Even as the all-important Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 implementation begin this week in Nigeria, stakeholders in the maritime sector have expressed mixed reactions on the expected impact on Nigerian seafarers.
Stakeholders who spoke to our correspondents last week stressed that, for MLC 2006 to be effective, the apex maritime regulatory agency, the Nigerian Maritime Administration (NIMASA) has a major role to play.
Even as the all-important Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 implementation begin this week in Nigeria, stakeholders in the maritime sector have expressed mixed reactions on the expected impact on Nigerian seafarers.
Stakeholders who spoke to our correspondents last week stressed that, for MLC 2006 to be effective, the apex maritime regulatory agency, the Nigerian Maritime Administration (NIMASA) has a major role to play.
The stakeholders, who were mostly from the seafaring fraternity advocated that the MLC 2006 can change the plight of the sailors if properly managed, monitored and controlled by NIMASA.
On his part, a former president of Nigerian Association of Master Mariners; Capt Adewale Ishola expressed optimism that, MLC 2006 will usher in a new era of live for seafarers.
“I believe the MLC 2006 will benefit Nigerian seafarers who are employed aboard ships, the employment aspect is very important, if they are all gainfully employed they should benefit from it because it will improve their welfare”.
“As for those that are not gainfully employed, some of them need to be retrained, there are opportunities in Nigeria, but many of them are having outdated certificates, they need to be upgraded into the modern trend in the transportation system, there are lots of offshore jobs but there are no trained seafarers to handle such jobs”.
He also enjoined NIMASA to be up and doing.”By the time the MLC 2006 is fully operational and NIMASA has compliance officers and they are the ones that have the power to board vessels in order to monitor if the convention is being complied with”, he stated.
Also imminent commencement of implementation, the speaking on the National President of Nigeria Merchant Navy Water Transport Officers and Senior Staff Association Engineer Matthew Alalade, said that the MLC 2006 will help Nigerian seafarers immensely.
“I believe, if well managed by the agency saddled with that responsibility, then it’s a welcome development, but my concern is with the calibre of persons that are to carry out ship inspections, because apart from the port itself where those ships will berth, we also have instances whereby vessels berth on the sea and it will be difficult for the inspectors to go and discharge their duties, again such delay by the inspector who don't understand the marine environment will make things worse for MLC to succeed.
"We also wish that the convention will not go the way of the Cabotage law and also we hope that the unions will be incorporated and carried along with the enforcement”, he said.
However, the president Association of Marine Electrical Radio Officer (AMERO); Engineer Isaac Isunama expressed doubts about the success on the implementation of MLC 2006.
“It is supposed to better the lots of our seafarers if they are engaged properly, but in this regard, I don't think it is so because come to think of it, how many seafarers have been sensitized by NIMASA on the MLC 2006."
On his part marine consultant and a member of Nigeria Merchant Navy Office Water Transport Senior Staff Association; Captain Ben Bekes told Shipping Position Daily that the personnel involved in the inspection of vessels that call at the ports may face some challenges.
Bekes said that seafarers are supposed to be employed to do the jobs of vessels inspection, rather than using employees from the safety department of NIMASA.
According to him, the officers that are trained by NIMASA and Matral Maritime Training Centre recently have no practical experience at sea and that ship inspectors are used to the sea environment.
The marine consultant further stated that, “it is supposed to better the lives of our seafarers, but I think the ground is not fully prepared for that because every nation in the world try to look at policy that suits its citizens and the seafarers are not left out”.
"I think we have to be realistic, because I don't think it will be beneficial to our seafarers considering the level of politics in the country, even if it is an international affair and in my own opinion, I don't think it will better the lives of our seafarers”.”We try to measure up with our foreign counterparts as regard the MLC but are we fully equipped to that effect.", he added.
Also responding on the MLC 2006, Venerable Mike Gbadebo of Mission to Seafarer Centre said that: "I believe the MLC will bring about changes for our seafarers welfare whenever they are engaged on board vessels and I believe the agency involved which is NIMASA will help to make it work.”
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