The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association has commended last week’s signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation and a shipping firm in Singapore(PIL) on the proposed establishment of a national fleet for the nation's maritime sector. The group says the move will boost capacity building for seafarers.
The seafarers’ union also appealed to ship owners who would benefit from the scheme to ensure that all cadets from both public and private institutions are carried along whenever the fleet commences operation.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week, National President, of the association; Engineer Matthew Alalade said that the move to develop a national fleet for the country is a welcome development.
Alalade noted that issues of sea time for cadets from both public and private institutions would be a thing of the past.
"Nigerian seafarers in Singapore perform better because that country has adequate ships to train personnel and Nigerians working in that country as sailor are doing absolutely wonderful", he noted.
He called on the government and ship owners who would benefit from the project to ensure that training of personnel is of essence, pointing out that the revamping of fleet in Nigeria is long overdue.
He also reinstated the union's support to Engineer Greg Ogbeifun for being in the forefront of ensuring that acquisition of ships by Nigerian ship owners becomes a reality.
"We believe that both the Nigerian ship owners and seafarers will benefit immensely from the MoU signed between Nigeria and Singapore", he stated.
He however re-affirmed the union's commitment to ensuring that the development does not contradict the provisions of the Cabotage Act, assuring that the union will support the government and ship owners to achieve its success.
Alalade stated that “currently the number of ships owned by Nigerians cannot meet the demand of the seafarers and with this development; we know it will go a long way to address issues surrounding employment for seafarers and sea time experience of cadets".
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