NIMASA suspends activities of manning agents over poor Seafarers’ welfare

ABIOLA Seun |

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced the ban on manning agents in the Nigeria maritime industry.

The manning agents are middle men between the indigenous shipowners and seafarers who are responsible for placement of Nigerian seafarers onboard vessels.

But, the agency, at the celebration of World Maritime day in Warri tagged, Seafarers’ Well-being, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside said the agency is more concerned about placing seafarers on cabotage vessels.

He said, “The agency is also focusing its attention on the placement of Nigerian Seafarers on board all Cabotage vessels which informed the temporary suspension of the issuance of waiver on manning through the introduction of the New Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS).

“It is worthy of note that this policy has recorded some level of success as more Nigerians are now engaged on Cabotage vessels. However, l must mention here that some companies have adopted negative measures to circumvent this policy by withholding
information on their vessel‘s operations and the submission of fake crew lists.

ln some other cases ,they come up with the excuse that the Nigerian Seafarers lack the required competences to work on board these vessels.

“i wish to clearly state without any fear of contradiction that Nigerian Seafarers rank among the best in the world and can favourably compete with their foreign counterparts.”

The DG also informed the gathering that the agency has trained over 2051 cadets under the Nigerian Seafarers development programme (NSDP).

He said the training of 2051 cadets were in addition to 500 cadets that have undergone seatime training across the country.

His words, “For the records, the Agency has so far trained over 2051 cadets under the Nigerian Seafarers development programme (NSDP). In addition to those who have already undergone their mandatory sea time training, 500 have been earmarked for sea time training in 2018 fiscal year, while another 500 will undergo the training in 2019.

“Furthermore, 150 fresh cadets will benefit from the programme under the NSDP~3 which will commence in the next academic session. On the other hand, the Agency in May this year facilitated the training of 370 Nigerian Seafarers in relevant courses leading to certifications on Standard of Training Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW)), Oil tanker familiarization, Security Awareness (lSPS) Code, Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat (PSCRB) and Dynamic Positioning.

“Let me also mention that 560 dockworkers also benefitted from the training programme an Occupational Safety and Health which was developed in line with the lLO’s Code of practice on OSH,” he revealed.

Also speaking, the National President, Nigerian Merchant NAVY Officers & Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Mathew Alalade expressed support to the agency for its efforts to ensure celebration of the event yearly.

Alalade also applauded the agency for ensuring 70 percent of Nigerian seafarers are placed onboard cabotage vessels.

He said, We appreciate NIMASA and her leadership for ensuring that 70 percent of seafarers are now onboard Cabotage vessels. We recognize the agency for the NSDP program that has started to yield dividend by way of providing sea time training for our Cadets onboard foreign ships.”

Speaking on manning agents, Alalade urged NIMASA to probe the activities of manning agents and their fraudulent activities.

“We applaud the agency, but also wish that it beams its binoculars on Manning Agents. Some of these Manning Agents are alleged to collect large sums of money from unemployed seafarers before placing them onboard. In addition they collect check – off dues from Officers, our members without remitting the sum to the appropriate union.”