By Philip Nwosu
The Nigeria Navy has launched a maritime safety information portal to help give adequate information to vessels plying Nigerian waterways on the appropriate channel to follow during navigation. The portal would disseminate information on navigational route and provide warning of uncharted dangers to navigation and meteorological forecast to ships’ movement within the country’s waterways.
Launching the Maritime Safety Information Portal, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, said that through the portal, the hydrographer of the Navy, as the charting authority for the country, would be able to effectively reach mariners by providing them with information that would aid their safe navigation through Nigerian waters.
He said that mariners would be able to easily reach out to the hydrographer to report any uncharted features observed during their voyage within Nigerian waters, which may constitute dangers to navigation so that such information could be shared with other mariners through the portal
The naval chief, who was represented at the occasion by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah, said the importance of the portal for the maritime safety information could not be overemphasized, especially as it concerns safety and security within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He stated that robust maritime activities cannot thrive without security and safety, adding that safety and security within the maritime environment in Nigeria depends largely on the availability of accurate and timely hydrographic data and information.
Ibas said that the data could be in form of nautical charts, paper and electronic navigational charts, nautical publications as well as essential navigational warning about uncharted dangers and other related issues, which need to be disseminated quickly to facilitate safe conduct of maritime activities.
He also explained that, as a member of the International Hydrographic Organisation and other international maritime bodies, it is Nigeria’s obligation to provide mariners with hydrographic data to promote safety and security.