Merchant Navy Organises Orientation Programme For Members

The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association last week organised an orientation programme for its members on safety, mode of dressing and first aids rules at sea.
The orientation however held from Wednesday 5th to Saturday 8th June 2013.
The four-day programme also centred round the need for seafarers to discharge their duties diligently on board vessels whenever they are engaged by shipping companies.
The programme had more than 40 participants in attendance per day and also came to a close with a final drilling practise.
Speaking on the programme which was also designed as a capacity building programme for cadets and ratings, the assistant commandant in charge ,Commander Sani Ajao told Shipping Position Daily in Lagos that the programme was designed to make seafarers understand the expectations when on board vessel and at sea.
The commandant stressed that some of the seafarers did not undergo maritime academic training, saying that the training is an additional advantage to them.
He explained that some of the seafarers unfortunately stumbled into shipping and that the training was a platform for them to understand marine activities which in turn will make them better sailors whenever they are engaged on board vessels.
Ajao said, "we need to broaden their knowledge on what to take note of before going on board."
According to him, some seafarers without adequate technical know-how go on board and discharge their duties shabbily and unprofessionally, but with this platform in place, it will make them to be better sailors.
He noted that some of the trainees are sponsored by their organisations in line with the need to enhance human capacity development.
The commandant also called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to assist the para-military organisation in its quest to provide more training opportunities for its members.