Union kicks against imposition Of DPR’s directives On Nigeria Seafarers

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNO/WTSSA ) has come hard on the alleged exploitation by some oil & gas Offshore companies on Seafarers.

The union under the leadership of Comrade Engr Bob Joseph Yousou frowned at the system where Seafarers were mandated to foot the cost of acquiring Offshore Safety Permit (OSP) introduced by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as required by the IOCs.

Yousou vowed to put a stop to such injustice done to Nigeria Seafarers under his watch.

It was gathered that DPR introduced the OSP a requirement posed by IOCs for seafarers’ to obtain at a fee but the seafarers union has raised the alarm over the directive put in place by the government agency.

According to a statement made available to newsmen by the Secretary-General of the union, Comrade John Aleakhue Okpono on Saturday, quoted the President as saying Nigerian seafarers or mariners are guided by maritime conventions and guidelines from the maritime regulatory body, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Yousou reiterated that ” It’s therefore not appropriate for anybody or group even regulatory body outside NIMASA to just wakeup and impose possession of certificates or permit who’s cost is to be born by Nigeria Seafarers.

“We as seafarers are governed by International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions and the Standard Training and Certification Watch keep (STCW’95) is compulsory for seafarers’ to undergo ; Tanker familiarization; Personal Safety and social responsibilities.

“Others include: -Personal Survival techniques; Fire preventing and Fire fighting; Elementary first Aid and Proficiency in security awareness and other advance courses, ” the President explained.

DPR is for oil and gas operation and any company under their purview is expected to meet up there requirements by way of paying for the cost of their permit (OSP) & not the seafarers who have gotten the required COCs as enshrined in the STCW ’95.

Yousou further condemned the unprofessional act of compelling seafarers to pay for the OSP certificate or permit and urge seafarers to report such cases as well as not to accept such responsibilities.

He urge all Seafarers to update their Crtificate Of Competency CoCs in order to meet up with the modern challenges in the global profession.

The National President also call on Nigeria seafarers to see the need to embrace the union as a veritable tool in assisting on best practices.

He reiterate that he will not stop at nothing to defend the rights of Nigeria Seafarers. As affiliate of ITF, I will use the international connections or influence when I can’t get what rightly belong to us as Seafarers through the Apex maritime regulatory body, NIMASA he said.

He therefore called on NIMASA, to stand on it’s feet to ensure Oil & gas offshore regulator doesn’t impose undue possession of permit/certificates on Seafarers under it’s watch.

“International  best practices must be adhered to strictly,” he opined. Further stated,  “the era of exploiting & enslaving Nigeria Seafarers has gone. We must bring back the lost glory and enjoy the dividend of our Noble profession.”