Nigerian shipowners and seafarers seem not to be on the same page when it comes to employment of ship crew.
This manifested at an event organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in Lagos on Friday to commemorate the World Seafarers’ Day 2021.
While the President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association, Mr Aminu Umar, blamed lack of discipline and dedication to duty among Nigerian seafarers for shipowners’ preference for foreign crews, the President of Nigerian Merchant Officers and Water Transporters Senior Staff Association, Bob Yousuo, described Nigerian seafarers as intelligent and hardworking.
Umar, who chaired the panel session, said his explanation above was the reason shipowners prefer employing foreign personnel to Nigerians to man their ships and pay them higher wages.
During panel discussions, Umar argued that most Nigerian seafarers were complacent, indisciplined and not dedicated to duty, compared to their foreign counterparts.
While recalling an ugly incident in 2010 when 16 vessels were washed ashore in Lagos, he said all the afffected vessels were manned by Nigerian crew.
According to him, by exactly 6pm, Nigerian crew would dump their ship at anchor and go clubbing, while some of them would take the opportunity to visit their families.
“We don’t want you to have this entitlement mentality; whenever you are employed by a shipowner, you are selling yourself first, you need to market yourself, and how do you do this? It is by being dedicated and committed.
“In shipping, there is no room for mistakes; if you make a mistake, somebody would die or you cause pollution. This means that you are pushing the çompany into bankruptcy,” he warned.
Reacting, Yousou accused Nigerian shipowners of subjecting seafarers to poor working condition.
He urged NIMASA to partner the union and shipowners to implement the minimum standard of salaries and enforce it.
Any shipowner that fails to provide seatime for at least two cadets, should not be allowed to renew his papers by NIMASA, he added.
However, Yousuo urged seafarers to come together under the union to speak in one voice and be protected.
