Vincent Toritseju
14 November 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — NIGERIAN Association Master Mariners, NAMM, has decried the future of over 6,000 cadets of trained by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, through its National Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP.
The seafarers, according to the Mariners only got their theoretical training without having to be trained practically.
Speaking at this year Annual General Meeting of the group, its President, Captain Tajudeen Alao said that the sea time training for cadets is equally as important as the theoretical training.
Alao said that until these cadets get the pre-requisite sea time training they remain unqualified seafarers.
Efforts by the management of NIMASA to arrange sea time training for some cadets have not yielded fruit as a lot of them are roaming the street waiting for the training.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman of the National Seafarers Welfare Board, Otunba Kunle Folarin has advised the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to sign agreements with shipping companies on sea time training of cadets.
“Shipping companies have their schedule of employment and no one can compel them to engage the cadets on sea time training.
“The management of NIMASA should sign an agreement with the shipping companies before the commencement of the training of the cadets.
“Before the cadets start schooling, NIMASA should sign agreements with a substantial number of shipping owners.
“That, in one year, NIMASA will send a certain number of cadets to the shipping companies so that they can prepare for the training of the cadets,’` Folarin, who is also the Chairman, Port Consultative Council (PCC) said.
He urged the management of NIMASA to start talking with the shipping companies before the cadets complete their courses.
According to him, this will enable the shipping companies to accommodate Nigerian cadets.
The partnership will provide sea time opportunities for about 400 cadets of the NIMASA-sponsored Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) numbering over 2,500 cadets.
