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Our Services
Our services focus
on
ADVISORY & CONSULTANCY
We have expertise in ship registration, ship
arrest/release, cargo claims, marine insurance,
collisions, salvage, towage and carriage of goods by
sea. We give technical guidance in the preparation of
financing-facility documentation, and also act as
solicitors for ship sale and purchase transactions. We
have a thorough mastery of the Nigerian cabotage regime,
and can advise on various aspects including
registration, waivers and licenses, restricted trades,
joint ventures, due diligence for ship acquisition,
preparation of documentation for ship sale and purchase,
review of carriage contracts, charter-party preparation,
and joint ventures
Ship Finance
The Nigerian ship finance market
currently offers immense opportunities for both local
and foreign investors. Cabotage offers a whole new
perspective for ship financing, in addition to
traditional areas like import financing for bulk and
tramp trades. Extensive regulations govern financing for
cabotage both under the Act and the operational
guidelines, and need to be borne in mind by prospective
investors. Access to funds by operators will be
determined by ability to meet set expectations and
prospects of the particular trade. Our ship finance
services cover legal advisory services, documentation
and facilitation.
Ship Registration
We
advice on, and facilitate entry of ships in the Nigerian
Register. We also advise on flag options for trade in
the West and Central African region
Cabotage
In
April 2003 the Nigerian Parliament passed the Coastal
and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, and on 1 May
2004, the Act came into effect. The essence of this new
regime for domestic waterborne commerce is to develop
local capacity by guaranteeing markets for indigenous
operators who have satisfied the requisites of the law.
Foreign operators are able to continue their involvement
under platforms which are in accordance with the Act, so
far as the necessary documentation has been satisfied.
We assist in packaging contracts for Nigerian cabotage
trade both for local and foreign interests. Our cabotage
Advisory services include:
Ship Sale and Purchase Documentation
We help
our clients who are about to purchase ships through
every stage of the transaction. We advise on risk
management issues in the course of negotiation, and
guide them through every aspect of completion. We also
represent shipyards in the preparation of documentation
for new building contracts and sale of refurbished
vessels. We work with financial institutions seeking
professional advise on shipbuilding or purchase related
facilities.
Waivers/License Application
We work
with local and foreign ship owners and shipping
companies, including joint ventures, which do not
completely meet requirements under the Cabotage Act,
advising on the waiver application process, and
technical aspects to be borne in mind. We also advise
companies interested in opposing the grant of
waivers/licenses for specific contracts.
Cabotage Registration
We
facilitate easy registration of vessels in the Cabotage
Register by maintaining a good working relationship with
the National Maritime Authority, and our familiarity
with the registration process.
Documentation and Due Diligence
We
undertake review of documentation for all kinds of
shipping transactions. We offer legal advise and can
make input to meet the commercial expectations of our
clients. We also prepare such documentation where
necessary.
Training & Conferences
We
design and run training programs on a diverse range of
issues traversing maritime transport, law, finance,
trade, policy, environment, safety, economics,
administration and security. We are able to work out
programs to meet specific industry needs, and
continually expand our network of resource partners to
effectively provide up-to-date training. Our seminars
and workshops are specifically designed for niche
groups, and always provide intense learning and
networking opportunities. Our open programs offer
excellent opportunities for industry development and
networking, bringing together the most experienced and
knowledgeable resource persons from across industry. We
have since 2004, convened the most consistent maritime
training programs for corporate organisations, and in
the process, have trained staff from nearly two hundred
Nigerian and multinational companies. We are able to
design and provide bespoke programs for specific
categories of staff, condescending on the most important
issues that challenge them in their jobs and work-place
relationships.
Leveraging on our industry contacts and networks, in
addition to relationships in allied sectors of energy,
oil and gas, we organise conferences and exhibitions on
topical and value-adding themes as they develop. We are
organisers of the Oil Trading and Logistics Conference,
(OTL). We are facilitators of the countrywide Maritime
Stakeholders Forum on behalf of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Publishing
We are publishers of MARITIME NIGERIA, Nigeria’s leading
maritime and allied services journal. MARITIME NIGERIA
has been acknowledged as the most credible and
distinctive platform for industry profiling, traversing
the entire gamut of the Nigerian maritime industry and
associated trades to give a broad overview of the key
sub-sectors, important companies, persons and
organizations.
Maritime Nigeria provides an unbeatable platform for
organizations doing shipping or shipping related
businesses in or with Nigeria to sell key aspects of
their profiles to the world markets. Maritime Nigeria is
a revolution in Nigeria’s shipping landscape, and sets
an agenda for development and exploitation of the
country’s latent potential as a regional maritime hub
Research and Intelligence
We continually study shipping markets to understand
trends and new developments. We are able to provide
intelligence into the various operational areas of the
shipping industry to reflect relative strengths and
guide investment or divestment decisions. Our policy
specialists are regularly called on to make resource
input into the design and implementation of government
policies and programs. We provide bespoke research
services for our clients specific needs, including
feasibilities and due diligence
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