HUMAN FACTORS AS DETERMINANTS OF MARINE ACCIDENTS IN MARITIME COMPANIES IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The continuous growth of the maritime sector in Nigeria, indicate an increase in shipping activities and tonnage. The prosperity of the sector helps in boosting the National economy. But then the occurrences of marine accidents and its implications tend to pull back this progression every now and then.
The results of the marine accidents that occur on the inland and coastal waters of Nigeria affects the economy in such a way that it broods economic loss and impacts the finances of the shipping companies involved, who tend to pay out a lot of money subsequent to these marine accidents.
This paper aims at discussing the impacts these accidents have on the economy by way of damages to natural resources through pollution; then loss of lives and creation of wrecks litters. Secondly, it accesses the cost of marine accidents and the extent of monetary pay out by companies involved in the accidents. This assessment will be done through the secondary data as well as primary data gotten from shipping companies by way of responses to the questionnaire used.
However, these frequent marine accidents resulting to economic losses tend to point that there is a gap in the implementation and execution of the safety regulations, since
Nigeria is signatory to many safety regulations and conventions.
HUMAN FACTORS AS DETERMINANTS OF MARINE ACCIDENTS IN MARITIME COMPANIES IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
The Nigerian waters comprises of two parts; the coastal waters which is about 853 km long stretching from badagry in Lagos to Calabar passing through Warri, and the inland waters which is about 8600km long. With the second to the longest waters in the whole of Africa, Nigeria stands tall in the aspect of Maritime business in West Africa. The maritime industry that makes use of the Nigerian waters generate a substantial income into the national economy and has been a key sector of the economy.
With Nigeria being an oil producing and exporting country which its economy relies densely on the revenue generated from the oil and gas sector, that contribute about 20% of the GDP, 95% of the foreign exchange revenue and up to 65% of the revenue included in the budget, thus the marine activities has increased appreciably (Anyanwu, 2014a). At such sizeable investments have been attracted among so many other things. This has also increased the traffic and number of vessel plying the Nigerian waters which include oil tankers, container vessels, passenger vessels etc.
Thus, with little attention on the aspect of safety, has bred enormous marine accidents which culminates from inadequate training of seafarers, negligence and improper implementation and execution of safety regulations, which altogether can be thought of as a system failure rather than individual inadequacy. As a result, numerous economic losses have been incurred due to these accidents, which also affect companies involved by way of financial losses.
1.2 SIGNIFICATION AND JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY
Marine accidents have been re-occurring despite that Nigeria is signatory to many international safety conventions and regulations such as the SOLAS 1974 as amended, the MARPOL 73/78, the COLREGS 1972, STCW 1995 as amended, the Port State Control (PSC), ISPS code etc.
This research was conducted to point out the impacts marine accidents have on the Nigerian economy, so that the regulatory bodies can improve on the implementation of the safety policies. Also, so that seafarers can see the impact marine accidents can have on the company and ensure that all safety procedures provided are adhered to.
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
1.3.1 Aim of the project
To evaluate the effects of marine accidents in Nigeria economically, and also financially on shipping companies.
1.3.2 Objectives of the project
- To identify the major causes of marine accidents
- To discuss the impacts the results of marine accidents have on the Nigerian economy
- To examine the cost of marine accidents and its impacts on the company’s finances
- To examine the effectiveness of the safety checks provided by the regulatory bodies in Nigeria to prevent marine accidents having seen its impacts.
1.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
The scope of the research specifically focuses on Nigeria, and the studies was based on the Nigerian coastal and inland waters taking into account the Nigerian offshore rigs and platforms.
One of the major limitations in this paper, was the difficulty in getting the number of accidents that have occurred in Nigeria, as there are no proper data base that records such data in Nigeria. Many accidents happening in Nigeria are not recorded. The recorded accidents are in fragments. Secondly, the contacted shipping companies were reluctant to divulge the actual amount they spent on a case of accident. This limited the primary data gathered.
1.5 SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The secondary sources of information include published journals relating to Nigerian coastal and inland waters, online sources such as websites, newspapers such as Vanguard, the Guardian, Nigerian Tribune etc. It also includes information from government agencies such as the Nigerian port Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Department of Petroleum resources (DPR). Statutes such as the Federal
Environmental Protection Agency Decree 1988, the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, Nairobi Convention on the Removal of Wreck (WRC) 2007, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency Act 2007 etc.
The primary data sources include interview with relevant individuals and companies such as Captain Jae Jones AFNI (Inspector of Marine Accidents) and Camship Limited respectively. Also, conducted survey in the form of a questionnaire to seafarers which produced tangible source of information.
1.6 ETHICAL ISSUES
The participants that took part in the survey were informed of the process involved. Although many of them were willing to participate but has requested to be kept anonymous so as not to tarnish the image of their company. As demanded their various anonymity has been upheld, and identity undisclosed.
HUMAN FACTORS AS DETERMINANTS OF MARINE ACCIDENTS IN MARITIME COMPANIES IN NIGERIA
