Nigeria’s maritime administration has shared its experience in digital seafarer documentation and certification with officials from The Gambia, as African maritime authorities look to strengthen compliance, transparency and service delivery. Trusted digital certification systems play a growing role in crew mobility, regulatory acceptance and operational efficiency.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has strengthened cooperation with the Gambia Maritime Administration (GMA) through a four-day study visit focused on digital seafarer documentation and certification, an area that affects how shipowners and managers recruit, verify and deploy crews across international fleets.
The visit, held from 8 to 11 June, brought Gambian maritime officials to Nigeria to examine NIMASA’s digital processes for record management, certification, verification and examinations. Both administrations said the objective was to support efficient, secure and internationally recognised seafarer certification systems.
Representing NIMASA Director General Dr Dayo Mobereola, Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi said the engagement demonstrated growing cooperation between the two maritime administrations and provided an opportunity for knowledge sharing across the region.
“We are delighted to share our experiences in digitalizing seafarers’ documentation and certification processes. The decision by our Gambian colleagues to choose NIMASA for this study visit is a recognition of the progress Nigeria has made in maritime administration and human capacity development,” said Adeyemi.
During the visit, officials reviewed procedures for issuing medical certificates, conducting examinations, issuing Certificates of Proficiency and maintaining the integrity and international acceptance of seafarer credentials.
Digital certification systems can reduce administrative burdens, improve document verification and support compliance with international requirements. Reliable digital records also help streamline crew changes and minimise delays linked to manual documentation processes.
Leading the Gambian delegation, Manager, Ship Registry and Seafarers Affairs at the Gambia Maritime Administration, Falu Sey said Nigeria’s experience offered practical lessons for strengthening maritime administration.
“We chose NIMASA because of the significant strides Nigeria has made in maritime development and digital transformation. The practical demonstrations and technical sessions have provided valuable insights that will support our efforts to strengthen maritime administration and improve service delivery in The Gambia,” said Sey.
The exchange forms part of wider efforts among African maritime administrations to modernise certification systems and improve regional cooperation, with digitalisation playing a larger role in supporting seafarer mobility, regulatory confidence and maritime governance.
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