic Identification Systems ,AIS; close monitoring of communication channels and response to any VHF call from the Nigerian Navy or the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC).
He further stated that the newly introduced security measures introduced are consistent with the strategy of trying to be one step ahead of the pirates, armed robbers, and anyone or anything that poses danger to the country’s maritime domain and Nigeria, in general.
He said, “The procedures are easy to follow and deliberate steps have been taken to make the reporting process seamless, all for the good of the ship operators and the international shipping community. They are in keeping with NIMASA’s statutory mandate to provide maritime security and implement special actions to enhance security in line with the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations, ICIR, 2014″.
However, under the new procedures, all Ship Captains are to submit the Security-Related Pre-Arrival Information, SRPA, forms to the Agency not later than 48 hours before the ship’s arrival at any Nigerian port.
Captains are also required to exchange the Declaration of Security (DoS), with the Port Facility Security Officer ,PFSO, of their next port of call not later than 72 hours before the ship’s arrived at that port for conveyance to NIMASA within 48 hours.
“Additionally, all ships are to maintain 24 hours vigilance and surveillance to detect strange movements, including small boats and skiffs that may not be captured by radar.
Other measures include proper pre-departure search and completion of pre-departure form before departure from any port; switching on Automatic Identification Systems ,AIS; close monitoring of communication channels and response to any VHF call from the Nigerian Navy or the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC).”