By Abigail Edeigba
Harboursandport.com: Lagos - August 13, 2024: The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is seeking the support of the United Nations in stopping the collection of "War Risk Charge" from vessels calling at Nigerian ports by foreign shipping lines.
The War Risk Charge is a supplementary carrier charge, that is only applied when insurance underwriters designate specific zones as war risks.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, disclosed this at a interactive session with maritime journalists in Lagos, said the decision to go to the UN is because of the involvement of some people he referred to as "cartels".
"For the past three years, there has not been piracy, and therefore this war risk charge must come down."
In coming down, it reduces the cost for our import and export, and with the equipment they are taking it to the United Nations, and the United Nations are going to support us."
The agency is also working to improve the Certificate of Competence (COC) "We will make it better, you will be able to look at us and say we're taking the best step in the right direction," the Director General assured.
Regarding the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), the Director General said, "The CVFF as at today is with the Federal Government and it is for the use of the ship owners, it is not a revenue, it is a contribution towards the development of the Nigerian shipping industry and ship owners that is recognised."
NIMASA is exploring ways to enlarge the scope of the CBFF and ensure its benefits to the country. "All of those opportunities, all of those plans we're looking at are for the benefit of the country," the Director General said.
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