“Government should force Nigerian ship owners and shipping companies to sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement”
“We are happy that our certificates are being accepted internationally”
MT Heroic Idun: “The seafarers should be freed, because most of them don’t even know where they are going or the mission of the ship”
How will you assess the maritime industry in the first quarter of this year?
I will say nothing much has been done, because this quarter has been so challenging not only in the maritime industry. There is nothing much or new as far as I know. There are no new employment or contracts. I don’t see anything new in this first quarter of 2023, coupled with the elections and the so-called monetary policy by the federal government. So this first quarter has nothing much happening in the maritime sector.
What’s the position of the association regarding the high unemployment rate among Nigerian seafarers?
There is nothing the association can do. Is it not when we have ships that we now talk about looking for crew members? If in the country, vessels are not coming in, there are no opportunities. Even the ones that are there are going, so how will they be employed? It is only when the industry starts picking up by having new companies, vessels and operations that they will now start employing seafarers. It is only if vessels come in or there are acquisitions of vessels in the country before employment can come in; when the ones we even have are going, they will not go with the Nigerian Crew. They will drop the Nigerian crew. We are just praying that the in-coming government will move for the acquisition of vessels, improve the industry to attract foreign companies and investors. Then definitively the employment rate will be improved. Most of our officers are currently going outside in search of employment. It is a welcome development to search for job internationally. We are also happy that our certificates are being accepted internationally. Those who have foreign license are also having jobs outside, but in Nigeria we need to work on the acquisition of vessels in order to be able to employ incoming and existing seafarers.
How will you rate Nigeria seafarers in terms of competence?
In terms of competence, Nigeria seafarers are one of the best. With the environment we find ourselves, if we go outside the country with our training, we become the best. When we compare ourselves with other foreign workers even in this country, we would find out that we are hardworking, more courageous and committed. Most people need Nigerian seafarers because of our hard work and commitment. This has given us the opportunity to do better than any of our foreign counterparts academically, practically and other areas.
Do you think Nigeria needs a national carrier?
As you know, we have been agitating for the national fleet for a very long time. If we have it, it will be beneficial to our seafarers in terms of creating jobs. It will also make the international community reckon more with our maritime sector. The Maritime Academy will also benefit from the National fleet as it was being done during the NNSL. We need it more than anything. But when the government makes policies, we do not know the one that is most important to them. If they feel the aviation sector is their priority, when another government comes, we don’t know what their priority would be. We hope the maritime sector will one day be given more priority.
How effective is the Collective Bargaining Agreement, are the companies complying?
So far, we have not concluded the revision. We are still reviewing the Collective Bargaining Agreement. We hope to round-up by the end of this month. So far so good, the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement is what is being used because it is concurrent. Despite the ongoing revision, the other existing one is still running. The only challenge we have with it is the implementation. Most of the companies are not complying and there is no enforcement. This is because normally, the enforcement team is supposed to make sure that every vessel and company must have a CBA. But we find out that even when we report those companies to the authorities, they would not be able to do much. We regret this, but as a union we are trying to ensure the CBA is strictly adhered to. This is because it is the CBA that we can touch the lives of the seafarers. So it is better for every company to have that Collective Bargaining Agreement so that the lives and welfare of the seafarers will be protected. Without that Collective Bargaining Agreement we don’t have many rights. We would only work according to the dictates of the ship owner. So we urge NIMASA particularly to make sure they enforce the NJIC and also ensure that every ship owner complies.
What’s you take as regards the detention of the crew of MT Heroic Idun.
We are also aware of it, because we are affiliates of the International Transport Federation (ITF). When it happened, we were contacted. We tried to make sure we visit them according to the Social Welfare Act. We needed to see our co-seafarers to see if they had any issue or not. Another aspect is the legal aspect because we cannot decide what to do because every country has its own legal process and its security framework. Generally as a Nigerian seafarer, I feel if they find out that the detained crew is not guilty after they have been tried, they should be allowed to go. The seafarers should be freed because most of them don’t even know where they are going or the mission of the ship. They are only doing their job. They might not know the destination or the hidden intentions of the ship. I urge that the vessel and the vessel owner should be dealt with and not the crew members that are currently detained. Probably the Captain might know what is happening but ordinary seafarers or crew members might not know. So the authorities involved should look at the issues involved and ensure that they free the seafarers. They should be released because if the same happens to Nigerians seafarers, the same step should be taken. This is because I may be on board the vessel and I don’t know the contract they have signed. The seafarers are not privy to the contract signed so they should be exonerated. I pray that they free the seafarers, because they need to be free.
How do you think seafarers can protect themselves from such occurrences in the future?
It depends. In a situation like this, the seafarers cannot protect themselves. They are just doing their job on board the ship, especially the ratings. Maybe it is only the Captain that might have knowledge of what is happening. Other people are just doing their jobs, so how can they protect themselves? It is a condition that they cannot do anything. This is a very big vessel, an international one. If they are protecting themselves against safety hazards, that is a different thing; but not against issues like illegal bunkering and the likes. How will they know that it is illegal? For example, an oiler in the engine room or the cook in the galley cooking; what do they know? They are just doing their work and don’t know what is going on. But if it is an emergency or safety issue, they are being trained to protect themselves and do the needful when the need arises.
What is your reaction to the rising rate of piracy on the Gulf of Guinea?
The government should collaborate with other concerned authorities and ensure that they put adequate security measures in place. They should also ensure that these measures or policies are also enforced. They should also put more security teams and vessels in place. They should also put in place modern equipment, so that they can be able to detect these pirates and their activities. This is because it is very difficult to stop these hungry people who are finding ways to survive. The more they are jobless, the more they find illegal ways to survive. The only way to curb them is to put modern vessels and equipment to be able to track them. We want the government to do more by putting the right vessels and people to secure the Gulf of Guinea.
What are some of the concerns of your association and your recommendation to the maritime industry?
The concerns we have is that seafarers’ welfare cannot be improved upon if we do not have Collective Bargaining Agreement. That is the only way the union can come in. This is a signed document that the union can work with. If the ship owner or the cabal did not allow us to have that Collective Bargaining Agreement with companies, how can we work on the agreement for the welfare of seafarers? They have been deliberately dodging that agreement because they have the mind of marginalizing, oppressing or manipulating the seafarers. If the government wants to ensure the lives and work conditions of seafarers to be improved, I urge them to force all Nigeria ship owner and companies to sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement and make sure they are enforced so that the union will be able to know how to meet the needs of seafarers and solve their problems.
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