CREW CHANGE: Merchant Navy Union Wants NIMASA To Declare Seafarers’ As Essential Service Providers

In furtherance to effect crew change, the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Association has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to expedite actions for seafarers’ to be declared as essential service provider amid the COVID19 pandemic.

The Seafaring union stress the need for the apex maritime regulatory agency to mediate on the challenges faced by Nigerian seamen during the lockdown and movement restrictions by the government.

According to a statement sighted by our correspondent over the weekend , the union lamented on how the lockdown amidst the COVID19 caused untold hardship on Nigeria seafarers who find it difficult to disembark upon expiration or their contract onboard their various vessels.

It maintained that due to interstate movement restriction and dust curfew in some state , has distorted crew change ;calling on NIMASA to intervene and make necessary arrangement for seafarers’ crew change onboard ships.

The union further reiterated that special test kits and centers should be provided for members for the purpose of time factor saying consideration must be extended to Nigerian seafarers’ in line with lLO and IMO Covid 19 guidelines.

“In furtherance to our several discussions of the Maritime Labour departhment on the above subject and all the Agency efforts towards alleviating the suffering of our members (Officers) resulting from the deadly Covid 19 pandemic that has disrupred crew change vis a viz interstate movement restriction.

“Most of the seafarers’ onboard are stressed and full of fatigue due to over stayed onboard while the ones ashore are bored of staying at
home and are eager to go back onboard.

“Besides, some of the shipping companies are
complaining of the high cost implication of their operations as they threatened to
retrench, reduce salaries and also considering redundancy as an option.

“Covid 19 pandemic is a global epidemic that poses a serious challenge to the world economy. NIgeria not excluded. Note that shipping is very vital in the global supply chain.

“To this end, the leadership of our great Association while applauding you for your
interventions so far wishes to suggest the following;

“That Seafarers should be added to the list of essential service providers.
What interstate Covid 19 pandemic taskforce be notified or informed for the vita roles seafarers’ play in the world trade at this trying time and as such be granted free interstate movement provided they have evidence of Port health clearance.

“That shipping companies be mandated to provide transport to convene the
Seafarers’ in and out.

“That with the use of specialized test Kits, the 14 days quarantine period longer then necessary and onboard seafarers’ will be confidence that his free Covid 19 negative.

“Subsequently, we urge you to expedite action through the Ministry of Transport,Presidency to ensure that Seafaring is considered as essential service so that crew change can commence as soon as possible to avert fatality that is associated with fatigue and stress onboard.

“It is also very pertinent that the management of the agency pleads with the shipping companies to consider seafarers’contributions to the global trade irrespective of the prevailing circumstances in the world (Contraction agreement with lOC global drop in oil prices and Covid 19 pandemic)”,it added.