The National Seafarers Welfare Board of Nigeria has thrown more light on its level of involvement in the rehabilitation of the two Nigerian seafarers who were recently released by Somali pirates.
Chairman of the board, Otunba Kunle Folarin told Shipping Position Daily last week that, while it is true that the National Seafarers Welfare Board of Nigeria has got in touch with the freed seafarers, it is not in any position to promise or offer them compensation.
The National Seafarers Welfare Board of Nigeria has thrown more light on its level of involvement in the rehabilitation of the two Nigerian seafarers who were recently released by Somali pirates.
Chairman of the board, Otunba Kunle Folarin told Shipping Position Daily last week that, while it is true that the National Seafarers Welfare Board of Nigeria has got in touch with the freed seafarers, it is not in any position to promise or offer them compensation.
“We have told them to document all that happened to them while they were in the custody of the pirates, starting from the moment that their ship was hijacked”, Otunba Folarin told our correspondent last week.
The two Nigerian seafarers, Kings Okoye, and Parson Gladdey, were on board the ship; MT Royal Grace that was hijacked and held hostage by Somali pirates between Pakistan and Somali waters in March, 2012 while she was sailing from the UAE to Lagos. They regained their freedom early March 2013.
But, Otunba Folarin, who is also the chairman of Ports Consultative Council ((PCC) explained that the documentation that the freed sailors are required to carry out will enable the Nigerian body to approach the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)which reportedly has a ‘humanitarian unit’ that assists sailors and other transport workers in similar situations.
The ill-fated MT Royal Grace, a Nigerian flag was said to be on her first voyage after she was acquired by a Nigerian business man who was identified as Colonel Tonye Apulo (rtd).
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