Nigerian company becomes first to embrace port marine competency initiative
Energy and marine consultancy, ABL, has launched a job competency profiling framework for port marine personnel, with particular focus on senior roles that manage marine safety at terminals and high-risk berths and jetties. The terminal management team of Nigerian company NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) is the first to adopt the framework.
Until now, the industry has had to rely on international guidelines on training in the port sector, supported by an internationally recognised ports training course that covers the fundamentals of occupational safety and health specific to the port sector. While such offerings provide basic frameworks relating to shoreside working generally, they do not meet the requirements of senior positions who manage marine safety at terminals and high-risk berths and jetties.
“This is the gap we are aiming to fill with our specific job competency profiling framework for port marine personnel,”
says Daniel Wood, ABL’s head of ports & harbours governance.
11 competency profiles
ABL’s newly developed port marine competency framework consists of 11 job competency profiles that are designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of port marine staff, including terminal management teams. The framework includes verification, definition, measurement, analysis, and design of competency requirements across four focus areas: ship management, maritime assurance, terminal management, and marine logistics.
The framework aims to address skills dilution and misaligned job competency profiles, ensuring alignment with international maritime standards such as STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping), IMHA (International Maritime Health Association), SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), MARPOL (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), and OCIMF (the Oil Companies International Marine Forum).
The framework has been developed in partnership between ABL’s maritime and asset integrity management teams.
“This innovative approach has significant potential for global application. By combining our expertise and resources, we have developed a scalable model that addresses industry challenges, supports continuous improvement, and sets new benchmarks for competency management,”
adds Daniel Wood.
Nigerian first mover
The terminal management team of, NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited, based in Port Harcourt, is the first to adopt the framework.
Supported by ABL’s teams in Aberdeen and London, NSML has created job competency profiles for more than 40 roles. Each profile is aligned with recognised international standards and integrated with current job descriptions. A structured roadmap for personnel development has also been identified.
“The delivery of these 11 new Job Competency Profiles has elevated our team’s skillset to exceed the constantly evolving international maritime standards. This collaboration has set a benchmark for excellence and ensures we strive towards our vision of being a leading international maritime services company.”
Dr Effiong Ekanem Attah, NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML).
In 2025, NSML will implement the job competency profiles and thereafter assess and verify resources to ensure ongoing alignment and capability development.
“Investing into making port and terminal operations safer and more efficient is also an investment in its competitiveness. We are impressed with NSML’s desire to further enhance its operations and competitive edge in the market,”
says Daniel Wood.
ABL offers a wide range of capabilities to ports, harbours and terminals globally. Its ports and harbour specialists, ex-pilots, master mariners, naval architects, maritime civil engineers and risk analysts have many years’ experience associated with providing consultancy services, reviews, evaluations, audits, assessment and studies for ports.