NIMASA urges shipping community to comply with GHG regulation

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stressed the need for the shipping community to comply with the international standard on Greenhouse House Gas (GHG) emissions as part of the efforts to check the threat of climate change.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said this has become necessary as the agency has started the implementation of international standard on gas emission as required by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Speaking during the National Stakeholders’ Forum on ‘MARPOL Annex V1 and other Emerging Issues on Climate Change in the Nigerian Maritime Sector’ held in Lagos, Dakuku said that the IMO has put a standard as to the amount of sulfur that should be contained in fuel used by vessels. These fuels, according to him, are used by vessels that emit gases in the air.

He explained that considering that 90 per cent of trade was through ship and economic activities being the fulcrum of maritime, NIMASA was taking measures to regulate the activities of ships and the effects on gas emission.

Responding to the question on practical measures by NIMASA to check the ships, he said that samples of fuel are usually taken to check the quality, adding that those found not to be in compliance with the MARPOL Annex VI, will not be allowed to berth.

He explained that the forum was organised to create awareness on climate change in the maritime industry and how to respond to the threat.

The Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, EngrRotimiFashakin, said there is hardly any issue in contemporary global discourse, which occupies a greater pride of place than climate change.

Fashakin noted this has been reflected in Nigeria’s firm commitment to the battle to reverse the effects of climate change through the instrumentality of internationally agreed principles and benchmarks.