Union petitions NASS over abuse of Cabotage Act

(Nigeria) In furtherance to a request by the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Education, the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association,  has petitioned the lower chamber on the need to put measures in place for effective utilisation of the Cabotage Act.

The seafarers union also advised the committee on how the Cabotage Act can be of immense benefit to  indigenous operators.

A statement by the union's President, Engineer Matthew Alalade said that the Nigeria territorial waters have been invaded by foreign seafarers to the detriment of indigenous operators.

The merchant navy outfit further reiterated that Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has been slow to reach bilateral agreement with all foreign flagged vessels willing to operate within Nigeria Cabotage trade and those already trading therein.

The Trade Union Congress, TUC, affiliate union further re-emphasised the need for the National Assembly to amend the Act.

According to the document, the waiver content of Cabotage has been distorted to the advantage of foreigners, affirming that under the Act, Nigerians were expected to understudy foreigners for two years.

"So, waivers were to have a life span of two years for each position and for 13 years now, government insists that no waivers had been granted, but the same foreigner continue on the job with Temporary Work Permit."

According to the union executives, the Certificate of Competency (CoC), held by Nigerians after revalidation in accordance with the STCW 95 between 2000 to 2002 suffered some level of limitations that were placed by the regulatory agency.

The union noted that, "All were limited to Near Coastal Voyage (NCV) as trading area and less than 3000grt or less than 3000kw capacity."

The  stressed that the COCs issued by NIMASA carry the NCV limitation hence, Nigerian officers can only partake in the Cabotage, while tonnage and kilowatt propulsion or foreign certificate are without limitation.

"Foreigners from Pakistan, India, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Singapore China and Malaysia and others flood our marine offshore industry with COCs that are never vetted for correctness, some of which are less than tissue papers and hijack jobs meant for experienced and competent nationals, placing them unemployment market to wallow in despair so Cabotage instead of being a blessing becomes a curse. "

The Merchant Navy explained that already, there was vacuum that currently exist between the middle level management cadre onboard and the Captains, and Chief Engineers, pointing out that within the next five years, the already ageing top officers in the deck and engine room may wish to step aside.