Enhance maritime security
The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abdulsalam Mohamed, has said that the Cargo Tracking Note scheme will help ensure transparency in the maritime industry. The NPA chief made the clarification on the newly introduced Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) scheme over the weekend. He said that the objective of government introducing the scheme was to enhance the security of the maritime industry.
Mr. Mohammed said that maritime nations felt it was necessary to obtain advance information on cargoes as well as the vessels and the personnel conveying them.
“This is just like the international maritime community, which came up with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISDS) code after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the U.S,” he said. “There is need to track and have adequate information relating to cargo and ship movements”
He also stated that the scheme will foster better information exchange between maritime agencies of other countries and those in Nigeria. “NPA had been discussing with the Shipping Agents of Nigeria (SAN), NACCIMA, MAN and others which had confidence in the CTN scheme. The scheme had actually taken off on Jan. 11, 2010 but a little grace period was given till the end of February 2010 for it to take off,” Mr. Mohammed said.
The managing director said NPA projected that the scheme would record 6 million euros in the first year of operation, adding that the money would add value to the Nigerian society.
He, however, said that because of the delay in the take-off, the targeted revenue might not be fully achieved in the first year.
On the recent incident of 14 ships washed ashore by storm, Mohammed said “natural disasters happen but the only thing is to be ready for eventualities and have search and rescue plans.”
Source:234next
