Maritime industry leaders have called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s seafarer training standards, greater investment in maritime ancillary services and enhanced welfare for seafarers as the country commemorates the 2026 International Day of the Seafarer.
The calls were made at the Mariners Forum held at the Waterside Centre, Lagos, on Tuesday, where veteran Master Mariners, marine engineers, shipowners and maritime stakeholders examined the evolving risks confronting seafarers and Nigeria’s preparedness to compete in the global shipping industry.
The discussions aligned with this year’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) theme, “Carrying World Trade. Carrying the Risks.”
President of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Isreal Obadan, said life at sea demands an exceptional culture of teamwork, resilience and safety consciousness because seafarers routinely operate under life-threatening conditions.
According to him, the close bond among seafarers is often misunderstood by outsiders.
“When you’re at sea, you’re your brother’s keeper. You can’t afford to be unfriendly because your lives depend on one another. What many people perceive as a nonchalant attitude among seafarers is actually a reflection of the realities they confront daily,” he said.
Obadan urged seafarers to maintain an uncompromising commitment to safety as the profession continues to evolve amid rising operational and environmental risks.
The forum also highlighted significant gaps in Nigeria’s maritime manpower development strategy.
Vice President of the Centre for Marine Surveyors Nigeria, Engr. Cooky Iroegbu, called on the government to urgently review maritime education curricula to align with international standards and prepare Nigerian professionals for global competitiveness.
He warned that the country has focused excessively on shipboard careers while neglecting the broader economic opportunities within the maritime ecosystem.
“We are not adequately preparing officers for global opportunities. Beyond ships themselves, we have neglected critical sectors such as marine insurance, marine surveying, freight adjusting and other ancillary services,” he said.
Iroegbu noted that ships account for only about 20 per cent of employment opportunities in the maritime sector, while ancillary services could generate the remaining 80 per cent.
He further stressed the need to harness indigenous expertise by creating pathways for experienced seafarers transitioning into shore-based careers.
“When a Chief Engineer retires from active sea service, that experience should not be lost. It should be deployed across the wider maritime industry. Indigenous expertise will become even more critical during global emergencies and supply chain disruptions,” he added.
Earlier, former Minister of Interior and Chairman of Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, delivered a keynote address that underscored the indispensable role of seafarers in sustaining global trade.
He noted that seafarers transport about 90 per cent of global commerce, including fuel, food, medicines and industrial materials that underpin modern economies.
“If ships stop, the world stops. Yet much of what seafarers do remains invisible because their work takes place beyond the horizon,” he said.
Iheanacho also highlighted the growing security and geopolitical threats confronting seafarers, including tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, drone attacks, missile threats, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, extreme weather events and the psychological burden associated with prolonged periods at sea.
He called on shipowners and maritime employers to strengthen investments in crew welfare, mental health support, shipboard safety and communication systems that enable seafarers to remain connected with their families.
“If seafarers carry the risks, then employers must carry the responsibility. No cargo, charter rate or commercial pressure should ever outweigh the value of human life,” he said.
He urged industry operators to translate the 2026 Day of the Seafarer theme into concrete actions by prioritising crew welfare and rejecting voyages where human risks become unacceptable.
The forum concluded with a shared consensus that Nigeria must build a more resilient maritime workforce by strengthening training systems, expanding opportunities in maritime ancillary services and ensuring that the welfare of seafarers remains central to industry growth.
Stakeholders also emphasised that as geopolitical tensions and global supply chain vulnerabilities intensify, investing in indigenous maritime capacity is no longer optional but a strategic imperative for national economic security.
