SAFETY: Seafarers Union Strengthens Collaboration With LASWA On Waterways Operations

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association NMNOWTSSA on Friday in Lagos, reaffirmed strong commitment to ensuring safety of lives and properties in the inland waterways operations with collaboration from government agencies.

The seafaring union also confirmed its strategic  working relationship with the Lagos State Waterway Authority (LASWA) in projection of maritime safety and training of personnel.

Speaking at a week long programme put together by Bourdillion Marine and Technical Services in conjunction with LASWA and the union, National President of NMNOWTSSA,Comrade Bob Yousou expressed  readiness by the seafaring Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate body to partner with government agencies at all level to further boost maritime operations .

Yousou who was represented by the union’s Secretary General, Comrade John Okpono Aleakhue at the training programme for personnel of LASWA , maintained that the NMNOWTSSA has a robust working relationship with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) adding that LASWA would not be an exception in furtherance to promote and project maritime  safety .

He noted that the union will continue to partner marine related agencies of the state government adding that management of LASWA has played key roles in ensuring safety of passengers at sea.

According to him, training and re-training of personnel, officers and men of the authority was key to the sustainability of marine operations.

Also speaking , Convener of the empowerment programme and Managing Director, Bourdillion Marine and  Technical Services, Comrade Wale George disclosed that a total of 22 personnel were trained in marine related operations.

The Bourdillion boss said part of the  benefits in  the exercise for personnel include how to tackle issues bothering on  emergency at sea, Safety Of Lives At Sea (SOLAS) and Safety and Watch Keeping responses .

 

Continuing,he said the training centred on safety, navigation, medical and marine engineering, even as he  prayed for the LASWA boss to succeed in its mandate as stipulated in its scope of operations within the brown waters.

 

 

According to him, the training will help  LASWA to improve in its operations adding that with the  increasing number of commuters on waterways transportation, there was need to inject high level of professionalism in the movement of lives and properties via the inland waters.

 

Comrade George noted that Bourdillion Technical and LASWA have a robust working relationship in the area of capacity building and safety related empowerment of personnel.

 

 

He said “Am praying for you as the GM LASWA to succeed and for our waterways to be free from accident.

 

“I pray you take LASWA to an enviable height because you have done well in your operations and professionalism as far as safety is concern on the state waterways.

 

“LASWA will not sink under your leadership and LASWA will never sink but progress under your watch”,he added.

 

Earlier , General Manager of LASWA ,Mr. Emmanuel Oluwadamilola harped on the need for the union and management of Bourdillion Technical to further strengthen the existing collaboration for marine  safety .

 

Emmanuel stressed that the training would be a continuous exercise as part of measure to ensuring that personnel are equipped with the technical know how on marine operations.

 

The General Manager added that safety of lives and properties within the inland waterways was paramount for the agency adding that hands must be on deck to promote  , project pracautionary and preventive measures  that will mitigate waterway incidences.

 

According to him, collaboration with professional groups would further assist the agency to progress in its scope of operations.

 

 

By Roland Ekama.