The National Seafarers Welfare Board (Nigeria) says two thousand seafarers, under the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), are still waiting for sea time.
The board Chairman, Mr Kunle Folarin, made this known on Thursday on an Instagram Live programme organised by Mrs Ezinne Azunnah of the Maritime TvNews.
Topic of the programme was entitled: ”COVID-19: Addressing the Challenges and Fears of Nigerian Seafarers”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sea time is a term that holds a very important part in a seafarer’s professional life.
Folarin said that outside the NSDP, through trainings from local institutions like the Maritime Academy, seafarers that had not got Sea time was in excess of three thousands.
According to Folarin, without the Sea time, it will be difficult for a seafarer to complete his training and be certified as a seafarer.
“Under the National Seafarers Development Programme, the Sñea time and lack of access to vessels for seafarers to complete their training has become a challenge.
“Organisations like the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and some others have trained lots of seafarers and given them Sea time, because they have the vessels to do so.
“There is need to provide opportunities for indigenous shipping companies to acquire vessels, because foreign shipping companies do not give sea time to Nigerian cadets,” he said.
Folarin called for the utilisation of Cabotage Act to acquire vessels as well as to improve seafarers’ competence.
He also called for the implementation of the four pillars of the Cabotage Act.
Folarin said that manning of the vessel should be by a Nigerian, which would solve a lot of problems like employment, trading and ship building and repairs.
He added that the Policy on Elongation of the Validity and Compliance for Seafarers should continue, even after the COVID-19 has subsided.
According to him, if Nigeria seafarer certification can be used globally, it will boost their employment.
“Nigeria has the potential to attract over five thousands vessels to its ports yearly. It should be properly utilised to create employment for our seafarers.
“There should be a policy to encourage all ships calling at the port to employ a seafarer and this will create employment opportunities for them,” he said
