Wrecks: NIMASA gives a week ultimatum to ship owners

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has given a 7-day ultimatum to ship owners, operators and gas companies to remove wrecks, derelicts and abandoned vessels in Nigerian waters or face the consequence.

NIMASA, in a notice signed by its management, stated that all owners of wrecks, abandoned ships and derelicts within Nigerian waters constituting danger to navigation and environmental hazards to Port Terminals, water channels and its environs should remove them within this stipulate time.

The Agency also stated that failure by owners or their agents to comply with the order within the stipulated period will compel the Agency to receive and remove same in accordance with its statutory powers as Receivers of Wrecks in Nigerian waters under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2007.

The notice is in pursuant to the Agency’s statutory mandate and responsibility over the safety of navigation of vessel and security within the Nigerian waters as well as the protection of the maritime environment.