CBA, poor remuneration top agenda at seafarers colloquium

Welfare challenges bothering on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and poor remuneration led the discussions at this year’s commemoration of seafarers’ colloquium, organised by the Nigeria Merchant Navy and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) in collaboration with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

National President, NMNOWTSSA, Bob Yousuo, at the event held at the Seafarers Centre, in Apapa, also lamented challenges on the delays in payment of seafarers’ wages and signing of Certificate of Competency (COC), as well as issuance of interim certificate by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) not accepted by port state of other countries and most shipping companies in the country.

While saluting the seafarers’ courage and doggedness, he urged them to take cognisance in protecting the maritime environment.In protecting the maritime environment, he said seafarers were to take cognisance of the principles of convention and designation of emission control areas, as well as factors bothering on ocean pollution-marine debris pollution, plastic pollution, ocean acidification nutrient pollution, toxics pollution and underwater noise pollution.

Speaking on the theme for this year’s Seafarers’ Day ‘Seafarers Contribution to Protecting the Maritime Environment,’ Yousuo said: “As seafarers trade for their daily livelihood, they should ensure the ecosystem is not tampered with and endeavour to assist in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, as well as to avoid polluting the waters either by dropping waste products, oiling materials or things that are harmful to human beings, plants and animals in the Sea/Ocean.”

Similarly, the Executive Director, Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Captain Abiodun Sule, said: “Seafarers can contribute to protecting the maritime environment by having knowledge-based training and professional capacity building, effective waste reduction and management, efficient shipboard operations, prudent resource management, ensuring enhanced shipboard energy and management, as well as practice of good seamanship and professional commitment towards one’s social responsibility.”

In his submission, Lt. Commander Raphael Onyiaorah (rtd), representing Nigerian Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects, advised that the Maritime Institution in Oron should be removed from the Ministry of Transportation and made an independent institution so they can generate money on their own with funds given to them by NIMASA.