Cabotage: NISA Strikes 2000 Vessel Deal With Greek, Turkey Ship Owners

Minister of Transport: Idris Umar
and  President of NISA: Capt Niyi Labinjo
 

In a bid to ensure that indigenous ship owners take full advantage of the Cabotage Act, the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) says it is entering into partnership with Greece and Turkey in other to bring in more ships for Nigerian shipowners to benefit from.

Speaking at his Apapa residence on Monday, President of NISA, Capt Dada Labinjo said the association has‎ recognized the need to get ships for its members and it is going into various partnerships to make this a reality.

Even though he explained that the partnership is still in the works, the NISA boss assured that not less than 2000 new double haul vessels have been put together by Greek shipowners and they are set to enter into business with NISA members.

"The other time, I met with the Turkish Shipowners Association and we had a very useful discussion which has to do with how we can collaborate".

"This time, I am putting together 2000 Greek ship owners so that we can collaborate with them, they have the ships and we have the potentials, rather than them bringing their ships and getting into trouble because they are not Cabotage vessels, they are constantly detained, so we decided to work together" Labinjo stated.

The NISA boss maintained that: "We are not going to hold anything in trust for them, but we will work out what will be mutually beneficial in line with the provisions of the Cabotage law"

Capt. Labinjo noted that the greatest number of ships belong to the Greeks.‎

According to him, the Greek Ambassador to Nigeria is already aware of the agreement and he is very excited by it and he is looking forward to this mutual beneficial consideration.

Also, Labinjo explained that the Nigerian Ambassador to Greece is equally excited about the partnership.

He said: "I am a man with mission, my members need ships and I am out to make sure it happens. Everything is not all about money, under good arrangement you can have these things, but it takes somebody who has a vision"

"The vessels will be double hull and definitely they will be relatively new ships and we will have a good understanding with them" he assured.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/cabotage-nisa-strikes-2000-vessel-deal-greek-turkey-ship-owners