By Victor Emeleze
The Nigerian maritime industry may be edging closer to reducing its long-standing dependence on foreign manpower, as the Nigerian Maritime Services Limited (NSML) Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE) disclosed that 272 cadets have completed sea-time training under its Seafarers Continuous Development Programme (SCDP).
The Manager, Maritime Centre of Excellence, Bonny, Dr. Effiong Ekanem-Attah, disclosed this on Friday in Lagos while presenting a paper on behalf of the Managing Director of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed, at the 2026 Maritime Training Summit and Awards organised by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), themed: “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda.”
According to NSML, the intervention is designed to address one of the most persistent barriers confronting aspiring African seafarers — inadequate access to quality sea-time opportunities required to obtain professional certification.
The company said another 54 cadets are currently either in college or onboard vessels, progressing towards obtaining their Certificates of Competency (CoC).
The development, NSML said, demonstrates how an integrated maritime training system can bridge the gap between classroom education and the practical experience required for professional certification and employment in the global maritime industry.
The company said its approach was driven by the need to tackle Africa’s chronic shortage of internationally certified maritime professionals, noting that many African shipping companies have historically relied on expatriates for critical technical and operational positions.
Beyond cadet training, NSML said it has pursued a deliberate Nigerianisation agenda through the development of indigenous maritime manpower.
As of August 2026, the company said it employs more than 700 seafarers, making it the largest employer of qualified Nigerian seafarers.
The NSML MCOE, established on Bonny Island as a maritime research, consultancy and training institution, has also secured a range of international accreditations, positioning it as a regional centre for globally benchmarked maritime training.
The centre is accredited by DNV for ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, Maritime Simulator Centre and Maritime Training Centre standards. It also has accreditation from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the Nautical Institute, Marshall Islands, Bermuda and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
These accreditations, the company said, are helping African maritime professionals obtain internationally recognised qualifications locally rather than travelling abroad for specialist training.
The centre has invested in advanced bridge and engine-room simulators as well as Dynamic Positioning systems, allowing trainees to practise vessel operations, emergency response, navigation and decision-making in simulated real-world environments.
NSML said the combination of simulation, certification, sea-time, research, consultancy and industry partnerships had transformed the traditional fragmented approach to maritime training into a structured talent-development pipeline.
The company said the MCOE’s activities also extend to maritime research and consultancy, including shipbuilding supervision, commercial project evaluation, dry-docking supervision, vessel lifecycle support and crew and vessel management advisory services.
It said plans were underway to expand the centre’s facilities with support from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), with the objective of increasing capacity, introducing additional courses and making most, if not all, international maritime certifications obtainable in Nigeria.
NSML said the expansion would further strengthen Nigeria’s position as a maritime training hub for West Africa and help retain training expenditure within the continent.
The company maintained that Africa’s maritime manpower challenge could not be solved by conventional classroom training alone, stressing the need for an ecosystem combining technology, practical sea-time, professional certification, mentorship, research and industry collaboration.
It said the experience of the MCOE showed that local institutions could develop maritime professionals capable of competing in the international labour market while simultaneously advancing indigenous participation in the shipping industry.
