Nigerian ship owners have joined forces with their Turkish counterparts to ensure that the sustainable growth of the shipping sector of the economy.
The partnership between the ship owners will ensure that ship yards, and passenger ships are built for the benefit of Nigerians and Turkey nationals.
To ensure that the synergy works, the Nigerian ship owners under the aegis of the Nigerian Shipowners' Association (NISA) said it has entered into a working relationship with the Turkish Shipowners' Association (TUSA).
The move is aimed at ensuring the development of the Nigerian maritime industry in the years ahead.
A member of TUSA, Captain Yunus Can, who disclosed this in Lagos said his association was ready to collaborate with NISA in the area of shipbuilding, repair and sharing of latest shipping technology.
He, however, said the collaboration is pertinent in other to move the country maritime industry forward.
Can revealed that TUSA had been in existence for over a century hence, it is ready to share its wealth of experience with its Nigeria counterpart.
“We are ready to know you, exchange contact with you and collaborate for the future,” he said.
On his promise on the setting up of shipbuilding and repair yards, Jan said they would help in providing technology that would help in setting up shipyards in the country.
He explained that since he came into the country, he has not found any shipbuilding or repair yard.
“I may not have seen but we at TUSA are ready to help you in this regard. We will exchange idea. We will support you in building passengers ships and we will help set them up. We will bring in technology for ship building and repair,” he said.
President of NISA, Captain Niyi Labinjo, in his welcome address, said the visit of TUSA was strategic and highly important because there was a lot to learn from TUSA due its many years of experience and its latest technology in shipping.
"I thank you for your support and am happy that you said you are ready to help us in the area of ship building and repair and we are ready to enter into serious deliberation with you in that aspect. We are much aware of the progress you have made in the shipping industry. We are aware that your maritime industry has grown tremendously and your technology is of global best practices.
"Also, with your association being over a hundred years above ours, there is a lot to learn from you, that is why the visit is unique," he said.
Labinjo also said that his association is ready and willing to learn from TUSA who he described as an older and a more experienced association.
"The collaboration with your association will be in the interest of Turkish shipowners association and ours also. We are also interested in learning from an older association about how our own maritime association that is in the infant stage can learn from an older and more matured association," he said.
He also assured Can of his association’s readiness to collaborate with TUSA.
He explained that it will be in our interest to cooperate with Turkish shipowners in the interest of our industry.
“We are ready to work together in shipbuilding, technology and sharing of information in the area TUSA has information and we don't have," he said.
According to him, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will be intimated with the working relationship between the two associations.
"NIMASA will be carried along but what is most important is that there is willingness between the two associations to work together in Shipbuilding and repair, technology and area of sharing information regarding what not they have experienced and we have not.
"Training will also be included but what is important is laying the foundation which was what we are doing and of course, NIMASA will become privy of everything that will eventually happen," he said.