“Total Number of Nigerian Flagged Vessels Now 1,227” – Shipowners Association

The president of Nigerian shipowners Association, NISA, Greg Ogbeifun has  revealed that there are bow 1, 227 vessels in the country owned by Nigerians.

The NISA Boss, who spoke at a maritime investors and shipowners forum in Lagos, said that it is now very challenging for shipowners to take their vessels outside the country for repair, urging the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to support development of existing ship repair yards and even build new ones.

Ogbeifun also stressed the need for NIMASA vessel surveyors to always refer to the head office when they are presented with excuses for lack of ship registration papers, instead of being in a hurry to seize vessels.

He said: “It is bad that surveyors are always in a hurry to seize vessels. A situation where a surveyor is checking a vessel and the vessel has no papers, but had already started the process of obtaining or renewing the papers and all the survey says is ‘oh, I am going to detain the vessel’ is bad.”

“Surveyors should have a feedback mechanism with head office while in enforcement exercise,” Ogbeifun said.