Merchant Navy Urges NIMASA to Mandate Individual CBAs for Ship Owners to Combat Harassment at Sea

By DAPO OLAWUNI

At an event to commemorate the Seafarers’ Day 2025 in Port Harcourt on Wednesday 25th of June, the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) has called for robust federal intervention to compel shipping companies to adopt individual Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).

The union asserts that making these agreements a mandatory prerequisite for license renewal is crucial to eradicating rampant harassment and improving the dire working conditions faced by Nigerian seafarers.

Eng. Bob Yousuo, National President of NMNOWTSSA in his goodwill message emphasized the paramount importance of this year’s theme, “My Harassment – Free Ship,” stating that while seafarers are the bedrock of global trade, many operate under exploitative conditions.

“The IMO has set aside the 25th of June every year to celebrate Seafarers globally. This year’s theme promotes a culture of respect and zero tolerance for harassment and bullying at Sea,” Yousou declared.

He lamented that many Nigerian shipping companies currently fail to comply with the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) guidelines or implement CBAs that guarantee minimum conditions for “Decent Work and Decent Pay.”

He said “Many Nigerian Seafarers face harassment/bullying from foreign counterparts, Employers, Manning Agents, and Security Agencies. We have witnessed incidents where foreign Seafarers harass Nigerian Officers due to preferential treatment by Employers and Manning Agents.

“This affects Nigerian Seafarers’ performance and mental health. Some Shipping companies in Nigeria do not comply with the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) or have Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in place that guarantee minimum condition for “Decent Work and Decent Pay”.

“It is on this note we implore all the Shipping Companies to have individual CBA as stipulated in NJIC for the purpose of “Free Ship”

The NMNOWTSSA President highlighted that the absence of these agreements leaves seafarers vulnerable to various forms of harassment, including physical, verbal, social, electronic/cyber, racial, sexual, tribal, religious, and disability-based bullying.

To counter these systemic issues, the union is directly appealing to the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the apex maritime regulator, saying that NIMASA as the regulatory Agency must ensure Seafarers are protected from harassment/bullying

Crucially, the NMNOWTSSA is advocating for a concrete policy shift: making individual CBAs a compulsory condition for shipping companies seeking license renewal.

This measure, they argue, would create a truly “Free Ship”, a vessel operating without the burden of harassment, intimidation, or exploitation.
To solidify this, the union is pushing for NIMASA to issue a Marine Notice to that effect, ensuring that seafarers’ rights are legally protected and their working conditions are fair and safe.

Furthermore, Yousou raised the critical issue of Nigeria’s inability to issue Class 1 and 2 certificates, deeming it a form of national harassment that impedes the growth of Nigerian seafarers and leads to capital flight. He urged the authorities to swiftly address this limitation.

“We will not accept excuses of culture, hierarchy, or tradition. Seafarers are not commodities; we are workers, humans, and rights-holders,” Eng. Yousou asserted, calling on every crew member, officer, and manager to be anti-harassment.

The NMNOWTSSA believes that by making CBAs mandatory, coupled with enhanced regulatory frameworks and adherence to international standards, Nigeria can cultivate a more equitable and prosperous maritime industry for all.