Abuja MOU Tasks Member Administrations To Employ More Surveyors,Deck Officers

By Roland Ekama

 

The Abuja MoU has called on member Administrations to invest in the training and employment of more ship surveyors and deck officer , saying such move would record remarkable milestones in the shipping sector in the sub region.

 

Secretary General of Abuja MoU,Mrs Mfon Ekong Usoro made the plea in the Secretariat Annual Report for 2018,even as she stressed the need for harmonised Port System Control activities in the region.

 

Usoro said that the Secretariat has made optimal use of training opportunities offered by these organisations adding that in the period under review , 77 port state control officers across 20 countries have attended a total of 32 training

 

She noted that “Abuja MoU has recorded remarkable milestones in the last eight years . However ,the region has far greater potentials than what has been achieved The inadequate number of Port State Control Officers (PSCO) has impacted on the ability of member Administrations to achieve the annual target for ship inspections.

 

Emphasising on the need to engage more of the personnel in the region, the former Director General,Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) added that” Maritime Administrations are encouraged to invest in the training and employment of more ship surveyors, engineers and deck officers .

 

” We are able to record the improvement through the astute leadership and support of the chairmen and host country of Abuja MoU

 

She also disclosed that the MoU in 2017, launched it’s first ever concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) , calling on members to carry out such campaign on safety of navigation including Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) aimed at checking the conformity of safety regulations for ships.

 

Continuing ,the Secretary General noted that in 2018 the MoU conducted CIC on Life Saving Appliances, saying that the purpose was to ensure compliance with the requirements of Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

 

Usoro also affirmed that “Having matured to this level, it hoped that the campaign will become institutionalised .

 

She pointed out that the Port State Control Officers in the region have benefitted enormously from the Secretariat concerted efforts at deepening relationships and cooperation with third parties particularly the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other regional MoU.

 

Usoro , however noted that : ” Abuja MoU is particularly grateful to the IMO for the fully sponsored foreign trainings offered in collaboration with other regional MoU, which according to her , have improved professionalism by PSCOs and improved PSCI practices.