By Aisha Cole

The Oceandeep Service Ltd. has urged the National Assembly to enact a bill that will put an end to the harassment of seafarers onboard ships.

The Chief Executive of Oceandeep Service Ltd., Mrs Rollens Macfoy, made the plea during the 2025 celebration of seafarers held in Lagos on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the global maritime community celebrates the Day of the Seafarer every June 25.

NAN reports that this year, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) launched the campaign ‘My Harassment-Free Ship,’ an initiative to promote a culture of respect and zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at sea.

“We are pleading with the legislators to enact a bill to stop harassment onboard ships. Every shipping company should be aware of the bill to enable them to checkmate harassment on duties.

“Harassment is not only from officers to ratings; it could be from ratings (junior officers) to officers as well, and it also goes beyond that.

“If there are pronounced punishments for offenders, then manning agents, shipowners, crew, and seafarers will be aware and be careful on duties, and we will have a smooth sail,” Macfoy said.

Macfoy, who is also the President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica), commended the seafarers for their perseverance while on duties.

She said that many people do not know what seafarers go through in the course of their duties.

Macfoy added that they do without seeing their family for many months, and yet they face harassment in doing their jobs.

She recalled during the COVID-19 pandemic when no one could go to work except seafarers, who worked tirelessly to ensure they protect cargoes of goods to points of destination.

Macfoy described seafarers as the heartbeat of the nation’s economy, adding that without them, no goods would go to the market.

Also speaking, the Continental Coordinator of WIMAfrica, Mrs Gloria Kanabe, commended Macfoy for being passionate about the welfare of seafarers.

“From one of Oceandeep’s programmes I attended, I was compelled to mentor two seafarers.

“Today, one of them has been engaged on an ocean-going vessel, while the second mentee seafarer is having his sea time experience,” Kanabe said.

She urged the Federal Government to rise up to its responsibility to flag Nigerian vessels to encourage more youths into the profession.

The Human Resources Manager, LTT Coastal Marine Service Ltd., Mrs Theodora Nwaeze, urged shipping companies to respect seafarers and support the 2025 theme of seafarers’ celebrations, “My Harassment-Free Ship”.

She said that there was a seafarers’ policy which guides operators onboard vessels, adding that harassment cases had not been checkmated by the government authority.

Nwaeze urged maritime stakeholders to continue sensitising the public, especially maritime operators, to reduce the level of harassment on seafarers.

The Chief Executive Officer, MMS Maritime Magazine, Mr Kingsley Anaroke, said Nigerian seafarers were synonymous with pain, hunger, and poverty.

Anaroke added that stakeholders should start celebrating seafarers and encourage them to speak up when they are being harassed at work.

A seafarer with LTT Coastal Marine Service, Capt. Zainab Bello, commended the IMO for setting a day aside to celebrate them.

She also advised ratings and officers to imbibe ethics to enhance smooth sailing and encouraged more youth participation.

One of the awardees for long service, self-respect, professionalism, and good conduct, Mr Gods-Power Darlington, appreciated the service for celebrating them.

Darlington and the other awardees promised to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria during the course of their duties. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa