By Chris Ochayi

As part of efforts to enhance safety of the maritime industry globally, the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, has confirmed that Nigeria and 18 other countries from and West and Central Africa are set to implement a uniform policy on port security.

Alhaji Suleiman who disclosed this while hosting the extra ordinary meeting of the Abuja MOU, explained that as part of the policy, plans have been concluded to develop a “White List” to be adopted by member countries The objective of the policy is to enhance port security within member countries.

The  countries  that are  expected to key into  the  uniform port  security policy  are : Nigeria; Angola,  Guinea, Benin, Liberia, Cameroon ;Mauritania and  Cape Verde.

Others are: Namibia ;  Congo , Côte d’Ivoire ; Senegal ; Equatorial Guinea ; Sierra Leone ; Gabon ; South Africa ; The Gambia; Togo  and  Ghana .

This was part of the deliberations at the  1st Extra-ordinary Meeting of the  Bureau of West and Central Africa MOU  on Port State Control in Abuja , on Tuesday.

The Minister explained further that the White List, which is expected to serve as a benchmark for enforcing maritime safety and security among member countries, would comprise shipping companies and vessels that meet  the safety requirements  as stipulated by the International Maritime Organization.

He further noted that Nigeria was committed towards the implementation of the Abuja MOU on Port State Control adding that there was urgent need for member countries to put more efforts to ensure its successful implementation.

Port State Control is the inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify that the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of international regulations.

Suleiman said, “one of the critical objectives of the MOUs established by the IMO is to reduce and if possible eliminate the use of sub-standard ships and unqualified crew, thereby minimizing the risks to life, risks to property and the risks to our common marine environment hence the need to regularly review our performance as a region in this regard”

However, there are a number of serious issues confronting port state control which requires immediate solution. They include poor funding; lack of uniform coordination of Port State Control processes, inadequate qualified flag and Port State control Officers and non_domestication of relevant IMO instrument by member states”

The Deputy Minister of Transportation of Ghana, Mrs. Dzifa Attivor, in her remarks, said the implementation of the uniform policy on port security will help boost the economy of member countries.

According to her, “the Abuja Mou aims at harmonizing the efforts of all the countries under it to eliminate sub_standard ships within the region thereby ensuring maritime safety and security. This is necessary for the development of our economies”

As part of efforts to enhance safety of the maritime industry globally, the International Maritime Organization has recommended the establishment of regional Port State Control organizations and agreements across the world.

Already, the Memoranda of Understanding have been signed covering all of the world’s oceans.They include: Europe and the North Atlantic (Paris MoU); Asia and the Pacific (Tokyo MoU); Latin America (Acuerdo de Viña del Mar); Caribbean (Caribbean MoU); West and Central Africa (Abuja MoU); the Black Sea region (Black Sea MoU); the Mediterranean (Mediterranean MoU); the Indian Ocean (Indian Ocean MoU); and the Riyadh MoU.

Abuja MoU is one of the regional MoUs on Port State Control of the world, with the main objective of ensuring maritime safety, security and cleaner oceans.