ASSESSMENT OF MARITIME SECURITY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION IN MARITIME

Information Communication Technology (ICT) refers to several forms of information exchange between two or more devices like computers, mobile PDAs and hi-tech devices through which any of the several methods of interconnection, principally through the Internet can be initiated to perform a defined task. These technologies provide speedy, inexpensive, secure and convenient means of communication.

Therefore, in developing countries Nigeria precisely, the impact of ICT in the maritime sector for maritime operations and security cannot be over emphasised.

It is as a result of this that this research study is determined to assess the impact of ICT on security of Maritime operations.

The cross-sectional survey research design, which involves the use of questionnaires and interviews were adopted in this study. Using simple random sampling technique a total of sixty (60)respondents were drawn from Apapa and Tincan Island Ports, Lagos, Nigeria.

This design was chosen because it provides appropriate methodology for assessment of security and ICT in the Maritime sector of the nation’s economy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF STUDY

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

1.3     THE OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH

1.4     SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF STUDY

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.6     RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

1.7     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

1.8     DEFINITION OF TERMS

REFERENCES

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

2.1 ICT, SECURITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY

2.1.1 INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

ICT TOOLS/MATERIALS

2.1.2 SECURITY

ACTORS IN THE SECURITY SYSTEMS

2.1.3 NATIONAL SECURITY

2.2 THEORETICAL REVIEW

2.3 ICT REVOLUTION AND GLOBALIZATION

2.4 ICT, GLOBALIZATION AND SECURITY MATTERS

2.5 ICT, GLOBALIZATION AND MARITIME PIRACY IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA

2.6 MARITIME SECURITY IN NIGERIA AND AFRICA THE DYNAMICS AND TRENDS OF MARITIME PIRACY INCONTEMPORARYAFRICA

2.7 THE SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF SEA PIRACY AND MARITIME

INSECURITY IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA

2.8MEASURES TO MAINTAIN NATIONAL SECURITY

2.9 ROLES OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

2.10 PROBLEMS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL SECURITY

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1     RESEARCH DESIGN

3.2     SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

3.2.1  SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

3.3     RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

3.4     METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION

3.5     METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

HYPOTHESIS TESTING

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1     SUMMARY

5.2     RECOMMENDATIONS

5.3     CONCLUSION

APPENDIX

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Maritime sector is that sector of the economy that deals with sea transportation and movement of goods and materials from one place to another. It oversees the Water borne transport which is one of the modes of transportation of goods and or persons, which has for centuries been the main prerequisite for trade transactions between nations and regions, and has without doubt, played an important role in creating economic development and prosperity (Igbokwe,2001).The maritime industry occupies a very prominent position in the economies of nations all over the world.

The industry in its strict sense embraces all business activities which take place within the maritime environment. These includes offshore economic activities such as fishing, salvage, towage, underwater resource exploitation/extraction, and onshore economic activities in ports, shipping activities, ship construction, repair and maintenance.

Of all these, shipping stands out as the greatest boost to a nation’s economic growth and international status. This is because all other maritime activities revolve around shipping. The oil and gas sector, for instance depends on shipping, as it is the vehicle that drives it, enabling it to make all the difference in an economy. Due to the close link between shipping activities and economic development, most nations cannot afford to toy with the industry (Ndikom, 2011).Shipping as one of the world’s most international industries makes seaborne trade in a sense at the apex of world economic activity. As business has become more international, and newly industrialized countries have taken their place alongside the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) countries, the maritime industry has provided the vehicle for an extraordinary growth of trade. This has also led to the progression from a world of isolated communities to an integrated global community (Stopford, 2003).

Shipping is a complex industry and the conditions which govern its operations in one sector do not necessarily apply to another. In terms of its main assets, the ships vary widely in size and type. They provide the whole range of service for a variety of goods, whether over shorter or longer distances. The shipping market is made of the liner shipping, tramp shipping, bulk shipping, the charter market etc. And because shipping is a service industry, ship demand depends on several factors including price, speed, reliability and security (Stopford, 2003).

Maritime transport is essential to the proper operation of any country’s economy and a vital part of a nations transport infrastructure. A minister of transport in the federal republic of Nigeria was once quoted to have said that transport is to the Nigerian economy what the artery is to the blood circulation (Igbokwe, 2011).

In Nigeria, there are shipping lines involved in the transportation of cargo like oil, bulk cargo and finished goods to and fro Nigerian ports.

Coming to the area of study, Maersk line is a sub division of the AP Moller-Maersk group and is involved in terminal operations, supply services, drilling and oil tanker services to a number of users in Nigeria. Its headquarters is based in Copenhagen Denmark with subsidiaries and offices in more than 135 countries worldwide, which houses a worldwide container services, logistics and forwarding solutions and terminal activities under the brand names (Maerskline.com, 2012).

Maerskline is the largest operating unit in AP; Moller- Maerskline operates in over 550 vessels and has a capacity of 2.2 million TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Units). It is currently the largest container shipping in the world (Maerskline, 2012).

AP Mollers-Maersk’s independent APM Terminals business unit with its separate headquarters in the Hague, Netherlands, Operates a Global Port, Terminal and Inland services Network with interests in 56 ports and container terminals in 36 countries on five continents.

A.P Moller-Maersk’s independent A.P.M Terminals is the Terminal operator at Apapa container Terminal.

Maerskline Nigeria commenced services in 1953, initially working under agents like John-Holt shipping Nigeria Limited, and registered its corporate entity in Nigeria on February 2nd 1988. Their main office locations include

Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Kano (Maerskline.com, 2012).

Based on the above assertions the following sections of this study shall dwell more on the various concepts of the subject matter under study.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Over the years, the operations and services rendered to users within the confines of the operating environment of the maritime sector have not been satisfactory due to poor usage of ICT and insecurity. This is due to lack of modern shipping policies and some government policy inconsistencies.

Shipping operations and services have over the years been dominates by foreign shipping companies and vessels of which Maersk-line is inclusive.

Therefore, a critical analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing these shipping lines and services in Nigeria is very important. Also many factors like the management of bunker, activities of pirates, application of information and communication technology, safety practices and ship turn round time affect the growth and survival of a shipping line.

Some shipping lines know this fact. While some have taken the lead in innovating trends that would help them overcome these challenges, others sit with no attempt to innovate; still waiting for the changes to blow them away. Therefore with the attempt in this direction of research study, the impact of security and Information Communication Technology (ICT) shall be critically assessed herein.

1.3     THE OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH

Due to the economic prospects of the maritime sector of the country, there is great need for improvement on the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the sector. The operations carried out by shipping lines are complicated as much they are technical. And as we know, the shipping industry drives national economic development. Also for any shipping line to remain on top in the industry, it needs to keep abreast with the current trends, the market and technological factors that drive efficiency.

A lot of factors affect the effectiveness and efficiency of a shipping line’s operations, ranging from the port infrastructure, bunker management strategy, safety practices, government policies, ship replacement technique etc.

A critical investigation and analysis of these shipping operations will bring to the fore, more insight into the opportunities and challenges being faced by shipping lines in Nigeria, so as to help keep managers and students abreast of the survival techniques in the ever competitive shipping industry.

The business of maritime is a world encircling enterprise whose devotees must have a vast knowledge of matters great and small.

1.4     SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF STUDY

The scope of this research work is the Nigerian Maritime sector which in this context is also referred to as the ‘shipping’ sector. Though challenges and prospects of the sector reviewed is not significantly different from that of other West African countries surrounding it like Guinea, Ghana, Benin, Niger etc. Thus the findings and recommendations of this work when completed can be applied to other above named developing countries.

The work was limited by the major following challenges;

• Non-availability of adequate research materials on the subject matter.
• Short research duration assigned by the project supervisor
• Lean financial budget for the research

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Maritime operations are vast and therefore, the need for it to be carried out efficiently and effectively; which brings us to asking the various following research questions.

• What is the future of Maritime operations in Nigeria?
• What are the shore-based initiatives that will influence ship operations?
• How do you leverage integrated Communications and Information technology to drive fleet performance?
• How do government policies affect Maritime operations and services?

1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The research hypotheses are as follows:

Hypothesis 1:

Hi:     There have been increase and efficiency in port security operations due to application of ICT

Ho:    There have not been increase and efficiency in port security operations due to application of ICT

Hypothesis 2:

Hi:     The increase in port security efficiency is attributed to the application of ICT in Maritime operations

Ho:    The increase in port security efficiency is not attributed to the application of ICT in Maritime operations

1.7     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

History they say is made in just a day, with the successful completion of this project work, not only was history made but a great resource has been added to the few existing ones on involvement of ICT and security on the operations of the Maritime sector of the country.

At the end of this research, we will be able to appreciate the fact that this study will enable to make use of the work in both their academic and research work.

It will also be made clear that various Maritime operations today need ICT for secure, effective and efficient shipping operations.

1.8     DEFINITION OF TERMS

ICT: Information Communication Technology

Security: Security is the degree of protection to safeguard a nation, union of nations; Person or persons against danger, damage, loss and crime

Maritime: All economic and business operations that involves movement and transportation of goods and services from one place to another over the sea.

SALW: Small And Light Weapons

WiFi: Wireless Fidelity

OECD: Organization for Economic Corporation and Development

TEU: Twenty foot Equivalent Units

Etc.

*NB: the student can add more keywords to the “Definition of Terms” from the content of this work especially from chapter 2.*

REFERENCES

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