THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has again struck a new partnership with the South Shield Marine School at the South Tyneside College, South Shield, Newcastle in the United Kingdom, to provide sea time opportunities for about 400 cadets of the agency’s sponsored Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP).
According to a statement signed on Thursday by NIMASA’s Spokesman, Isichei Osamgbi, the institution which has so far about 502 Nigerian students being trained in various fields in marine Engineering and Nautical Science amongst others, have about 326 students due for sea time, a mandatory requirement to go on board a ship for a period of one year or more on ocean going vessels, before they are qualified for the award of a maritime degree. About 2500 Nigerian youths are beneficiaries of the NIMASA NSDP scheme.
While briefing the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the Principal / Head of the school, Gary Hindmarch observed that the school is in partnership with reputable shipping agencies and organizations who are major global players to place cadets on board vessels across the globe, a scheme they have been using to provide sea time opportunities for their students over many decades of the existence of the institution.
The sea time model is similar to that already being provided by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, Egypt, wherein the sea time is imbedded in the programme.
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