19th August, 2011
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), for effectively operating the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC) located in Kirikiri, Lagos.
The global maritime regulatory agency has equally lauded the agency’s collaboration with the Nigerian Navy to facilitate safety and security on Nigerian waters, which the body noted, has led to reduction in the level of criminal acts on the waters of the West and Central African sub-region.
This commendation was conveyed to the agency’s management by the Sub Regional Representative for African Anglophone Countries at the IMO, Mr. Michael Luguje.
According to him, â€I think that NIMASA’s example of fruitful collaboration with the Nigerian Navy is a good example and worthy of emulation by other neighbouring countries.â€
The IMO regional representative also stated that plans are on for the maritime administrations in Togo, Benin and Nigeria to meet with relevant stakeholders to deliberate on ways of enhancing maritime safety in the region.
The RMRCC located at the premises of the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC) in Kirikiri, Lagos, covers the entire Central and West African countries of Togo, Benin, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. The centre is equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS), radar and cameras. The AIS easily identifies all vessels with AIS gadgets on board, while those without device are tracked at the RMRCC with the radar. Video cameras, which provide live pictures of all vessels along the Nigerian coastal waters, are also in the centre.
Another facility at the RMRCC is the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), which is equipped with VHF radio, satellite phones and the IMARSAT. All these communication equipment are deployed by NIMASA for on-line real time communication and monitoring of the entire waters of the West and Central African sub-region.
NIMASA has also expanded its operations to include the provision of weather forecast services to all vessels on Nigerian waters through the radio room at the GMDSS. The agency has also effectively carried out successful medical and stowaway evacuation on vessels within the nation’s maritime waters through effective intergovernmental partnership with the Nigerian Navy and using platforms provided through the public-private partnership with Global West Maritime Services.