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By Steve Agbota
The NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd. (NSML) has said that the localisation of specialised maritime training will save Nigeria foreign exchange expenditure and reduce dependence on overseas institutions.
The Managing Director of NSML, Mr Abdul-Kadir Ahmed, stated while addressing media men in Lagos to announce that the company’s Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE) in Bonny, Rivers, had secured certification from the UK Nautical Institute to offer Dynamic Positioning (DP) training.
According to him, the localisation of specialised maritime training would also strengthen the maritime manpower capacity in the country. However, he said that the certification would enable Nigerian maritime professionals to acquire internationally recognised DP qualifications locally, eliminating the need to travel abroad for such training.
He disclosed that the approval authorises the centre to conduct DP induction, simulator-based training, revalidation and vessel maintenance courses, while describing the certification as a major milestone for the maritime sector and a strong endorsement of the centre’s training quality and compliance with global standards.
“The MCOE was established as a one-stop hub for maritime training, research, competency development and specialised maritime projects. The facility had evolved into one of West Africa’s most advanced maritime training centres, equipped with modern learning infrastructure and state-of-the-art simulators,” he added.
He revealed that the certification would improve the employability of Nigerian seafarers and offshore personnel by providing access to globally accepted qualifications, adding that the centre already holds DNV ISO 9001 certification for quality management and complies with DNV ST-0029 standards for maritime simulators and training facilities.
Ahmed said the MCOE also offers Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)-accredited programmes covering tanker operations, human element leadership and management, high-voltage operations and other advanced maritime courses.
He said NSML would continue to pursue additional accreditations, including full MCA accreditation, to transform the centre into a comprehensive maritime training hub and support Nigeria’s aspiration to become Africa’s leading maritime nation.
