The Managing Partner of the Maritime and Commercial Law Chambers, Barr. Emmanuel Nwagbara, has called on Nigerian-flagged vessels to implement anti-harassment, risk assessment, training and confidential grievance mechanisms in line with the Maritime Labour Convention, MLC 2006 on occupational safety and health.
Nwagbara made this observation in a keynote presentation at the 2025 Day of the Seafarers with the theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship”, put together by the National Seafarers’ Welfare Board of Nigeria (NSWBN) in collaboration with the Mission to Seafarers, MTS in Lagos recently.
The maritime lawyer, who doubles as the legal adviser to NSWBN, stressed that harassment is not only morally wrong but also has direct consequences on mental health, team morale, safety onboard, and ultimately, productivity.
“With harassment, there is fatigue, disconnection, and diminished output. A sad ship is a slow ship. And in the end, everyone loses – the seafarer, the shipowner, and the economy,” he stated.
He cited examples ranging from verbal abuse by senior officers to targeted bullying of female cadets and racial discrimination noting that while seafaring was already a high pressure profession, those additional stressors create hostile environments that must be eliminated.
Referencing recent developments under the International Maritime Organization, IMO/International Labour Organization, ILO Joint Working Group, including mandatory training modules, suspension of credentials for offenders, and harmonized global definitions for harassment, bullying, and violence, he said, “If we want better ships, we must start with better behavior. Harassment-free ships are not only ideals; they are responsibilities – legal, professional, and human.”
Earlier, the Chaplain at the Mission to Seafarers, Rev. Francis Aduroja who welcomed attendees with warmth and invoked a spirit of unity, equally encouraged seafarers to freely share their experiences while noting the importance of Lagos having its own commemorative Day of the Seafarers event despite the national celebration occurring elsewhere.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of the African Shipowners’ Association who equally doubles as Secretary of the Mission to Seafarers, Lagos, Ms Funmi Folorunso, applauded the resilience of the Nigerian seafarers, especially women navigating a male-dominated field.
According to her, “Seafarers are one big family, though spread across different domains. We must protect and uplift every member.”
On his part, Engr. Alalade Matthew, a seasoned Class Surveyor, offered insights on the challenges faced by female seafarers in Nigeria, recounting early instances of harassment aboard African Ocean Line, AOL vessels. He acknowledged the relative progress made by Nigerian shipowners in providing opportunities for women at sea but stressed the need for boundaries, teamwork, and mutual respect onboard.
Several seafarers took turn to share personal testimonies of harassment, neglect, and resilience. A Bosun named Tunde narrated how his crew endured six months of unpaid wages aboard a vessel, with no food or water, Maritime Workers Union intervention forced payment while Ambassador Deborah, one of Nigeria’s pioneer female engineers at sea, shared her journey of breaking through gender barriers and the vital role unions and mentorship played in her survival.
While Mr .Thomson spoke emotionally about a seafaring colleague who lost his leg in an onboard accident believing that the said colleague received little compensation or follow-up care, others criticized the inefficiencies of some local maritime unions and called for more direct engagement, especially through ship visits and proactive advocacy.
Barrister Nwagbara who responded with clarity, addressing misconceptions around employment contracts, benefits, and Union roles, explained the distinctions between voyage, articled, and indefinite contracts, stressing that entitlements often depend on those classifications.
He also reminded seafarers of the importance of self development, good conduct, and professional ethics.
As part of its post-event commitments, NSWBN pledged to continue awareness campaigns on harassment-free ships; work with Unions to improve shipboard engagement; promote the inclusion of anti-agreements policies in collective bargaining agreements and crew manuals; encourage grievance mechanisms on all Nigerian-flagged ships as well as support training and mental health resources through its Seafarers Centres.
