Wike Unveils Land Ship, MV Rivers Pride, Approves C of O

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has formally unveiled Nigeria’s first ever land ship, MV Rivers Pride.

He also approved a certificate of occupancy for the land in which the land ship is situated at Ozuoba, along the East-West Road, Port Harcourt.

The land ship was built by an indigenous and privately-owned maritime training institution, Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre.

To give effect to his approval, he directed the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre, Sir Charles K. Wami to meet with the Director of Lands to bring up his file on his table to append his signature.

Wike stated this at the formal unveiling of the land ship and the foundation laying of 200 cadets accommodation block in the centre.

Apparently pleased with the strides made by the centre, Wike stated that the Rivers State Government would do everything possible to assist the centre to grow to an enviable height to the benefits of Rivers State indigenes in particular and Nigerians in general. He lauded Wami and the management of the centre for the achievements it has recorded since it was established.

Several dignitaries and stakeholders in the maritime industry including the Royal Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Mr. Jens-Petter Kjemprud, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside lauded the centre for the efforts it has put in human capacity development in the maritime industry over the years.

Wami had in his welcome address solicited for the support of the state government to ensure that the centre attain set goals and objectives, even as he asked for a certificate of occupancy to enable the centre get financial assistance from commercial banks for future developments.

Wami stated that the centre needs the encouragement of all stakeholders to continue to provide maritime education and training of international repute. According to him, Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre has a trend of rendering and improving on high quality training to guarantee competence in a conducive and friendly environment. It is a one-stop-shop for the marine, oil and gas training.

He explained that the official commissioning of the facility was meant to bridge the gap in maritime education and training in the country.

The land ship comprises full mission navigational bridge simulator; ECDIS Simulation Room; GMDSS (Navigation) Simulation Room which conforms to the 2010 Manila Amendments by the global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); and the basic dynamic positioning class.

Other components of the land ship are advance dynamic positioning and examination class; nautical institute examination room; and the drilling system crane simulator.

The centre has the approval of local and international regulatory agencies across the globe. These include NIMASA, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), OPITO, United Kingdom, and the International Well Control Forum (IWCF), United Kingdom.

Others are the Nautical Institute (NI), Oil and Gas Training Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), International Association of Safety and Survival Training (IASST), United Kingdom, and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigerian (PETAN).

Besides the fact that it is a member of British Safety Council among others, it is also affiliated to the Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana.  

 

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