In a concerted effort to bolster the effectiveness of Port State Control (PSC) measures among member states, the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa has initiated a two-week mentorship and capacity-building program for PSC officers hailing from Sierra Leone.
This training initiative, jointly organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Abuja MoU, and the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), commenced with an inaugural event held at the NIMASA headquarters on Tuesday.
Addressing the audience during the event, the Secretary-General of Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren, emphasized that the mentor-mentee program has been designed to deliver technical support through on-the-job training and the exchange of insights. The overarching goal is to enhance Port State Control Institutions across the African Region, enabling them to effectively identify substandard ships, ensure the safety of seafarers, and safeguard the marine environment and maritime assets.
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Captain Umoren underscored the critical importance of an efficient port state control regime. Such a regime not only contributes to saving lives by reducing emissions and preventing substandard ship accidents but also plays a pivotal role in preserving the marine environment and enhancing the working conditions of seafarers. He highlighted the adverse impact that the current challenges faced by this regime have on the economy, emphasizing the pressing need for harmonization and alignment within the control institution framework.
“To achieve this, it is expected that we facilitate a combined training of port state control officers within the region using the data base system across our region such as the Abuja MoU Information System (AMIS), the Global Integrated Ship Information System (GISIS) of the International Maritime Organisation among others,” he said.
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The Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh conveyed his appreciation through Victor Ochei, the Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, for the valuable efforts of the Abuja MoU Secretariat in coordinating and streamlining regional port state control initiatives across the West and Central African region.
The Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, Paul Sobba Massaquoi, highlighted the purpose of the Abuja MoU’s mentor-mentee scheme, which was designed to assist member states facing challenges in effectively conducting Port State Control inspections and related tasks. He emphasized that this initiative offers member states the opportunity to receive guidance and mentorship from fellow member states with the necessary expertise to support them in these endeavors.