The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNO/WTSSA) has condemned the alleged exploitation by some oil and gas offshore companies who mandated seafarers to foot the cost of acquiring Offshore Safety Permit (OSP) introduced by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as operational requirements by the International Oil and Gas Companies (IOCs).
The union’s National President, Comrade Bob Joseph Yousuo vowed to put an end to injustice done to Nigeria Seafarers under his watch.
It was gathered that DPR introduced the OSP as requirement posed by IOCs for seafarers’ to obtain at a fee but the seafarers union has raised the alarm over the directive put in place by the government agency.
According to a statement made available to newsmen by the Secretary General of the union, Comrade John Aleakhue Okpono on Saturday, quoted the President saying Nigerian seafarers or mariners are guided by maritime conventions and guidelines from the maritime regulatory body, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Yousou reiterated that ” It’s therefore not appropriate for anybody or group even regulatory body outside NIMASA to just wakeup and impose possession of certificates or permit who’s cost is to be born by Nigeria Seafarers.
“We as seafarers are governed and regulated by International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions and the Standard Training and Certification Watch keep (STCW’95) which is compulsory for seafarers’ to undergo ; Tanker familiarization; Personal Safety and social responsibilities.
“Others include: -Personal Survival techniques; Fire preventing and Fire fighting; Elementary first Aid and Proficiency in security awareness and other advance courses, ” the President explained.
He explained that “DPR is for oil and gas operation and any company under their purview is expected to meet up there requirements by way of paying for the cost of their permit (OSP) and not the seafarers who have gotten the required COCs as enshrined in the STCW ’95.
Yousou who further condemned the unprofessional act by oil and gas regulators for compelling seafarers to pay for the OSP certificate or permit , urged seafarers to report such cases as well as not to accept such responsibilities.
In bid to protect Nigerian seamen from untold hardship, Yousou urged all seafarers to update their Certificate Of Competency (CoC) in order to meet up with the modern challenges in the global profession.
The National President also call on Nigeria seafarers to see the need to embrace the union as a veritable tool in assisting on best practices.
He reiterated that he will not stop at nothing to defend the rights of Nigerian seafarers affirming that “As an affiliate of ITF, I will use the international connections or influence when I can’t get what rightly belong to us as seafarers through the apex maritime regulatory body, NIMASA”, he said.
He therefore call on NIMASA, to stand on it’s feet to ensure Oil & gas offshore regulator doesn’t impose undue possession of permit/certificates on seafarers under it’s watch, adding that ” International best practices must be adhere to strictly”, he opined.
The union’ s boss pointed out that the era of exploiting and enslaving Nigerian seafarers has gone noting that “We must bring back the lost glory and enjoy the dividend of our Noble profession.”
By Roland Ekama
