NSML Confirms Removal of War Risk Insurance on Nigeria-bound Vessels, Provides Seatime for 300 NIMASA Cadets, Employs 100

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) has confirmed that the War Risk Insurance Premiums which was slammed on Nigeria-bound ships by foreign shipping companies due to the insecurities in the Gulf of Guinea region has now been removed.

Managing Director of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed confirmed this in Lagos on Monday at a press conference to launch the company’s new logo, marking a significant turning point in the Company’s evolution into a leading integrated marine services company and its growth, diversification, and expansion into new markets and service offerings.

In an interactive session, Abdulkadir noted that the recorded successes of the Deep Blue Project, anchored by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was responsible for the removal of the war risk insurance.

“War Risk is a perception of safety in the region, and I am glad to mention the fact that the NIMASA deep blue project has significantly addressed the concerns of safety within West African waters.

“When it comes to war risk insurance, if I recall correctly, it has been removed.
However, for it to be sustained, we need to continue to create an environment that is safe and secure because this can change at any moment.

“We really want to commend NIMASA for what they have done in terms of the Deep Blue Project, it has really enhanced security within the Gulf of Guinea” he said

On the provision of sea time for cadets, the NSML Managing Director noted that the company have actually taken quite a number of NIMASA cadets under the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), adding that a lot of them have finalised their programmes and achieved their certifications and quite a few of them have been employed within NSML.

In terms of numbers, he said that close to 300 cadets have actually sailed on NSML vessels, about 200 have finalised their certifications, while 100 have been employed by NMSL.

“The challenge of sea berth is a global challenge, but more so in Nigeria because we are a growing industry in terms of shipping, the number of vessels that are sea going are limited.
We are looking at more opportunities to provide additional berth spaces so that we can even take a bit more” he said

Abdulkadir while introducing the company’s new logo, stated that the updated visual identity reflected a closer alignment with the NLNG Group’s rebranding project, which started with the rebranding of NLNG in 2024. He said the new logo reinforced NSML’s commitment to collaborative success, excellence, and sustainability in the maritime sector.

The new logo features an “advanced swivel” in green, lemon and blue colours. The swivel symbolises NSML’s agility, evolution, and growing role as a world-class provider of integrated maritime services. As a member of the NLNG group, this design also reflects NSML’s vital role in connecting energy production with global markets.

“Our new logo is more than just a visual update,” Ahmed stated. “It embodies our core values of Professionalism, Teamwork, Respect, Excellence, and Care, reaffirming our mission to provide cost-efficient maritime services in a safe, reliable, and sustainable manner. This change also reflects our vision to become a recognised international leader in integrated shipping and maritime services, offering innovative and sustainable maritime solutions.

“We provide world-class integrated shipping and maritime services while fostering international maritime skills and standards in Nigeria. Over the years, we have committed to achieving excellence in the services we provide. We believe we have earned the right to aim for increased leadership in the industry and that is what this new brand is inspiring us to do.

“As part of the NLNG Group, we play a crucial role in connecting energy production to markets. As the energy world changes, we are evolving too, growing from traditional ship management to full-scale maritime solutions provider. By working smart and staying innovative, we are helping to drive sustainable development across Africa while supporting the global shift to cleaner energy. This puts NSML at the heart of the push for industry growth and a greener future,” he said.

Describing the colours behind the new logo, Ahmed stated that the green colour signified NSML’s strong commitment to safety, leadership in the maritime industry, and dedication to sustainability whilst the blue colour reflected NSML’s reliability and operational excellence. He added that the lemon colour represents NSML’s spirit of innovation, commitment to excellence, and focus on delivering forward-thinking maritime solutions for a sustainable energy future.

The rebranding is expected to strengthen NSML’s brand identity, positioning the company as a leading provider of integrated maritime services within and beyond Nigeria.