Shippers Council to support second maritime summit

The second maritime technical summit slated for Tuesday May 22nd, 2018 in Lagos received a big boost recently when the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) promised its full support for its success.

The conveners of the summit, The Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) received the cheering news when it’s Executives led by its President Charles Uwadia, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Council Barrister Hassan Bello in his office.

Barrister Bello, who extolled the relevance of the summit, promised to support the association as well as participate in the summit.

The Council boss also revealed that the agency was collaborating with the Nigerian Export- Import Bank for provision of a special fund in the 60 percent holding for Nigerians in the planned national carrier.

Recall, that, Nigeria and Singapore had last year reached an agreement to establish a private-sector-driven national carrier with stake holding of 60 to 40 percent.

Bello who is also the chairman of the Ministerial Implementation Committee for the establishment of the national shipping fleet, said the council has recommended a number of incentives to the Federal Government to help attract investment for the national carrier.

He lamented that, the country does not have a single ship despite having experienced people who could run the ships, adding that, the council is also working with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to release part of the shipping development fund to help in the acquisition of the national carrier.

He said it is Council’s desire to create a sustainable fleet that will work and stand the test of time, not the one that will just come and go.