Lloyd’s Register (LR) and NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) have unveiled their plans to establish a global maritime association in Nigeria. This association is introduced as a new platform for industry leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of transportation, energy, infrastructure, and investment.
Maritime Development in Africa
This initiative has been announced as part of the ongoing commitment of the project's partners to support maritime development in Africa. The NSML-LR Maritime Future Association aims to bring together organizations from the maritime value chain, including ship owners, operators, regulators, energy companies, investors, insurers, ports, and technology providers.
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Focus on Collaboration and Economic Growth
The discussions of this association will focus on how transportation, energy, infrastructure, technology, human resources, and investment can collectively contribute to economic growth, strengthen supply chains, and support sustainable development across Africa and beyond.
This initiative is based on a memorandum of understanding that LR and NSML signed at Gastech 2025 to enhance skills, training, and maritime capabilities in West Africa. The proposed association represents the next phase of this collaboration and seeks to create a long-term platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge sharing, and industry leadership.
The launch of this association comes as the maritime sector in Africa enters a period of significant transformation. Increasing investment in LNG, offshore energy, ports, transportation, and logistics enhances the importance of maritime infrastructure, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration. At the same time, digitalization, carbon reduction, and evolving business models are changing the industry's needs.
Andy McCracken, LR's Growth Director, and Abdulqadir Ahmed, CEO of NSML, attended the announcement ceremony for the NSML-LR Maritime Future Association at Gastech 2026. This association aims to position Nigeria as a central point for marine expertise and global maritime discussions, reinforcing the goal of partnerships to demonstrate that Nigeria can be a leader in maritime innovation and leadership.
Ngazi Guame, Business Director and Senior Representative of LR in Africa, stated, “The maritime future of Africa depends on how effectively we connect people, infrastructure, technology, energy, and investment.” She added, “The Maritime Future Association is created by the industry and for the industry, and our goal is to create a platform that connects stakeholders from the value chain to explore practical solutions and support sustainable growth in the maritime sector.”
A spokesperson for NSML added, “NSML has always been at the forefront of shaping discussions in Nigeria's maritime industry. Therefore, the NSML-LR Association serves as a strategic platform for maritime stakeholders to engage on critical industry issues and develop joint solutions that contribute to the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability of this sector.”
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