The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has strongly condemned the substandard living conditions endured by its members serving as crews aboard vessels belonging to Ship & Shore Services Ltd. The affected vessels include the MT Bawarza tanker and two tugboats, Battle Axe and MT Spain, all of which are based in Lagos.
The union expressed concern after learning of the degrading conditions faced by its seafarers working aboard these vessels. MWUN President-General, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, a seasoned maritime expert, sailor, and business administrator, voiced his outrage, pledging to address the issue until the employer complies with the necessary standards of safety, hygiene, and humane treatment of workers.
Comrade Abi emphasized that such conditions are unacceptable within the maritime industry, highlighting the employer’s blatant violation of safety standards and the lack of proper health facilities aboard the vessels. He also noted the unhygienic and deteriorating living conditions, which expose the crew to a variety of health risks, including communicable diseases.
In his statement, Abi pointed out the stark contrast between the employers’ responsibilities and the reality faced by the union’s members. The seafarers, according to the MWUN leadership, are subjected to dangerous working and living environments that compromise their health, safety, and well-being. This negligence, the union argued, reflects a profound disregard for the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) maritime labour conventions, which require safe, healthy, and humane conditions for seafarers.
The union made it clear that every seafarer has the right to work in a safe, hygienic, and secure environment—an expectation that Ship & Shore Services Ltd has clearly failed to meet. As such, the MWUN leadership has filed a formal complaint with the relevant government agencies, demanding immediate intervention to address these serious concerns.
The MWUN has vowed to pursue this matter to its full extent, ensuring that the neglect faced by its members does not go unpunished.
