As part of efforts to ensure that Nigerian seafarers take full advantage of the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC ) 2006 which will commences this week, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it has trained more than 700 seafarers on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 95’).
As part of efforts to ensure that Nigerian seafarers take full advantage of the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC ) 2006 which will commences this week, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it has trained more than 700 seafarers on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 95’).
Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi made this revelation last week while speaking at a special meeting with ship owners, seafarers/employers and the manning agents in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Akpobolokemi said the agency recently facilitated the training of over 700 seafarers on STCW to enable them update their mandatory certification. He added that the agency has also put a lot of programmes in place to ensure Nigerian Seafarers placement both on Nigerian and foreign flagged vessels.
The NIMASA boss further stated that the MLC 2006 Ratification, gave rise to the training of over 25 Labour Inspectors by the apex maritime regulatory agency.
Speaking further, he said “under this administration, the agency has also committed huge resources towards the training of cadets through various programs like Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP)”
Explaining the numerous benefits of the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 in Nigeria, Akpobolokemi said that the MLC 2006 enlistment and ratification by Nigeria was a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment towards ensuring seafarers rights as it concerns their living and working conditions in a decent environment.
He described the MLC 2006 as” the bill of rights for seafarers”, reiterating further that its main objectives is to ensure compliance and enforcement, as to achieve effective implementation at both flag state and port state control levels.
He said that Nigeria’s instrument of Ratification of MLC 2006 was presented by the leader of Nigeria’s delegation, the Honorable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu at the 102 session of the Int’l Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
Also speaking, Deputy Director, Maritime Labour Services of NIMASA Mr. C. N Nwokocha, ably represented by NIMASA South-South Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Ogadi said that Nigeria was the 5th African country to ratify the MLC 2006 Convention.
He said that Nigeria as a country has demonstrated its commitment towards the promotion of Seafarers welfare through the agency’s various programs. Mr. Ogadi said that already, the agency has put in place all necessary modalities for the domestication of the convention.
Discussion about this post