NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited NSML has said it is currently conducting the mandatory one-year sea time training on board its ocean going vessels for over 300 Nigerian Cadets under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme NSDP, a brainchild of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA.

The one-year sea time training, which leads to the award of Certificate of Competency CoC, under the International Maritime Organisation IMO Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping STCW, for Seafarers, which sets minimum standards for training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers. This is to ensure safety at sea and without this certification, such seafarers would not be employed on board ocean going vessels.

Some Cadets on training (file photo}.

Managing Director/CEO of NSML, Abdulkadir K. Ahmed, who fielded questions from newsmen in Lagos last week during a press conference to unveil the Company’s new logo, in line with its rebranding programme, disclosed that the NSML now has over 300 cadets on board its vessels undergoing sea time training, which is a mandatory requirement for the award of the CoC and STCW after the completion of Cadetship training, without which they can only work on board vessels plying within inland waters.

He further disclosed that no less than 200 cadets of the NSDP have also completed their training on the Company’s vessels while no fewer than 100 other cadets, who were trained on the Company’s vessels have been gainfully employed by the NSML.

The Managing Director, who pledged the Company’s commitment towards training more Cadets, however lamented the dearth of sea berths, which has posed a major challenge in its bid to train even more Cadets.  

“We’re committed to training more Cadets than we are doing now but the challenge has been the limited berth spaces, which is quite challenging but we will continue to do our very best in creating more opportunities”, he further assured.

The MD, who also spoke on its training institute, the Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE), which is a state-of-the-art training and research centre—the first of its kind in the region, located within the NLNG Plant complex on Bonny Island, further disclosed that the Company is working towards flagging off a Cadetship Programme in line with its aspirations.

He further disclosed that efforts were being intensified towards securing full accreditation, after which it would roll out Cadetship Programme. The MCOE is a pioneering facility, which offers cutting-edge shipping operations simulation, providing immersive, real-world experiences that equip seafarers, marine engineers, and industry professionals with the skills they need to excel, and for career progression and growth in the maritime industry.

“We’re working on the MCOE to have full accreditation and when we achieve this, we will roll out the Cadetship Programme where individuals would spend time on our vessels and in the Centre and then achieve MCA Certificate of Competency CoC, that is the plan and we are working on it”, he further disclosed.

While responding to a question on the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility CSR programmes, especially given its rebranding initiative, he disclosed that the Company has several of CSR Programmes adding that the one that is so dear to it is the Clean Water Initiative through which it rallies stakeholders on the menace of plastics and other debris on Nigeria’s waterways, which has already become a global issue.

He said: Our paramount CSR project is our Clean Water Initiative, where we discuss the menace of plastics, debris, and pollution on our waterways, this is our paramount CSR programme, which is even something that we want to take to greater heights.

“Obviously, the menace of plastics and debris on our waterways is now a global issue, so it will take more than one organisation to solve it. But most importantly, our approach is anchored on the 3- As, which include Awareness, Advocacy and Action and it is about legal entities coming together to: 1.  Create the awareness of the dangers we see around us; 2. Drive the advocacy –change our laws, where necessary and practices across every aspects of the society and 3, Finally, Action-do something about it and we have started doing something about it across the Port Harcourt and Bonny waterways, from the communities operating on that waterways so as to ensure that we are all on the same page. So we need to work together to drive the change that we all need.”

NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited NSML, is a renowned name in the maritime industry, offering a comprehensive range of top-tier shipping, marine, and maritime services. NSML was incorporated as a private limited liability company on October 9, 2008. Over the years, NSML evolved from a mainly manning company into an international maritime services company providing a wider range of top-notch maritime services, including terminal management, maritime training, maritime project management, maritime consultancy and business advisory services. With a commitment to professionalism, innovation, and customer satisfaction, NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited continues to set new standards and lead the way in the maritime sector. For more information, visit www.nsml.com.