By Moses Ebosele, ebosele@hotmail.com —
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) has renewed its “Clean Water Initiative” campaign.
Speaking at an interactive session with Journalists in Lagos on Thursday, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NLNG Ship Management Limited, Abdul-Kadir K. Ahmed explained that the campaign is centred round awareness, advocacy and action.
According to Ahmed, the campaign highlight the effects of plastics, debris and other maritime litters on the waterways in Nigeria.
NSML, a subsidiary of NLNG, was incorporated as a private limited liability company on October 9, 2008 and commenced full operations initially as a ship manning outfit in August 2010.
Ahmed, who spoke on sundry issues associated with the growth of NSML explained that the company has evolved from a purely manning company into an international maritime services company providing a wide range of top-notch maritime and shipping services which include – manning, fleet management, training, terminal management, maritime consultancy and project management.
Explaining further on the clean water initiatives, Ahmed said plans are underway to further implement and expand the ideals of the campaign in the coming years.
Information made available indicates that the initiative centres/focuses on “actions, advocacy and public awareness campaign to tackle the devastating effects of plastics, debris, litters on the aquatic ecosystem; and their overall impact on the global maritime environment. It is also an integral part of NSML’s corporate Brand Management Plan activities.
“The initial areas/scope of coverage will be NSML’s primary areas of operation (AOP)– The NLNG Terminal in Bonny, as well as the ISB/OSB Jetty in Port-Harcourt.
“The plan is to ensure the proper clean-up and maintenance of the waterways at these AOPs; whilst extending the initiative in subsequent years to the inland waterways in Rivers State; and subsequently the national space.
“The initiative was launched to celebrate the IMO 2020 World Maritime Day, in September 2020, in line with the theme of the event – “Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet”-. The NSML Terminal Services team kick started the campaign by organising a clean-up exercise of the NLNG Bonny waterfront and it was a huge success”.
According to Ahmed, the company with over 600 seafarers presently handle 400 cargoes in a year.
Meanwhile, Ahmed explained that NSML is working with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the seafarers continuous capacity development where more than a hundred cadets have benefitted from the sea-time opportunity, which is a mandatory requirement for employment of seafarers onboard ships.
Ahmed said NMSL has attracted and will continue to source for competent Nigerian professionals with enviable certifications to sustain and improve on it’s world class standard operation in the maritime industry
Among the array of outstanding Nigerian staff members are Captain Yusuf Hambal, first Nigerian LNG vessel Captain; Adewale Adejuwon , first Nigerian Deputy Fleet Manager ; Ms Ogadimma Nwankwo, Maritime Engineer Cadet of the Year 2008 at Warsash Maritime Academy and Captain Abiodun Laleye, first tNigerian LNG Dual Fuel Diesel Electric (DFDE) ship Captain, among others
