The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it would replace foreign seafarers on Cabotage vessels operating within the nation’s waters with qualified Nigerians.
The NIMASA Director General Dr Dayo Mobereola announced the immediate replacement of all foreign seafarer ratings and certain categories of officers on board Cabotage vessels with qualified Nigerian Seafarers.
Mobereola revealed that positions for ratings and officer of the watch will soon be designated as “no longer available” to foreigners, adding that the initiative aligns with the new Cabotage Compliance Strategy on Manning and aims to enhance local capacity, enhance employment and economic contribution.
Mobereola disclosed this in Lagos yesterday during the celebration of the 2024 Day of the Seafarers with the theme: ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First’.
He said many of the Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme (NSDP) trainees are currently undergoing mandatory sea-time training on-board ocean-going vessels with the challenge lying in securing placements for these qualified seafarers and employment thereafter.
Mobereola said Nigeria has a young population to compete with other countries whose seafarers contribute immensely to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is why the agency is investing in training and capacity-building programmes to enhance seafarers’ skills, welfare and employment opportunities.
He said the agency is working to resolve these issues with its developmental partners including NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Indigenous Shipping Companies and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Mobereola informed that the agency is working tirelessly to strengthen its legal frameworks by domesticating all Maritime Labour-related ILO Conventions ratified by Nigeria.
The conventions include the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 as amended, the Seafarers Identity Document (SID) Convention as amended, and the Dock Work Convention.
He said the agency and its partners would continue to focus on implementing programmes and projects to improve seafarers’ welfare including mental health support, safety training, and emergency assistance.
He referenced the BIMCO & International Chamber of Shipping (2021) report, which states that the world fleet of merchant vessels would continue to increase for the next decade, along with the demand for STCW certified Seafarers.
“The report suggests that unless seafarer quality and volumes are improved, there will be a scarcity of officers to meet the expanding demand. There are opportunities for Nigerian-trained seafarers in the Cabotage Regime, the Liquefied Natural Gas and Brass LNG Projects, the expansion of the NLNG trains and the Olokola Gas Project to mention but a few.
“We therefore need to do more to showcase the importance of seafaring and also attract our youths including females to consider a seafaring career. Mindful that we should aim at well-trained and educated officers capable of ensuring safe operation of vessels,” he stated.
