LASWA completes Africa’s first ferry safety mentoring programme

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has concluded the third module of Africa’s first Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme, a initiative aimed at professionalising the continent’s inland waterway sector and strengthening safety standards.

The module, focused on ferry safety, trained 50 emerging ferry professionals in emergency preparedness, incident response, and practical safety procedures, LASWA said in a statement on Tuesday.

The programme, run in partnership with Interferry, the global ferry industry association, combined self-paced virtual learning with hands-on drills. Academic sessions were led by Dr. Bolaji Dunsin and Dr. Ayaobu-Cookey of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research. Participants also attended an interactive session with Darren Johnston, Vice President of Marine Operations at BC Ferries, who shared international best practices in ferry safety and operations.

The practical component, held on 29 July 2026 at the Prime Atlantic Safety Services Limited training facility in Ogun State, gave participants real-world experience in essential emergency response procedures. Under the supervision of PASS instructors, attendees practised abandon ship drills, including alarm recognition, mustering, headcounts, and survival craft preparation and deployment. They also trained in man-overboard response, covering bridge coordination, vessel manoeuvring, rescue operations, and first aid.

LASWA’s General Manager, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, commended the PASS training team, led by Senior Training Instructor Mr. Gbenga Kuku, for delivering world-class instruction. He also thanked PASS Managing Director Mrs. Folake Soyannwo for providing the state-of-the-art facility.

Emmanuel acknowledged Interferry for sponsoring the programme and extended special appreciation to Mrs. Shari Corrigan, Director of Conferences and Finance at Interferry and Executive Sponsor of FerrySafe, for her commitment to advancing ferry safety across Africa.

With Module Three complete, the programme now moves to Module Four: Introduction to Engine Systems, scheduled for August 2026. The initiative continues to set benchmarks for professional excellence, building a cohort of technically proficient and safety-conscious ferry personnel to support safer, more efficient inland waterway transport in Lagos, Nigeria, and beyond.