As it Gets Ecoport PERS Terminal Certification

At the recent inaugural NSML/Utomapp Maritime Round Table, the NLNG Ship Management Limited, NSML, unveiled plans and gave reasons for the transformation of the the company into NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd, NSML. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NSML, Mr. Abdul-Kadir Ahmed explained the name change and what the company plans to do and the services it has positioned itself to offer to stakeholders in the maritime and Oil and Gas sectors within Nigeria and beyond.

Here is the full text of the MD’s address at the round table held in Lagos:

Protocol

I am delighted to welcome you all to the inaugural NSML/Utomapp Maritime Roundtable/Workshop, designed to provide a veritable platform to discuss and proffer sustainable solutions to germane issues in the Nigerian maritime industry.

I am particularly pleased with the various stakeholders present at this event, and I am positive that we would have fruitful deliberations that would go a long way in shaping the theme of the workshop, which is focused on emerging regulations and technological advancements in the global maritime industry and their attendant impacts on the Nigerian maritime sector.

For us at NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), fully aligns with the vision of the NLNG group of “helping to build a better Nigeria”.

The theme –Emerging Technology and Regulations in the Global Maritime Industry of the Future, and the Impacts on the Nigerian Maritime Sector – was carefully curated to review two topical issues that stakeholders in the global maritime industry are devoting serious attention and resources to –Technological Advancement and Regulations. These two issues are fully anchored on the treble objectives of ensuring a SAFE, RELIABLE and SUSTAINABLE industry. We believe that it is vitally important we start analyzing these issues within the context of applicability to the Nigerian maritime industry, as they are bound to change the operations and dynamics of the sector.

NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), is at the vanguard and forefront of promoting the ideals of these 2 issues as they affect our operations as a shipping and marine services company. To be able to operate safely and efficiently in a deeply regulated and technologically advanced maritime sector, it is imperative that we “future proof” our people to ensure they possess the proper skills, capabilities, and capacity through appropriate training and competency development programs. Compliance with standards and drive for technological advancement are underpinned by the competence, capability, and skillset of our people, which are essential to achieving safety, efficiency and ultimately competitiveness.

We have, in the past, also embarked on technical knowledge transfer projects (internationally and domestically) to ensure the domiciliation of these skills and competencies in-country in Nigeria. Additionally, we have had to also implement practices and initiatives in our operations to ensure compliance with the raft of maritime regulations around green house gas (GHG) emissions and decarbonization.

The IMO and the EU have both set ambitious and strict deadlines for the achievement of these lofty environmental objectives, which we, as an international maritime services company must ensure that we and our clients comply with totally. To that end, we have proactively commenced the tracking of our carbon footprint on the vessels through the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), which measures the efficiency of a vessel and is given in grams of CO2 emitted per cargo-carrying capacity and nautical mile. We have had to look at this closely to ensure all the vessels we manage on behalf of our clients comply appropriately to achieve the IMO objective of carbon reduction of 40% by 2030.

Shipping has been identified as a major component of the NLNG-Group’s decarbonization plan, due to the significant role the ships play in carbon utilization. To that end, there are ongoing strategic  discussions and initiatives being developed and implemented to ensure that the shipping segment is closely monitored to ensure the realization of the decarbonization target set by the Group.

Let me also point out that the NLNG export terminal in Bonny Island, which is under the management of NSML, has been certified as an Ecoport PERS terminal. The Ecoport PERS certification is the highest port sector-specific environmental management standard, achieved mainly by leading global ports/terminals, and it attests to the fact that the facilities and the operations of the NLNG terminal comply with the requirements of leading environmental management practices; and confirms the proactive nature of the NSML Terminal Management team in the application of global best standards in port/terminal environmental management, as well as imbibing a culture of continuous improvement in port operations.

It should be noted that the NLNG-terminal is the only port in Sub Sahara Africa with this certification and the certification confers on NLNG a pioneer status, thus enabling it to take a leading role in driving the adoption of green, safe, and environmentally friendly port and terminal operations in Africa.

We believe that all the stakeholders in this room today have very significant and important roles to play in ensuring that Nigeria is not left behind in the new global maritime economy. As the strategic leaders of thought and regulators of the maritime industry in Nigeria, we must gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of these topical issues, whilst deliberately creating the awareness around these topics -which is one of the key objectives of this workshop. We should take it a step further by developing clear actions and guidelines for all stakeholders especially regulators from this workshop that will place us on the pathway to success – a safe, reliable and globally competitive maritime industry.

I therefore implore you all to fully participate in the discussions today, starting with the keynote and tone
setting address by the chief convener Professor Pat Utomi, someone who for over 3 decades has been in
the fore front of leading the discussions on the growth and development of not only the maritime sector
but also the Nigerian economy at large. Please take the opportunity to listen to the subject matter experts
who we have carefully selected and assembled to provide the necessary insights into these important
issues. By harnessing the collective wisdom, experience, and expertise of all the stakeholders in this hall,
we can co-create and shape a better future for the Nigerian maritime industry.

Let us imbibe a forward thinking culture that will enable us to embrace the emerging regulations and technological advancements in a most worthy manner that propels the Nigerian maritime industry towards sustainable growth and
prosperity.