NIMASA shuts jetties, shipyard over non-compliance with ISPS Code

Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in Nigeria, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has shut three jetties and port facilities for non-compliance with the provisions of the code.

The facilities are Heyden Petroleum Jetty Ijora Lagos; Waziri Jetty, Dockyard Road Apapa Lagos and Starz Marine Shipyard Limited, Onne, Rivers State.

Starz Marine Shipyard is owned by the Chairman of Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Engr Greg Ogbeifun.

These facilities, according to the agency, had persistently failed to comply with the ISPS Code necessitating their closure in order to forestall a situation where security breaches in such facilities will negatively impact the compliant ones.

It said; “These closures are in exercise of the agency’s powers in line with provisions of Part VIII of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations 2014 under which the facilities were adjudged to be non-compliant despite repeated warnings to remedy the deficiencies,” NIMASA said in a press statement issued by its Public Relations unit on Thursday.

It consistently stated its commitment to the enforcement of full compliance with the ISPS Code especially in the face of growing terrorists’ activities globally. “All shut facilities are to remain closed until the managers of such facilities correct the identified deficiencies in line with the dictates of the Code as the agency aims to achieve 100% compliance with the cooperation of all stakeholders. This exercise is a continuous one,” the statement added.