LAGOS – The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that it would engage more cadets on ‘’seatime’’ training.
Capt. Sunday Umoren, Deputy Director, Seafarers Standard Training and Certification in NIMASA, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Umoren said the agency was working on an arrangement with some foreign training vessel owners to engage more cadets in seatime training.
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“We don’t really have too many foreign-going ships for the cadets to be posted to for the sake of having enhanced on training- the practical phase of their training.
“I can assure you that the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
“Mr Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi is doing his best to ensure that that aspect is taking care of.
“He is working on it tirelessly and hopefully, in less than no time we would all see the positive results of his efforts.
“Few months ago, we had the first graduands from the Arab Maritime Transport Academy that have passed out as watchkeeping officers.
“That Seaboarding is part of the training programme.’’
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He said that the director- general was making efforts to engage all cadets that passed through NIMASA’s-accredited maritime institutions in seatime training.
Umoren said that the problem of seafarers’ joblessness was being addressed under the Cabotage Act which stated that every foreign vessel working in Nigeria waters should engage Nigerian seafarers.
