Launches Biometric Identity Cards, Sets Career Path For Dock Workers

In keeping with its promise to fully digitalize all its operational processes and as part of measures to ensure and optimize  professionalism as well as enhance security within Nigerian ports, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a digital Electronic Platform for all Nigerian dockworkers and seafarers.

Speaking during the flag off ceremony of the E-Platform at the APM Terminal in Apapa, Lagos, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh said the launching of the digital platform is to capture all dockworkers, seafarers and their employers such as stevedoring companies, terminal operators, jetties as well as offshore platforms.

According to him “I am particularly delighted about the prospect of eliminating the time consuming process of seafarers and employers registration which is what the E-Platform would provide. It is further expected that the E-Platform will promote a seamless registration process that will culminate into the issuance of biometric identity cards to seafarers and Dockworkers”.

Dr. Bashir Jamoh, DG NIMASA

The NIMASA Director General who was represented by the  Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, ML/CS, Engr. Victor Ochei, disclosed that the E-platform is necessitated by the  need to establish an independent, robust, centralized, verification and communication platform that will serve as database generation platform for Maritime Labour in Nigeria.

In the Executive Director’s words “NIMASA, in implementation of section 27 (1) (a) of its Act, 2007, which mandates it to register and maintain a register of every Dockworkers, Seafarers, Stevedoring Company, Manning Agents, Seafarer Employer, Jetty, Terminal Operator and Off shore Platforms has commenced a process of a Maritime Labour E-platform for the registration and Administration of Maritime Labour, Operators Stakeholders”.

“The Dock and Seafarer’s industry which have become an important link in the transport network requires constant upgrading in order to respond to the demands of international trade. The growing transport volume, the increasing sophistication of infrastructure, the widespread use of containers and the intensity of capital investment required for the development of Dock and Seafarer’s activities have led to profound reforms in the Maritime domain”.

Quoting relevant laws and Article backing the digitalization of the dock workers pool, the ED, ML/CS said, “Wherefore, Article 3 of the Dock Work Convention, 1973, No137 specified the fact that Registration shall be established and maintained for all occupational categories of Dock Workers in a manner to be determined by the National Law or Practice”.

“Similarly, Article 4 further specified that the strength of the Registers shall be periodically renewed so as to achieve levels adapted to the needs of the Port”.

“Upon these, the Maritime Labour E-platform being an independent robust and integrated information verification and communication platform will ensure a national database of Maritime Labour Industry. To this end, the Agency is to embark on verification of registered Dockworkers nationwide”.

On features and essentials of the Biometrics the Engr. Victor Ochei explained, “The biometric identification card will recognize an individual based on their physical and behavioral traits, such as Finger Prints, Eye Retina, Iris-scanning, Voice Recognition, Facial Patens and Body Movement which includes gait”.

“In line with this, the Dockworkers verification exercise is to ensure that only physically fit Dockworkers are retained in the industry and those with health challenges and aged Dockworkers are disengaged and replaced where necessary”.

The Executive Director further listed the objectives and gains expected from the E-Platform to include:

1. To provide a one-stop platform for online registration, authentication, verification of registration of Seafarers, Manning Agents, Seafarer Employers, Dockworkers, Stevedores, Jetty, Terminal Operators and Off shore Platforms with the Agency.
2. To improve from the current manual operations of Maritime Labour services Registration to Electronic Registration in line with international best practices.
3. To centralize, Coordinate and integrate the collection and storage of Maritime Labour data.
4. To provide access to online real time information globally and for continuous improvement of Maritime Labour Functions.
5. To provide a platform for communication with local and international Organization and Maritime Administrations.
6. To generate effective Maritime Labour data for the purpose of planning, research assessment and evaluation.

High point of the flag off ceremony was the issuance of biometric cards to the number one dock worker in Nigeria and President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and other port officials.