CABOTAGE: Seamen Lambasts BUA For Engaging Expatriate Ratings

Barely one year after it was accused by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria for allegedly converting a ship into a cement factory in Port Harcourt port and engaging expatriates, seamen in Rivers State have again taken a swipe against the management of an indigenous terminal operators in Port Harcourt, BUA Terminals for alleged continued and flagrant abuse of the Cabotage Act.
The seamen alleged that “white ratings” accompany Bua vessels to Port Harcourt anchorage and that the foreigners have taken over the jobs that are meant for Nigerians.
This was disclosed to Maritime journalists in Port Harcourt, by Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, Rivers State Chairman of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Seamen, Industrial and Commercial District.
Comrade Abi who expressed bitterness over BUA’s continued use of white Ratings on their vessels, called on the appropriate authorities to intervene in the interest of peace.
“In BUA vessels at Port Harcourt Ports, there are ‘White Ratings’ which includes those involved in painting jobs etc. These expatriates have taken over jobs expected to be executed by Nigerians. I personally spotted one last week at Port Harcourt Ports. This is very bad”, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi told reporters.
He said that already, they have raised alarm, for appropriate action to be taken by  the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and others against BUA, but regretted that NIMASA had not been playing its statutory roles effectively as it concerns enforcement of the Cabotage Act.
Comrade Abi said BUA had been in this attitude for long, noting that each time they raise alarm over the company’s violation of Cabotage Law, the company  quickly bribe its way through, adding that this emboldens the company to continue in its flagrant  abuse of the Cabotage law. He noted that ‘Ratings’ and other related jobs at vessels within Nigerian waters should be done by Nigerians.
“What BUA Company is doing is an abuse of people’s right, particularly against seafarers in Niger Delta.”
He explained that the desire of BUA for abusing this right may be anchored on the fact that they want people of Niger Delta to go back to crime.  |”They want our idle Seafarers to go back to piracy”, he cautioned.
Comrade Abi also condemned  what he called the poor performance of NIMASA in Port Harcourt, noting that all these abuses in Port Harcourt by BUA is happening under the watchful eyes of NIMASA in the area.
He urged NIMASA in Rivers State to wake up from its slumber and perform its roles, pointing out that the penalty for faulting the provisions of the Cabotage act by BUA is clear and tasking NIMASA to take steps by ensuring that BUA is forced to face the full weight of the law for its actions.
“Let BUA face the full weight of the Law.  The NIMASA act for offenders says a fine of N1milion.  Those that disobey the law should be made to face the music as a deterrent to others”, Comrade Abi stated.
Meanwhile, efforts made to get the management of BUA in Port Harcourt to react to the allegations proved abortive. A source in BUA, Port Harcourt who pleaded anonymity directed our reporter to the company’s Lagos Office, for official response on the matter.
Also all efforts made to speak to the General Manager of BUA Terminals in Port Harcourt proved abortive. He was accused to be the hatchet man playing the cover-up game for the company, even as he refused to see the reporter to clarify issues.