• Agency unveils guidelines for terminals, jetties
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| Dr. Bashir Jamoh, DG NIMASA |
The Management of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA] has designated seafarers and
dockworkers as essential workers who should be exempted from travel restrictions.
The Agency, in a statement on
Wednesday, said that the recognizion was in line with the newly-endorsed
protocols by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO] designed to lift
barriers to crew changes, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Wednesday, said that the recognizion was in line with the newly-endorsed
protocols by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO] designed to lift
barriers to crew changes, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The exemptions are contained in
a new guideline developed and published by the Agency to support essential
services in Nigeria’s shipping sector.
a new guideline developed and published by the Agency to support essential
services in Nigeria’s shipping sector.
The guideline states that the
jobs of dockworkers at the country’s seaports, terminals, and jetties are
essential to the national economy and, therefore, dockworkers should be granted
passage between their places of abode and the seaports/terminals and jetties to
perform their duties.
jobs of dockworkers at the country’s seaports, terminals, and jetties are
essential to the national economy and, therefore, dockworkers should be granted
passage between their places of abode and the seaports/terminals and jetties to
perform their duties.
The advice also declares that
seafarers are on essential duty and as such exempted from the curfew and travel
restrictions, which may hinder necessary movement for crew change.
seafarers are on essential duty and as such exempted from the curfew and travel
restrictions, which may hinder necessary movement for crew change.
It directs companies employing
the services of seafarers to provide special and dedicated means of
transportation to convey the seafarers, adding that such transport system must
be disinfected within the recommended minimum hours.
the services of seafarers to provide special and dedicated means of
transportation to convey the seafarers, adding that such transport system must
be disinfected within the recommended minimum hours.
The guideline specifically
provides for the mandatory use of facemasks within all terminals and jetties,
mandatory temperature check on all staff before access to terminals, and denial
of entry to persons who present temperature above 38°C.
provides for the mandatory use of facemasks within all terminals and jetties,
mandatory temperature check on all staff before access to terminals, and denial
of entry to persons who present temperature above 38°C.
It makes it mandatory for all
dock labour employers to develop risk assessments and safety intervention
guidelines for all personnel and operations in the areas of vulnerability
within their maritime operations that can be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,
including cargo handling, access control, and rostering procedures.
dock labour employers to develop risk assessments and safety intervention
guidelines for all personnel and operations in the areas of vulnerability
within their maritime operations that can be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,
including cargo handling, access control, and rostering procedures.
Dock labour employers are also
to devise methods of ensuring that dockworkers absent from their duties for
issues relating to COVlD-19 are quarantined and compensated for the suspension
of earnings they suffer as a consequence.
to devise methods of ensuring that dockworkers absent from their duties for
issues relating to COVlD-19 are quarantined and compensated for the suspension
of earnings they suffer as a consequence.
Furthermore, all dock labour
employers are to ensure that buses deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic carry
a 50 per cent maximum capacity in line with Federal Government directives, and
all passengers wear facemasks. Such buses must have hand sanitisers for all
drivers’ and passengers’ use and be frequently disinfected.
employers are to ensure that buses deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic carry
a 50 per cent maximum capacity in line with Federal Government directives, and
all passengers wear facemasks. Such buses must have hand sanitisers for all
drivers’ and passengers’ use and be frequently disinfected.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr.
Bashir Jamoh, said the latest advice was meant to contain the coronavirus
pandemic while also supporting the continuation of the economy.
Bashir Jamoh, said the latest advice was meant to contain the coronavirus
pandemic while also supporting the continuation of the economy.
Jamoh stated, “Like President
Muhammadu Buhari said, no economy can survive total lockdown. If you look at it
critically, maritime is an essential duty, with the major actors being
seafarers and dockworkers. This is why we continually come up with guidelines
to ease their operations so that activities in our ports will not suffer.”
Muhammadu Buhari said, no economy can survive total lockdown. If you look at it
critically, maritime is an essential duty, with the major actors being
seafarers and dockworkers. This is why we continually come up with guidelines
to ease their operations so that activities in our ports will not suffer.”
The DG emphasised the
prohibition of loitering around port premises and charged dock labour employers
to ensure social distancing of two meters is maintained between people in the
workplace and other public spaces within and around port terminals.
prohibition of loitering around port premises and charged dock labour employers
to ensure social distancing of two meters is maintained between people in the
workplace and other public spaces within and around port terminals.
The guideline is in sync with
those issued by the United Nations agencies, including the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO), as well as the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
those issued by the United Nations agencies, including the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO), as well as the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).