As MCoE Gets UK MCA Accreditation

by Kelvin Kagbare

The Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd, NSML, Mr. Abdulkadir Kere Ahmed has reiterated that the company is fully committed to achieving the net zero global shipping initiative and vision of the United Nations being implemented through it shipping regulatory agency, the International Maritime Organization, IMO.

Speaking at the just concluded maritime finance shipping conference which NSML hosted in collaboration with the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria, AMJON, the NSML Chief Executive was emphatic when he said:

“With the drive for decarbonization and emphasis on the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to combat the threats posed by climate change, there are a plethora of new rules and regulations owners need to be aware of when acquiring vessels”

“For us in NSML, we have been at the vanguard of driving compliance with standards and the regular training and development of our personnel to future-proof them in the ever-dynamic maritime industry”, Ahmed said.

According to him, the NSML is unwavering in its operations of ensuring the vessels of clients are maintained to the highest standards globally, ensuring they are seaworthy, cargo-worthy and globally tradeable.

His words “By so doing, we ensure that the owners enjoy a good return on investment (ROI) which is important to ensure the repayment of their loans”

“The shipping and maritime industry is a highly regulated one with great emphasis on safety, reliability and environmental sustainability. Compliance with conventions, regulations and guidelines primarily issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)”

“IMO’s SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention, MARPOL (Maritime Pollution) convention are core pillars of operation in the global maritime industry”

In its unyielding pursuit of excellence and in order to further grow and development Nigeria’s maritime industry, NSML sought after and secured the highly sought-after accreditation from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK MCA) for its Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE), becoming the first training centre in Africa to receive the highly sought-after accreditation.

“This groundbreaking achievement allows the Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE) to deliver and issue certificates for the STCW 2010 Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and Basic Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations courses, placing it among globally recognized maritime training institutions” the MD/CEO said

He clarified that the UK MCA as an agency under the UK Department for Transport, is renowned for regulating maritime standards and safety worldwide.

“Its accreditation is often referred to as the “Gold Standard” in maritime training, a mark of excellence that underscores the quality of the MCOE’s programmes” Abdulkadir Ahmed tols maritime stakeholders and media executive at the 2024 AMJON Finance Conference.

“Achieving this certification/accreditation was no easy feat as the centre underwent a rigorous two-year review process, during which it was thoroughly evaluated against stringent international standards”

The NSML boss stressed that the accreditation confirms that the MCOE’s courses are not only in line with global best practices but also crucial for enhancing maritime safety, modern navigation, and operational efficiency.

“Earning the UK MCA accreditation is a testament to the high standards we maintain at the MCOE. The accreditation has been a key objective for the MCOE since its inception”

“This accreditation allows us to offer the accredited courses, not just to our crew but to seafarers across Nigeria and beyond. With this milestone, we expect that seafarers will no longer need to travel overseas to renew their certifications, leading to significant savings in both travel and recertification costs”

“This achievement aligns perfectly with our growth and sustainability goals, positioning the MCOE as a fully-fledged, advanced maritime training centre, accredited to provide top-tier training and competency development programs for seafarers in Nigeria and Africa,” the NSML emphasized.