NSML, NIMASA To Train 50 Cadets In UK For International Shipping Career
The NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), in collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has inducted about 50 cadets for an enlarged international shipping career.
This group is the first set of 50 cadets to be trained for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) in the United Kingdom.
The CoC is the final stage of the training which leads to the acquisition of the CoC license and opens the global doors of employment opportunities for the cadets.
Speaking at the NIMASA Romania Cadets Induction Programme in Lagos, the Managing Director, NSML Abdulkadir Ahmed said, “this is an important occasion for us in NSML because it touches the purpose of the company, which is domesticating international maritime skill sets locally.”
According to him, NSML is a company that was set up as shipping and Marine Services arm of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG).
Noting that before setting up of the company, all LNG vessels were managed offshore, he said, “The setting up of NSML was around creating a platform where we can bring those skill sets locally, domesticated and getting Nigerians to participate in technical management, crew and operations of LNG vessels.
“Over the years, NSML has evolved from a purely managing entity. Now, we are into integrated marine services. We do not only manage LNG vessels, we equally manage LPG vessels and crew them.
“We have attained 85 per cent Nigerianisation which means our vessels are managed by Nigerians,” he stated.
Ahmed said the company established the Maritime Centre of Excellence in Bonny, which offers advanced marine training and is equipped with an advanced marine simulator among other facilities.
He said: “The development of cadets is end to end. It involves getting the right institution, getting the right training, getting the right experience on board vessels in terms of seatime and getting international standard certificates so that they are able to graduate with a certificate that is recognised internationally, because seafaring is an international profession, hence the standards are not of Nigeria but international”.
He said: “For us in NSML, anything we can do to provide that avenue for young Nigerians to deploy that skill set and have a career in the global marine and shipping industry is our mission.
Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Bashir Jamoh, applauded NSML for supporting local capacity development in the shipping sector.
Jamoh, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties, NIMASA, Isiche Osamgbi, said NIMASA initiated the Nigerian Seafarers Development (NSDP) programme in 2008 with the aim of addressing the dearth of Nigerian seafarers in ocean going vessels, and the need to meet indigenous manning requirements in coastal and inland shipping which is called Cabotage.
He said the programme is designed to train Nigerian youths in different areas of the maritime industry.
Jamoh said: “Two batches of NSDP cadets were offered admission in Romania and more than 97% of the cadets trained in the school have completed their academic requirements and were awarded Bachelor degrees.”
He described this batch as the first batch of 50 cadets for the CoC, stating that many other batches are being prepared to complete their training with NSML.
He said over 150 NSDP Romanian cadets have completed their onboard mandatory seatime training and they are ready to proceed for the Certificate of Competence training and examination.
He assured that the NIMASA agreement with NSML will go a long way to ensure that all the backlog of Romanian cadets awaiting CoC are cleared.
General Manager Human Resources, NLNG, Bamitale Erinle, urged the cadets to make the best of the opportunities that presents itself, assuring that NSML will continue to support them to get to the peak.
Head of the South Shields Marine School, England, Christopher Grey, expressed her pleasure in the partnership with NSML and NIMASA, hoping to receive the cadets soonest.
Manager, Maritime Centre of Excellence, Dr Effiong Ekanemata, the training programme takes between 12-14 months.
He said the cadets will be attendinghe South Shields Marine School, (Tyne Coast College) in England which is regarded as one of the best marine training schools in the world.
