Merchant Navy Union Seeks NIMASA Intervention To Sanction Trawler Owners Over Indiscriminate Sack Of Seafarers’

By Roland Ekama

Worried about the ill treatment of workers by shipping companies, the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNO/WTSSA), has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to issue Marine Notice to trawler owners to stop the indiscriminate hire and fire of seafarers’ aboard their vessels.

National President of NMNOWTSSA, Chief Engr. Bob Joseph Yousuo disclosed this on the occasion of Day of Seafarers’ celebration held on Tuesday , in Lagos .

Yousuo while highlighting the numerous challenges confronting Nigerian seafarers’ lamented that some shipping companies mostly fishing trawlers terminate sailors employment without due process, urging the apex maritime regulatory agency to call the employers of labour in this category to be mindful of disregard to the rights of an employee.

He said :”NIMASA as the regulatory Agency should as a matter of urgency issue a Marine Notice to all Seafarers employers engaged in this slavery attitude to take caution about the nonpayment of wages and under payment to Nigerian Seafarers as this is the current trend in our Maritime sector. A sanction should be placed on any Company with such an act.”

The National President also decried the issue of unemployment of Nigerian qualified seafarers, stating that with the Cabotage regime in force unemployment of Nigerian sailors would be a thing of the past.

He noted that waiver should not be an option as it is inimical to Nigerian seafarers, pointing out that “As we celebrate today, there is a need to look into some challenges facing them and proffer solution.”

According to him, seafarers spend most of their lifetime at sea with the roughest weather there is need for tax exemption noting that tax is levied on the place of abode hence the need to exempt them from tax payment like: – India and Philippines.

 

On the academy front, Yousuo said that the nation’s maritime institutions should be ungraded both in facilities and personnel to meet international standards for the issuance of Class II & I. stressing that the process will enable Nigerian seafarers to work aboard foreign and bigger vessels.

Speaking on the theme of the year’s international day of Seafarers ; “Navigating the future; safety first’’, the number one Africa seafarers’ urged management of NIMASA to open up relationships with other maritime nations for Certificate Of Competency (COC) recognition and employment of Nigerian seafarers.

In line with multilateral agreement, he noted that : “Ghana has mutual agreements with almost (30) thirty Maritime communities hence her COC’s is recognized by them and employers given to her Seafarers on this basis unlike Nigeria that has none. We urge NIMASA to open up relationships with other Maritime nations for COC’s recognition and employment of Nigerian Seafarers.”

“Today, we have been mandated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to exalt Seafarers worldwide due to their unique contributions to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole. In evaluating this means Seafarers’ contributions to making the Maritime sector a safer workplace. This can be done by Seafarers adherence to the following;Provision in the MARPOL Convention, Provision in the SOLAR Convention,Provision in the ISPS Convention, Provision in the STCW Convention etc.

He also urged the director general of NIMASA to strengthen the Task Force on Cabotage implementation, Ship registry department and ensure the availability of Discharge Booklets for seafarers’ stressing that Marine Notice should be issued to all shipping companies to have Collective Bargaining Agreement CBA in their individual organisations with the respective unions.

” Maritime nation and the hub of maritime activities in the West Africa sub region. The pride of a Maritime nation is to have vessels of its own. By this, it can serve economic purpose by carrying or transporting our crude oil & Natural resources. This will reduce capital flight, generate income and provide sea-time training for numerous Nigerian Cadets roaming about the streets for such opportunities. ”

“Today we have the privilege to express our appreciation to seafarers in this form:Thank you for fighting the roughest seas
,may no Seafarer go unloved, May no seafarer go alone, may no Seafarer be forgotten until they come home.” Yousuo prayed.