There is no maritime sector without seafarers – Peterside

In recognition with the role played by seafarers in the development of the global maritime industry, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day of the Seafarer with Dakuku Peterside, director-general of NIMASA, describing the seafarers as an important part of the maritime sector.
Speaking during a joint visit to the Apapa port in Lagos with members of the National Seafarers Welfare Board, Peterside said seafarers were indispensable in realising the objectives of the maritime sector globally.
He assured them of the Agency’s unflinching support to the welfare of seafarers in line with a Decent Work Agenda and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.
“Let me assure you of our commitment to a better condition of living for the seafarers and our resolve to continue to engage in human capacity development, so that you can also compete favourably with your counterparts internationally. Your challenges are our challenges just as your successes are our successes; we are together in the voyage of steering the ship of the Nigerian maritime sector to greater heights in line with global best practices,” he assured.
Peterside, who was represented by Isichei Osamgbi, head, corporate communications of the Agency, also called on stakeholders and maritime labour employers to ensure that the welfare of seafarers was topmost in their priority.
He called on relevant partners in maritime industry to join hands in implementing all instruments relating to the welfare of seafarers in line with global best practices to create enabling environment for the Federal Government’s policy on “Ease of Doing business” in the seaports to succeed.
This year’s event with its theme “Seafarers Matter” is aimed at demonstrating the importance of the seafaring profession to the growth and development of the maritime sector globally. To mark the day in Nigeria, NIMASA visited seafarers on-board some vessels including MV BALTIC PANTHER; AFRICA GLORY; GOLDEN EAGLE and ASIA PEARL VII amongst others, where the masters and captains received them.
On their part, the seafarers thanked the NIMASA for aligning with the international maritime community to mark the day and for coming to felicitate with them.
Day of the Seafarer (DotS) was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila to adopt the revised Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers. It was geared towards recognizing the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the globe to international seaborne trade and the world economy.

 

AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE