Nigeria issued security compliance certificates in line with new global shipping regulations to only five percent of its ports on Thursday, but said key oil exports would be unaffected by the new rules.
New United Nations security procedures for ships and ports world-wide came into force on Thursday amid fears that lack of compliance in some Third World countries could interrupt trade.
Director-General of the National Maritime Authority Ferdinand Agu said there was a fallback procedure for non-compliant ports to ensure uninterrupted trade.
"I don't think the global community expects 100 percent compliance by vessels and port authorities by July 1," he said.
"There are procedures to ensure trade is not disrupted until all the conditions are met."
"This will not hold back exports. Even when the ship reaches a non-compliant port, there is a protocol."
The new code, tabled after the September 11 attacks on the United States, requires the training of on-board security officers, emergency procedures to deal with attacks, and a raft of other measures in ports and terminals that tighten security.
Comments
Comments are closed.