THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE HISTORY OF THE FUNCTION
OBJECTIVES AND DEVELOPMENTAL PRIORITIES OF THE NIGERIAN
MERCHANT NAVY SEAFARERS AND ITS MARITIME SECURITY AND
SAFETY CORPS.

The brief historical perspectives of the Establishment of the Nigerian Merchant Marines Navy (NMMN) Seafarers or seamen, and its existence in Nigeria. Then known as the Nigerian Marines begins and Dated back, since on the 21st of July, 1796, then there were no Name Nigeria, this followers the advent of MONGO PARK who discovered the Exploration and Exportation of Nigerians as Slaves trade business activities in calabar, badagry, and in Lagos. Where the British and the Portuguese were exporting Nigerians as Salves. These activities were made easier based on that of the inactive control of the then widespread leak of under civilization in some parts of African Nationalities, and Nigeria in general which later became amalgamated as Nigerian nation.

In that of the 1820, some of those actives Nigerian slaves men’ were later transmitted into seafaring acquisitions and trained to become the Nigeria local seamen, while some were later constituted as the local coastline water ways security guard, and others were made as sailors. Immediately the securities were deployed to man various sites in the marine environs, all local wharfs and jetties to prevent any other slave trade threats activities on the Nigeria coast line water ways. This therefore follows that in 1823 of the Nigerian seamen acts that was enacted into law under the Merchant shipping act of that in 1823and amended in 1835 and 1876, respectively to suit the function proposed for the Nigerian federation under the leadership of the British marine officers. They controlled and coordinated all Nigerian seamen affairs, shore base, offshore and onboard ships. later some numbers of coastal patrol boats, passengers and cargo boats, including Deep-sea cargo ships for commercial purposes were delivered to Nigerian Marine seamen for both local and foreign deepsea going operation, these were facilitated by the capability, proficiency and professionalism of the Nigerian Marine seamen, which attracted the British Shipping and trading companies such as the Elderdempster shipping Agency, palm Line shipping Agency, Umaco shipping company, John Holt Shipping company and united Africa company UAC foods and brevages company and its shipping Agency that attracted there investment led into their establishment fully in Nigeria.

The Nigerian marine seamen (Seafarers) Establishment Organization that was established under the Merchant shipping acts of 1823, and amended in 1835 and 1876 of the colonial errant, later re-amended in 1911, before that of the amendment in 1914, to carry out and implement the important function of the growth of Nigerian Maritime, by the first Governor General of Nigeria, Sir. FREDERICK D. LUGARD G.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O., which later made the commencement of appointing Hon. LIEUTENANTS, CHILD, R.N, C.M.G, as the Director of the Nigerian Marines, while Hon. F.T. BURROWES, ESQ; as the Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs & Excises that was made to act as government agents in the issues of clearing goods cargoes through the customs, and forwarding them up the country, while officers should therefore make their own arrangements with agents at the sea ports, Jetties and terminals warehouse land road borders of the Nation, With effect from 16th day of February 1914. With the following eminent personalities that is sin attendance viz;
1), His Excellency the Governor General of Nigeria, SIR. FREDERICK D. LUGARD G.C.M.G, C.B, D.S.O;
2), the Hon, Acting Administrator, MAJOR MOREHOUSE D.S.O;
3), the Hon, Acting Attorney General, A.R. PENNINGTON K.C;
4), the Hon, Commandant, COLONEL CORTE C.B, C.M.G;
5), the Hon, Acting Treasurer, D.H.D. BRAT ESQ;
6), the Hon, Director General of Marines, LIEUTENANT CHILD R.N, C.M.G;
7), the Hon, Comptroller of Custom, T.F, BURRUWES ESQ;
Made the following resolution:-
under the order No.5 of 1914, The Colony and the Protectorate of Nigeria order in council made under THE THEATRES AND PUBLIC PERPOMANCE REGULATION ORDINANCE, 1912 (SOUTHERN NIGERIA) AT A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN LAGOS,ON MONDAY THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1914. under and by virtue of the Ordinance provisions of section (1) one, of the THEATRES and public performances Regulation, 1912 (Southern Nigeria), it is hereby ordered by the Governor General SIR FREDERICK D. LUGARD of the Colony and the protectorate of Nigerian with the advice of the Executive Council thereof, that all the provisions of the said Ordinance shall apply and be in force. (Clerk of the Executive Council C.T. LAWRENCE) and by His Excellency COMMANDANT D.C.CAMERON central secretary of the Central Secretariat in Lagos made on this day the 3rd of April 1914.

The Nigerian Marine Navy (NMN) and the Nigeria custom & Excise were Charged with the responsibilities for the revenue mobilization Department of the arm of Government and as the Nation funds Generating Organization mandated by the Government through her resources such as GRAND-NUTS, COCOA-NUTS, PALM- NUTS, KACHU-NUTS, COUTON WOOLS, TOBCCO LEAF, TIMBER-WOOD and many more ever before the Nation oil and Gas resources was discovered at Oloibri village in former River state and old Bendel state presently in Bayelsa state in 1950s.

The Nigerian Marines have highly performed its statutory functions and duties, while the Marines seamen were engaging in sailing onboard ships locally and internationally and offshore also enhancing performing its Maritime and mariners installations, security policing maritime infrastructure functions assist to curtail exportation of humans slave trades activities within the Nigerian territorial coast line water ways, and Extended to some others western neighboring regional countries, and to enable the Nigerian custom & Excise Generate funds. The Government of Nigeria, introduced the Nigerian Marines security (NMS) as the Nigerian Marines Navy (NMN) as it where in England and charge them with the responsibilities for the controlling all the securities affairs in all both local seaports, wharfs, jetties, harbors, warehouse, terminals and ships on midstream anchorage and coordinate all seafarers affairs in Nigeria.

This follows the participating on the crises between the British and Argentina over Falkland island crises, that led to war, based on the active and critical role that the Nigerian Marine seamen (NMS) and marine shore base officers and Ratings that were conveyed to the war torn zone played in the British side that led to its recognition that attracts the multiplication of its officers and ratings, later change the name from the Nigerian Marine seamen (NMS) to the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN), in recognition of her role at the war torn zone, and as a commerce marine Navy seamen by King George the (v) Of England in 1922.

The Nigerian merchant marine Navy (NMN) were later called the Quasi Military Force (QMF) in combine joint west Africans marines amphibian force comprises the Ghanaians, Liberians, Sierra-Loners, Gabonese, Cameroonians and others west Africa members states countries under the same act of 1897, by King George the (ii), of England. Later Queen of England absorbed the Nigeria Merchant Navy Marine as the Queens Royal Navy (QRN), reintroduced to complement the Nigerian Merchant Marines Navy (NMN) shore base department as the Nigeria Naval force, while the name merchant and marine was drop, based on their activities as a sea solders under the Nigeria act of the NAVAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, TITLE (V) CHAPTER 38. Amendment under the West African frontier force Regulations Act Under Section ( Eight of the West African Frontier Force Ordinance No. (33) of 28th December 1922, this Acts, invariably considered the Nigeria Merchant Marine Navy (NMN) and its Naval force where Group among world class Naval Under the Act of the west African frontier force of 1922, the Nigerian Naval Force (NNF) were later named and called the Quasi military force under the auspice of the Nigerian Marine Naval Force (NNF). The term Quasi came from volter region Gold Coast Takoradi and others West African Merchant Marines, while the Nigeria Army (NA) was also introduced and where named the Quree’s Military Force. Quree’s Owned Nigerian Regiment (QONR).With that of the Establishment of the West African frontier forces that begin undergoing her transformation dated back 1863 under the Nigerian Marine Navy (NMN).before the Nigerian Army introduced her marine command known as the marine commando from the Nigerian Marines.

The Nigerian Army (NA) was dated back 1863, when the British Governor of Lagos western region, LIEUTENANT GLOVER of the British Royal Marine Navy (RN) who organized and grouped (18) Eighteen men from the Northern Nigeria and constituted them into small local military force to mount punitive expedition in Lagos, and to assist the Nigerian Merchant Marine Navy (NMN) to protect the British trades and traders around Lagos and is environs. Before their reformation, they were later named and called the Nigerian Constabulary solders. In 1938, the Director of the Nigerian Marine Naval Force (NMNF) CAPTAIN A.V.P. IVEY reintroduced the name in terms Nigerian Merchant Navy Seamen, and Assigned to the Nigerian Naval force special foreign military assignment to participate in the First World War, while Dr. N.A. GUTTERY was the Secretary to the Ministry of transport. they actively participated in the then first world war that begins in 1938 till 1940, basically the unfinished war of the 1940 that led to the second world war, that ended in 1945 that was instigated and declared by German ADOLPH HITLER war in Belling Germany and around the world. The performance of the Nigerian Merchant Marines Navy (NMN) seamen and its Naval force all activities in the war torn zone then that led to Nigerian Merchant Marines Navy (NMN) creation and establishment and re-empowerment of the Nigerian Naval force (NNF) while the name of the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) seamen was remain unchanged by KING GEORGE THE (V) of England all those performance are well documented by HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE (II) OF ENGLAND.

In 1951, when CAPTAIN SKINNER became the Director of the Nigerian Merchant Marine Navy (NMN), Naval Force, a visiting war Ship of the British Royal Navy and a Merchant vessels on Special Duty arrived Nigeria, the Colony Master Class Cruiser, Hydrographic Merchant Navy Ship H.M.S M/V Bermuda wearing the flag of the Commander-in-chief of the South Atlantic, arrived Lagos on the 5th of November 1951; from Loanda she Alongside the Nigerian Merchant Navy Base Apapa Marine Beach old port Quorra 1and she visited and tour all Marine ship base operational and regimental units in Nigeria, till she sailed for Takoradi in Ghana, before proceeding to England on the 12th of November 1951.this follows the need that arises to establishment the second arms of the Nigeria Defence Military, that fronted the invitation of CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. SKUTIL, in 1956, a British Marine officer from England and was invited by COMMODORE SHELL BUNG the Director General of the Nigerian Merchant Marine Navy (NMN), Naval Force that took over from CAPTAIN SKINNER BEFORE HE EMBARKED TO ENGLAND. The Ministry of Transport and the National Defence Branch of the Government. On the arrival of CAPTAIN W. J. SKUTIL they visited the Government Houses to submit a proposal for the establishment the size and shape of the Nigeria Navy service (NNS) to the Government, after an accelerating conclusion, While the first intakes of the new Nigeria Navy service (NNS) regiment were sourced on the basics of quotas from the following formal three existing Naval organization such as namely:-

(1)The Nigerian Merchant Naval force (NMN).

(2) The Nigeria port Authority (NPA). And

(3) The Nigeria inland water ways Authority (NIWA),

And were grouped together to participate and acquired the British Royal Naval Training. After the Training, the trainee has freedom of choice between the three organization to be enlisted, at the Nigeria port Authority (NPA) the quotas which were from the Nigerian Merchant Navy Seafarers that were Deployed was (4) four prospective cadets Engineers officers and (4) four prospective Deck cadets officers, and some large numbers of Ratings, all were destined from the service with the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Naval force and (seafarers) under the auspices of the joint scheme sponsored by the Nigeria port Authority (NPA) and the Leading Shipping company in Nigeria, Named Elderdempster Shipping Company (E.D) Line. Later the Nigerian Navy where south out. The training and the retraining of the three organization started in 1957, when the British Marine officer arrived Nigeria, the source of the existence of the Nigeria Navy service (NN) were from (1) Nigeria Merchant Naval force (NMNF) (2) the Nigerian port authority (NPA) and the (3) Nigeria inland water ways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigeria Navy service (NNS), they were equally train together. This was how the Nigeria Navy service (NNS) was seconded from the existing Nigerian Merchant Marine Navy (NMN) and the Nigeria port authority (NPA).

In the same period of 1957 mere after the establishment and training of the Nigeria Navy Service (NNS), in toward 1957, the Department of the Establishment has made a good progress, despite the limited inherited founds from the Nigerian Merchant Marine Navy (NMN) Naval Force and the Nigeria port authority (NPA) at its disposal, she was able to clear her allocation site Quorra 1Apapa Lagos formally for the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Naval Force Ship Base and kick started formal administrative functions. This was made possible because, based on the talks that were held by the National Military Defence branch of the Governor General’s office, with the Ministry of transport (MOT) and the Nigeria port authority (NPA) towards reaching a settlement on the terms for the transfer of the site of the new Nigeria Navy Service (NNS) Ship Base from the Nigeria port authority (NPA) and the withdrawal from the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) back to Government Defence Military. A sum of £15,000.00 fifteen thousand pounds was agreed upon as compensation, to enable the Nigeria Navy service (NN) and that of the site to formally transferred back to the Government Defence Military with effect from the 1st of April 1957.

In 1958, COMMODORE A.R. KENNEDY came on a visiting invitation from England, on his arrival he took over from CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. SKUTILL; he was accompanied by the Director General of Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Naval Force COMMODORE SHELL BUNG and JOSEPH EDET AKINWALE WAY from the Nigeria inland water ways department (NIWA) among others to submit to the parliament the proposal for the establishment of the Nigeria Navy Service (NNS). This moves, led to the enactment of the Nigeria Navy service (NNS) Act in to law on the 7th of May, 1964. Which is quite deferent from the Nigerian Merchant Naval force that was established and be in force in 1922? Later EDET AKINWALE WAY was made the Nigeria Navy Service (NNS) Commodore and the Chief of Navy staff in 1964, while he was later promoted to the Rank of Vice Admiral before his retirement in 1973. While the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Establishment Ship Base named Quorra 1,2and3 Apapa Olemun Old port Marine Beach Lagos was later released to the Nigeria Navy Service (NNS) to enable proceed on the function of their Establishment. Later after some years they took over the ship Dock yard and slip way in Victoria Island Lagos. the Names of the transferred senior officers from the Nigerian Merchant Marines Navy (NMN) and enlisted into the Nigeria Navy Service (NNS) are as follows (1) VICE ADMIRAL JOSEPH EDET AKINWALE WAY from the Nigeria Inland water ways Authority (NIWA). (2) REAR ADMIRAL NELSON BOSSNAN SOROH from the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Escravos Pilot FROM THE GULLAS FAMILY. (3) VICE ADMIRAL MICHAEL AYINDE ADELANWA from the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN). (4) VICE ADMIRAL A. ADUA. Nigeria port Authority (NPA) and (5) ADMIRAL AUGUSTUS AKHABUE AIKHOMU from the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN).

In 1956, the term named Marines was drop. the Nigeria port authority (NPA) operational staffs was also inherited from the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) the numbers of staff assets of about 2,917 comprises the total numbers of 155 officers and 2,762 ratings from the Nigerian merchant marine Navy (NMN) Seafarers to enable the Nigeria port authority (NPA) carry out their respective functions and operations.

In 1959, Chief Dr. Phillip Odimegwu Ojukwu established the Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL) with not less than ten merchant Navy (MN) freight of vessels. At that time of the establishment, of the company (NNSL) the Nigerian Government wrote to her MAJESTY, QUEEN ELIZABETH OF ENGLAND requesting the withdrawal of the Nigerian merchant Navy seamen abroad serving on board British ships and German ships, through secondment of service to come back to Nigeria and join the newly established (NNSL). As soon as possible HER MAJESTY granted the request, the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) seamen thereafter vacated their Establishment Ship Base at Quorra 1, Apapa old port marine Beach for (NPA) commercial building Apapa port wharf Lagos. This action was to enable the Nigeria Navy service (NNS) to take full charge of the establishment ship Base the, Quorra 1 Apapa old port marine beach. This fact that the ‘Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) Establishment’ is permanently engraved on the structure of NNS Quorra attests to this undisputable fact history, while the Head quarters of the Nigeria National Shipping Line NNSL was allocated in Germany, before transferred back to Nigeria in the 1970s.

As at Nigerian Independence on 1st October 1960, it is the Nigerian merchant Navy that hosted the Nigeria flag in Liverpool in England & Hamburg and Belling in Germany, while the nascent Nigeria Navy Service (NN) was strictly performing her military Defence duties role (MDDR), while the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) was equally concurrently performing her merchant Navy (MN) maritime marines seafaring jobs, and its securities duties such as policing the Nigerian territorial coast line waterways, manned security on board ships on midstream anchorage, seaports, jetties, local wharfs and others terminals and Oil and Gas installation deport tank farms, This also included the merchant shipping business roles manning agent to Government and were also assisting the customs service on the area of deep sea to generating revenues for the government from maritime activities established the same year in 1914.

This follows the invent of 1966 civil war, after the Nigeria Navy Service (NN) Act was passed into law in 1964, the power vested on the Nigeria Navy Service (NN) then, based on that of the Nigerian Biafrans civil war that beginned in 1966. Hence the Nigeria Navy Service (NNS) were for Nigeria Military Defence and was assigned to assist the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) on the seaports to curtailed and prevents the Biafrans and their imported Arms and ammunitions against penetrating into Nigeria through seaports, and to assist the Nigeria customs service to enforce their law based on then, the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) and the Nigeria custom service were not armed to prevent most of those crimes compared to this present modern gallant securities outfit. Then in the 1966 Nigeria were under the military dispensation rulers regime up till 1999, when Democratically Elected Government to Govern this Great country Nigeria and as a civil rulers, this freedom of opportunity for Nigerians new led to the abolishment of the power vested on the Nigeria Navy (NN) seaport command establishment, to evacuate from the seaports Nationwide to enable the continuation of the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) Maritime security activities operations maintenance of marine environment Nationwide.

It must be recalled that the Nigerian civil war, the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) had been participating in Military wars and peace keeping mission, in such places like Burma war in Indian in 50s Congo-war in Brazzaville in 50s.the ships used were M/V EKANAMI, M/V NNAMDI AZIKIWE and M/V ALBERT Mc.COLLEY

In within the1966 to 1970 during Nigerian Biafrans civil war, the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) were working in conjunction with the Nigeria Army (NA) by conveying the Nigeria Military officers personnel and war and life supporting equipments from Lagos to port Harcourt and calabar seaport for safely delivering voyages. The Nigerian Merchant Navy ships used was M/V RIVER ETHIOP which Conveyed GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, his officers and soldiers from Lagos to Port Harcourt seaport, before further invited the Biafrans Army second in command (MAJOR GENERAL PHILLIP EFIYONG), these named ships M/V RIVER OGUN and M/V RIVER NIGER also participated.

In early 1980s, the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) were responsible for the transportation of relief materials for South Africans, on board M/V RIVER GURARA under the command of CAPTAIN ANDRASON up to 1987 at peak of radical segregation policy of the (apartheid).Nigerian Merchant Navy ships partaked on the voyages under the DISARSTERS,RESCUE AND RELIEF MISSIONS.

In 1984, the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) conveyed both officers and men, and war materials for the Nigerian Army (NA) to the war torn zone, and the Nigerian Navy (NN) on live pass were transported to Iran to join their war ship during the Iraq and Iran over oil field boundary Golf war Peace keeping mission. The ship M/V RIVER MADA under the tactical command of CAPTAIN CALLY JEO. Over three Nigerian Merchant Navy Ships participated in the operations as peaceful conveying voyages under the UNITED NATION U.N. PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS.COLONEL LAWAL GUADABE of the NIGERIAN ARMY (NA) was the Ship Base Commander of the Nigerian Merchant Navy and the Managing Director of NNSL, up till 1988 or their about.

In 1989 or so, REAR ADMIRAL SUNDAY JOE OGUNA NIGERIA NAVY (NN) took over from COLONEL LAWAL GUAGABE, and became the commander of the Nigerian Merchant Navy and the Executive Managing Director of NNSL. In his Administration the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) were tasked by the government to Convey Nigeria Military for ECOWAS, ECOMOG peace keeping mission in sierra Leon transporting Nigeria Military and their war operation equipments for safely conveying to the war zone arriving Freetown seaport up till 1994.

Within 1990 Nigerian Merchant Navy ships that participated in the then Liberian civil war were M/V RIVER MAJIDUN under the command of CAPTAIN MOHAMMED. In 1991, the Nigeria Merchant Navy (NMN) ship that participated in the war was M/V RIVER OJI Commanded by CAPTAIN AWODEHA. In1992 M/V RIVER-MAJE Commanded by CAPTAIN BASSEY these were the ships that were used in conveying officers and men of the Nigerian military, war equipment and relief materials for the Nigerian Army. And descending refuges back to Nigeria from Monrovia seaport with enjoyable sea voyages and protection to their destination Lagos. Under the ECOWAS, ECOMUG Military peace keeping missions.

In 1993 The Federal Government tasked the Merchant Navy (MN) to go and convey
home deported Nigerians Stranded in Libreville, Gabon. Ship used for the assignment
was M/V RIVER IKPAN under the command of CAPTAIN FRANSES AYA. This is in
spite of her bigger responsibilities of sailing Nigerian vessels around the world;
conveying Cargos from one sea port to another. The Nigerian Merchant Navy has
indeed contributed enormously to the development of this great nation through its
activities.

THE TRAINING OF THE MERCHANT NAVY FOR WAR AT SEA

A ship liner, she’s a lady, and if a war should come the Merchant Navy (MN) or the Men of war her husband of the liner ship didn’t bead their stay at home, for in terms of Maritime, Military war operation. In every Maritime Nations, they would recognize the vital roles the Merchant Navy (MN) played in their Maritime strategy, in peace time and in war time, the Merchant Navy (MN) ships were regarded as the “fourth Arm” of the Military Defence. (After the Army, Navy, and Airforce, the Merchant Navy (MN) was the force multiplier, the Logistics and Auxiliary Arms of the any Nation Military Defence train for any war at sea. In the United States of America, the Joint Chief of Staff that in charge of the US internal Security were in cooperation without duplication of duties to keep US territorial and waters secure. While they have the US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines that take care of the department of the Merchant Navy. Only when called upon the US Military Navy to assist to do always manned its war ships. But in Nigeria based on power tussle, Discrimination, Superiority, and inferiority that is dragging the formal existing Maritime security organization backward.

DEFINITION OF THE WORD SEAFARERS

The seafarers definition is been defined as officer and ratings engaged on the activities onboard a country commercial shipping with work or formal, a sailor and those engaged and participate in maritime business and secure their activities is defined as seafarers operating on the marine environs.

THE DEFINITION OF THE MERCHANT, COMMERCE, MERCANTILE.

1 the Merchant Navy is Define as Merchant Marine, singular all of a country’s
ships that are used for trade. Not for war, and the people who work on those ships are the Merchant Navy ,the Merchant Men, old fashioned a ship used for carrying goods Men and strengths that works on then.
2 the Merchant Seamen, a sailor in the Merchant Navy Establishment.
3 the Mercantile Marine, singular, formal connected with trade, commerce and t
Merchant Navy affairs.

THE NIGERIAN MERCHANT NAVY RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGE.

The Nigerian Merchant Navy is an international naval body and as a bonified member of the following international organization:-
1 the international transport workers federation (ITF)
2 the international maritime organization (IMO)
3 the international labour organization (ILO)
4 the international maritime management organization (IMMO)
5 the united nation international transport organization (UNITO)
6 the international safety management organization (ISMO)
The Nigerian Merchant Navy Seamen as an affiliated body, has the Right to contact any of those following organization for assistant, if need be, in any country of the world where the organization exist. The United Nations (UN) day for the seafarers
Remembrance marks 25th of June annually.
While the international Maritime organization (IMO) day for the seafarers mark the
29th of September annually.

The Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Bar Association were formed by the same law that established the Nigerian Merchant Navy Association. Part B No. 17 Trade Union (Miscellaneous Provision) Senior Staff Union 1986 Amendment under the Part C No. 1. A7 of 1999, Trade Union Senior Staff and Employment Association.

The international Admiralty Maritime Law 3rd Edition of 1989, under shatter 10
Seafarers and the Master. Has introduced the Merchant Navy Administration as an
Independent establishment to register all seafarers under the merchant Shipping act of
1970.

CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION OF THE WORD ‘‘NAVY OR NAVAL”.

The word Navy or Naval, the Navy is defined as officers and rating on board a Country War Ship or any ship for that matter. Any activity on board a ship sailing on water is defined as Navy or Naval. In terms of war, it can be viewed from two angels, war against foes and war against the nature. The wars producing a different strategy and the same end results, which is for the wellbeing of the society in general. The level of development and welfare rights of the people in a coastal Country determines the advancement and development of the Country in terms of sea and maritime commerce activities. The two arms responsible for the maximization of maritime economy and security are the Merchant Navy (MN) Commerce Seamen and the Customs Services but if also called on the Military Defence Navy (MDN) they shall do so to assist.

The Military Defence Navy (MDN) are the war fighting Navy; who fight against foes that are intent on destabilize the peace and Maritime territorial integrity of a nation. They exist primarily to counter external aggressions. The Nigerian Navy service high command manifests intellectual deficiency known as reductionism; they deliberately or naively reduced the concept of ‘‘Navy’’ to mean only the military Navy ship base- they are reductionist.


THE NIGERIA MERCHANT NAVY (NMN) AND THE NIGERIA NAVY
(NN) RELATIONSHIP.

The Nigerian Navy (NN) interest in the nautical college, The Nigerian Merchant Navy, Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron Akwa-Ibom state, stems from the agreement reached Between the Ministry of Transport, the Honorable Minister of Transport (LIEUTENANT GENERAL JEREMIAH USANI) and the Ministry of Defence Nigeria Navy (NN) in March 1984, the Agreement also stem from the Directive of the National Military Defence requirement under the command of (GENERAL DUNCAN BAILEY) Chief of Defence Staff for an adequate Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) Manned by well trained Officers and Ratings who possess an Understanding of the Naval procedures so that the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) and their ships are capable of operating with the Nigeria Navy (NN) in times of war or conflict, to enable, the Nigerian military forces to Disguise, based on sea transportation for safety. Based on that in every maritime nation the world over recognizes the vital roles the merchant Navy (MN) played in their maritime strategy in terms of nation development and merchant commerce trade and in peace and in war times, the merchant Navy (MN)ships are recognized as the fourth arm of military Defence, after the army, Navy and air force they are the sea force multiplier or the center peace of logistics and the military auxiliary arms trained for any war at sea contrary to the Nigerian merchant Navy seafarers past experience in the war torn zones, a merchant Navy ship stand as good chance as a warship of being hit by a missile, mine or torpedo the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) seamen have same experience in then Liberia war on the 10th of December 1991,a missile shot by CHARLES TAILOR from banger to aim M/V RIVER OJI four hours to arrive Monrovia sea port with troops of soldiers and war equipments on board. pointers to the importance of the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) in the life of every coastal and maritime economy as demonstrated by NMN (their logistical participation through conveying Nigeria Military and War equipment to the war-torn zones through sea).

The Merchant Navy (MN) fleets, is a National flag fleets of vessels and their personnel officers and ratings on board the ships which were engaged in commercial operations, as distinct from those maintained for military purposes. Seagoing cargo ships have always been the most important single element of merchant marines Navy (MMN) and its principal financial support of a Nation military, while some individual vessels, passenger’s liners ships having been more conspicuous in the popular mind, but on the whole the carrying of Military personals has been also important than the carrying of goods in terms of war or conflicts, many Merchant marines Navy (MMN) in the world have also included vessels of more specialized and sophisticated types and functions, on like the fishing fleets and the romantic whaler have often been highly important, tonnage total have also been swollen with large numbers of small crafts engaged in local rivers, harbors and coastal line work.

The officers and crews ratings of these various types of crafts are also included as part of a Merchant marine Navy (MMN) and its effectiveness has imparted upon their quality, finally a Merchant marine Navy (MMN) in its broadest sense has included numbers of shore functions in addition to the fact that the ships officers and ratings, these included the operating officers repair and bunkerage of ships facilities marine safety & security, insurance and much else, this part aside from ships building Docks, Slipway and warehouses.

The merchant marine Navy (MMN) have naturally been closely linked with the world commerce which there would have been little reasons for their existence. A nation’s commerce, however, has always been intertwined to its own merchant shipping. Some countries have been willing to let others carry their goods, so that a few active maritime Nations have developed highly profitable on carrying trades goods, based on the commerce of other countries. Thus, in early 1914, such as Nigeria and others West African countries and the United Kingdom, United states of America and some of the European continents had a huge total of imports and exports but a very small seagoing merchant marine Navy (MMN) where as Norway with very modest commerce of its own, had a very impressive merchant fleet engaged primarily in carrying for others. England and Germany on the other hand were very strong both in commerce and in shipping at that time in 1914. Likewise Nigerian and some other west Africa counties.

The Merchant Navy (MN) Relationship to their country’s Military Defence Navy (MDN), has less constant, but also important, these has been the relationship between a country’s Merchant Navy (MN) and the strength of its military Defence Navy (MDN). The military defense navy (MDN) has frequently looked onto the Merchant fleet and its men for auxiliary vessels, and at times even for fighting craft, likewise the Merchant Navy men have looked unto the military Defence Navy in time of danger, for protection against enemies attack at sea. The military Defence Navy (MDN) dependence upon the Merchant Navy (MN) men and shipping was probably strongest in the early modern period. About one thousand five hundred to one thousand eight hundred and fifteen then warships and merchant Navy (MN) men had more in common than in previous or later periods. During the earlier, countries when the merchant commerce activities sintered principally in the Mediterranean, the warships that were long slander galleys by rowers. They were quite distinct from the lobby, round ships of the Merchant Navy service (MNS), propelled by sail. In Northern Europe, the distinction was less sharp, and the same vessels could often serves for fighting as well as cargo carrying about one thousand five hundred crews, when seagoing activities moved out onto the high seas, military Defence Navy (MDN) and the Merchant Navy (MN) fleet had more in common, in particular, the world Naval authorities regarded the merchant Navy shipping as s vital nursery of seamen which could furnish large numbers of trained sailors for time of maritime crisis. HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH of England for instance utilized her position as head of the Church of England to decree that on Wednesday as well as Friday should be meatless days in order to build up a reserve of trained seamen by increasing the fishing fleets. Merchant vessels were frequently drawn into naval service as light cruisers or patrol craft, while still more received letters of marquee which licensed them to spy on enemy shipping as pirates. By the mid nineteenth century, military Defence Navy (MDN) and the merchant Navy fleets (MNF) once more draw further apart with rapid technological developments in steam and steel, merchant Navy personnel (MNP) became more highly specialized and there was more use for a big merchant reserve of seamen. In the two world wars, both sides commissioned some merchant Navy liners for patrol or for raiding purposes, but their all importance was slight. the real modern or importance of the merchant marine Navy (MMN) for military Defence Navy (MDN) purposes came in when furnishing noncombat vessels for vital service functions, the united states and soviet union, for instance discovered its grave lock of colliers when Great white fleet made its world cruise in 1907-1909, and with the shift to oil soon afterwards, fast tankers because indispensible fleet auxiliaries in the major Navies fleet vessels liners likewise because indispensable as transport, while large numbers of freighters were needed to carry ammunitions for militaries, foods and other lives supporting materials supplies for long distance operations, these auxiliary roles explain the modern military Defence Navy (MDN) interest in as adequate permanent for the merchant Navy (MN) of its Nation, what was applicable in the Great Britain maritime sectors was also applied in Nigeria.

NIGERIAN MERCHANT NAVY RANKS HARMONIZATION OF
MILITARY RANKS AND MERCHANT NAVY RANKS STRUCTURE
NIGERIAN MERCHANT NAVY (NMN) AND NIGERIAN NAVY (NN)

In Nigeria, the Nigerian Navy was created in 1957 by CAPTAIN FRAMCIS WILLIAM J. SKUTIL, of the British Marine and was carved out from the defunct Nigerian Marine Department, originally formed in 1994 by His. Excellency Sir. Frederick D. Lugard. After the merged of the Northern and Southern Nigerian Marine detachment. The ‘Northern’ and ‘Southern’ Marine detachments originated from the British Merchant Marine – the armed fighting and merchant ships of the British shipping and trading companies of the Nineteenth century, which in collaboration with the British Royal Navy, helped to colonize Nigeria before the independence in 1960.In 1922, KING GEORGE THE V changed the Name of the Nigerian Marine Services to the Merchant Navy, in recognition of its role in World Wars, the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN) became the NIGERIAN NAVAL FORCE UNDER THE WEST AFRICAN FRONTIER FORCE ACT OF 1922.

Until about some years ago, when the Nigerian Armed forces harmonized its rank, size and structure, enlisted Nigerian Naval seamen were ranked , in ascending order as follows:-
NIG ARMY NIG NAVY NIG AIRFORCE NIG M/NAVY

Recruit Trainee Trainee Trainee
Private Ordinary Aircraft man/woman Junior ordinary seaman
Lance corporal Seaman Lance corporal Senior ordinary seaman
Corporal Able seaman (AB) corporal Head of deckhand EDH
Sergeant Leading seaman Sergeant Able seaman AB
Staff sergeant Petty officer Flight sergeant Leading seaman LH
Warrant officer Warrant officer Warrant officer Second steward CPO
Master warrant Master warrant Master warrant Eng petty officer
Army warrant officer Navy warrant officer Air warrant officer Boss man/Chippy CPO
Second lieutenant Midshipman Pilot officer Midshipman
Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Flying officer Sub lieutenant
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant Lieutenant
Major Lt. Commander Squadron leader Lt. Commander
Lt. Colonel Commander Wing commander Commander
Colonel Captain Group captain Captain
Brigadier general Commodore Air commodore Commodore
Major general Rear admiral Air vice-marshal Rear admiral
Lt. General Vice admiral Air marshal Vice admiral
General Admiral Air chief marshal Admiral
Field marshal Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force Admiral of the fleet



The word Navy, Dated back to the part of the 14th century, it was derived from the Old
French word navie meaning “fleet” or “ship” from the classical Latin word navigia
Which was the plural of navigium meaning “vessel” of “boat” from navis meaning?
“ship” what is now recognized as Navy Blue was the color of the British Naval
Uniform. The word Naval came later, reportedly during the early part of the 15th
century, derived from the Old French word naval which comes from the classical
Latin word navalis meaning “pertaining to a ship or ships. In southern American
Latin Naviho meaning ship or fleet.”

The word Seaman is from an Old English word see-man, meaning someone whose
job is out at sea. A sailor- from the Old English word saylor- is one whose job is involved with navigation or sailing. Rate comes from the 15th century French word
rare meaning “Value.” The French word drives from rata in Latin, meaning “fixed
(Amount),” from the classical Latin word. rata meaning “fixed, settled.” The use of
The word in a verb tense as in “to estimate the worth or value of” began in 1599. In
the 1649 the Royal navy classified its ships into First-rate, Second- rate, Third-rate
etc. on the basic of size and strength. Men were rated according to level of expertise
and experience when they signed up for mercantile service. Those who were notices
to seafaring were called landsmen. Those with rudimentary experience were called
Ordinary seamen OS, while established sailors with knowledge and some experience
were called able seamen.

Difference in terminology of lower rung enlisted men (or ratings) between the Royal Navy (RN) and Nigeria Navy (NN) arise in part because of the part mercantile marine heritage of the Nigeria Navy (NN). But they also illustrate how the same name can mean different ranks in different countries, depending on policy and establishment of their Navies. Ranks may seem to reflect the Royal Merchant Marine Navy (RM) (mainly among junior enlisted men) and Royal Navy (RN) (mainly among senior enlisted ratings and officers). But while the Royal Merchant marine Navy has the formal entry rank of “apprentice” – derived from the Merchant Shipping Acts of 1823, 1835 and 1876 – the ‘Royal Navy does not. A trainee in modern Nigeria Navy (NN) is equivalent to what used to be known as a ‘landsman’ in the RN of the 18th century. What might have passed for “apprentice” in the Merchant Marine Navy (MN) , however, is now “Ordinary” seaman OS in the modern Nigeria Navy (NN) “Able” seamen AB also exist in the Nigeria Navy (NN). To understand the difference between ‘Ordinary’ and Able one must go back in time to Merchant Naval (rather than Royal Naval) historically an ordinary seamen in the Merchant Navy Marine performed menial tasks like hauling ropes, climbing and manipulating sails, while occasionally taking the wheel. After three years of such apprenticeship he becomes an Able seaman. An able seaman (AB)-short for ‘able- bodied, or fully qualified seaman’ not only had to be intimate with every sail and rope, but also was expected to go and back up the carpenter chippy. The lowest rank in the RN, however, is that of an Able rating which in the Nigeria Navy (NN), is actually a mid-level rate.

The phrase Petty Officer Dated and refer back to the Old French word petit which means” small”. “Small” or ‘petty’ officials existed in medieval England and were subordinate to more important ‘big’ officials like sheriff whom they assisted in rural administration. Against this background, senior officers on ancient British warships, e.g. the Boatswain or Bossing in charge of all the general maintenance, ship master, carpenter, chief cook second steward Eng room headman, etc. also head of the administrative assistant. Such ‘petty’ official onboard the ships were known to the seamen as ‘petty officers’ reminiscent of petty officers in their rural villages communes. Initially the ‘petty’ officers, such as Chief mate, captains, gunner’s mates, quartermasters, master-at-arms, etc. were temporary appointees of the ship’s Captain. By the 17th century they began to assume more permanent roles. But the title did not become an official rank in the Royal Navy until 1808.

The Warrant officer- the phrase ‘warrant officer’ consists of two words “warrant” and officer” the term ‘warrant’ is derived from the Old French word warrant, which was used to refer to a Defence, a protector, a guarantor or an authorization. Dated back in 1040 some English ports provided merchant and warships and crews-such as master, Boatswain, carpenter, cook etc, to king Edward of England the confessor of these private contractors were later “warranted” as officers by the British Admiralty Merchant Navy (BAMN) as standing officers of the merchant Navy (MN) they were responsible for maintaining and sailing the ship while soldiers-then commanded by lieutenants and captains-were taken onboard and kept primarily to do whatever fighting was required. Unencumbered by shipboard duties, the seamen considered themselves as technocrats and looked down upon the soldiers.

In later centuries new shipboard roles were created and more ‘officers’ were warranted. These included the purser, Gunner surgeon, chaplain master-at-arms, Schoolmaster etc. it is from this Merchant Naval background that the Army acquired the ranks of ‘warrant officer’ as the equivalent of a senior sergeant major, particularly enlisted ratings who had put in many years of service but were not exactly material for formal commission as “officers’ both the Royal Naval and the two Nigeria Navies the Merchant Navy and the Military Navy have both “warrant officer” and “petty officer” among enlisted ranks.

In the British Military, an Ensign was the lowest rank among commissioned officers in the infantry from the 18th century until 1871, when the rank was abolished and replaced by second Lieutenant. It is still used as the lowest commission officer rank in the Navies of some emblem or banner, any soldier who carried his master’s ensign or flag became known as an ‘ensign bearer’ Later on it was shortened to’ ensign’ for an ensign actually commanded a five hundred-men body of troops known then’ as an “ensign”. None of the Nigerian Military services uses this rank.

Midshipman- The term was first written in 1601, and is apparent termed as such because in the earlier days of naval warfare this officer was stationed amidships when on duty. The word, ‘amidships’ which was formalized in 1692, derives from ‘amidst’ Older terms that dated back to 1391, ‘Amid comes from ‘amidde’ which in turn comes from ‘on middan’ meaning “in the middle” a 12th century word in English. Strategically located ‘amidst’ meaning the man, Midshipman were concerned with assisting Lieutenants later became sub Lieutenant
Control the lower level crews.

However, if considered quality material they could, on occasion take charge of smaller vessels or captured ships, in modern in the lowest rank among commissioned officers in the Navies, Merchant and Navy of commonwealth Nations, i.e. Second
Lieutenant. This correlation is not always precise in some countries the midshipman may be a pre-second Lieutenant Cadet, just above the rank of warrant officer, while the Naval ranks of sub Lieutenant and Lieutenant overlap the Army ranks of second Lieutenant, while Lieutenant and captain. This arrangement reflects the days before formal Military academies were established. At that time the merchant and the Naval officers trained at sea. A Midshipman under that system was a” cadet-apprentice” at beginning of his training program.

Lieutenant Commander-The rank now known as “Lieutenant Commander” it is the (Equivalent to an Army Major) used to known in the Royal Navy as “Senior Lieutenant” until 1914 when the Nigerian marine was established it was now change to Lieutenant Commander. The rank persists in the modern Nigeria Navy (NN) that was established in 1957 the Nigerian merchant Navy (NMN).

Commander- The word “Commander” Dated back to 1300, and reportedly derives from the Old French word comander meaning to “order or enjoin,” from the Latin word commandare, itself derived from classical Latin ward commandare meaning to recommend Over time its meaning was influenced by another classical Latin word mandare meaning “to commit, entrust” as in mandate. A ‘commander’ can, therefore be thought of as having been mandated by the State to give orders to subordinates which they must obey. The Military use as a noun began in 1552, but the word “Commander” entered official British Naval use in 1674, as the phrase “Master and Commander” it was used to describe the officer directly under the Sailing Captain. On a smaller warship, the ‘Master and Commander “might well be in full command and could be addressed as “Captain” Depending on the size of the ship, therefore, the Royal Navy (RN) merchant Navy (MN) had up to three grades of Captains Quarter Master Midshipman or Sub Lieutenant, River Master Lieutenant or Commander and Deep Sea Master full Captain. Of which the level and capacity of vessels the “Master and Commander” was the lowest at that time. In1794. “Master and Commander” was shortened to “Commander” a term which remains to this day in the Nigerian Navies.

The related ward Commandant in 1687, from the Older French word Commandment which dated back to1280. Another related word, commandeer dated back to 1881, and reportedly comes from Dutch derived Afrikaans. That of South Africa, as in kommandeeren meaning to command for military service. Similarly the commando is considered of Afrikaans origin, meaning a “troop under a commander” However, there was a prior usage in Portuguese meaning “party commanded” as was the case when the term was used in 1809 during the peninsula campaign. But from 1834, it was used to describe Military inhabitants in South Africa. It re-appeared in the two writings of Winston Churchill (a veteran of the Boer war) as a description of special operation to repel the threat of a German invasion of England.

Captain-infantry Captains became part of the Royal Navy as far back as the 11th century. Their role was to command soldiers serving on board ships primarily for combat duty while the ships ware operated and commanded by ship Master, who had been warranted as officers and were therefore, known as “warrant officers” Later on some say as early as the 15th century, infantry Captains and Lieutenants began assuming shipboard functions. This process was complete by that 1747, when they took full command and control of warships. It was at this point that “Captain” became an official Royal Navy (RN) rank. But somewhat confusingly, the ward ‘Captain’ is also a title. Hence it became tradition to refer to the commander of any Ship as ‘Captain’. Indeed, as a courtesy, to this day, even the lieutenant commanding a small patrol boat is addressed as ‘Captain’. Historically, is a very powerful position. A Captain even had the judicial power of life and death over his crew. In 1748 the Royal navy created three grades of Captain, depending on the size and complexity of the ship Commanded. The senior grade – so called “Post-Captain” – later became known simply as “Captain” and is (equivalent to a Colonel in rank to an Army Colonel.) The mid-grade later became “Commander” (equivalent to an Army Lt. Col.) while the lowest grade became “Lieutenant Commander” (equivalent to an Army Major.)

Commodore – The naval term “Commodore” was formally documented in 1694, and is said to have derived from the Dutch word Kommandeur, meaning “having command over others” similar to the French term Commandeur, which was itself a derivative of the Old French term comandeur. The Dutch reportedly created the commodore appointment around 1652 during a naval war with England. Confronted with the need to find officers to command naval squadrons but unwilling to appoint more salaried Admirals, the commodore appointment was established at a pay scale said to be half that an Admiral of that era. The title was introduced into the Royal Navy in 1689 after the Dutch leader, William of Orange, became King William III of England. It was later adopted by the Merchant Marine as the formal title of the senior officer of a merchant fleet. Edet akinwale wey, Nigeria’s first indigenous Chief of Naval Staff, held the title of “commodore” for many years but eventually retired in 1975 in the rank of Vice-Admiral. “Commodore” is the ‘position’ in the navy above a Captain, but below a Rear Admiral. Its equivalent in the Army is a Brigadier General.

In some navies of the world, commodore is considered an “appointment” rather than a true rank, while in others it is a rank historically a Commodore was basically a captain appointed temporarily to take charge of a detached naval squadron (including his own ship), for all practical purposes as a “junior Rear Admiral”. In this context he was known originally as Commodore Second Class. If a Captain was awarded flag rank but did not also have to command his own ship he was known as Commodore First Class because he had a flag Captain under his Command. The Royal Navies retained the position of “Commodore Second class”, as “Commodore” while “Commodore First Class” became “Rear Admiral”. In the USN, however, the next rank after “Captain” is “Rear Admiral (lower half)”. After many years of resisting the term “Admiral” because of its Royal connotation, the USN rank of “Rear-Admiral” was first authorized by the US Congress on July 16th, 1862, under the pressure of civil war expansion. From an American point of view, beginning from the days of the revolutionary war, the world, “Commodore” was an honorary title for Captains I command of two or more ships operating together. They might also be Captains charged with other major responsibilities. In 1862, however, it became an official command rank and remained so until 1899 when it was reserved as a title for retired civil war era Captains. Under administrative pressure of World War II expansion, however, is was transiently resuscitated as a temporary rank in 1943. In 1982, Congress authorized a new rank of “Commodore Admiral” (sort of like “Brigadier General). However, a year later it reverted to simply “Commodore”. But in 1986 the term disappeared again and was replaced by “Rear Admiral (lower half)” as it known today. (See Admiral below)

Admiral- The word Admiral goes as 1205, from the Arabic title amir-ar-rahl meaning “chief of transport” or amir-al-bahr meaning Commander of the seas – an officer in the Mediterranean fleet. The term comes from amir meaning “leader”. Many Nigerians will recognize the etymologic similarity between the phrase Amirul-Hajj – the leader of Hajj delegation (pilgrimage)- and the anglicized word “Admiral” crusaders to the Middle East may have learned the phrase during various meetings with Arabs, perhaps even as early as the 11th century. Sicilian and Genoese seamen reportedly adapted it as “Admiral” while the French and Spanish reportedly used similar ranks for their seafarers. It evolved into “Admiral” and later “Admiral” by the 16th century
King Edward I appointed the first British Admiral in 1297. William de Lilburn was known as “admiral of the sea of the king of England”. The position evolved into “lord high Admiral” and –as was the case with the term “Filled Marshal” appeared to be focused initially on administrative matters rather than actual command at sea. Over the next few centuries Admirals were poorly paid and often unemployed. But by the 16th century – and continuing until the end of the Napoleonic Wars – Admirals started functioning as operational commanders at sea, using the ship of the junior captain as flag ship. When commanding the fleet the deputy, the Vice Admiral (from the Latin word “Vicis” meaning “deputy or “stead”) would be positioned out in front. The deputy to the Vice Admiral- known as the Vice Admiral-was positioned in the rear of the fleet (along with reserves) which is why he became known as “Rear Admiral” or Admiral in the rear”. Such as Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer, Command Chief Warrant Officer, Chief Warrant Officer of a higher formation, Base Chief Warrant Officer, Trumpet or Bugle or Drum or Pipe Major are actually (appointments) rather than ranks. In the British Army examples of appointment includes Chaplain-General, Colonel-Commandant Colonel-in-Chief, Colonel of the Regiment, Quarter-Master-General, etc. All act warrant of the Naval service which from the existing Merchant Navy and was no reduction.

In Europe, Asia, America, South Africa, South American, and some part of African countries, the cadets that pass out from their various Maritime academy, and the training of merchant Navy officers and ratings is not just the self Sponsors and responsibility of individuals. The training of Merchant Navy (MN) of any Nation, it is mandated that it is the responsibility for a Nation water Transport Ministry. For instance the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, After the Military passing out from their academy (NDA) they go to their various Military Branches in Nigeria, today the Nigerian Merchant Navy officers that passes out from Nigeria Maritime Academy Oron yearly has no establishment branch to go, no office ship base to report to, neither belong to any Ministry In Nigeria.

THE PERSPECTIVE OF NATION INTEREST

Whereas the primary responsibility for the Merchant Navy and their trainings rest on the Ministry of Transport, a strong relationship has become imperative between the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN), Maritime Academy Nautical College (Oron Akwa Ibom) and the Nigeria Navy (NN)

Whereas the Nigeria Navy’s interest in the Nautical College Oron, Akwa Ibom State derives from the agreement reached between the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Defence (Navy) in March 1984. This also stems from the national Defence Headquarters’ requirement for an adequate Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN), manned by well-trained officers that possess an understanding of naval procedures. This is to enable the Nigeria Merchant Navy (NMN) and their ships to operate efficiently with the Nigeria Navy (NN) in tines of wars or conflicts. The Defence Headquarter envisaged this task as requiring arms and ammunitions; regular training of ratings to sharpen their skills and keeping them in the highest state of readiness which is the greatest asset of a modern Defence Force or the Nigeria Merchant Navy (NMN) Coastal Defence Force (CDF)

Whereas this was the consensus among the top Naval Officers who participated in ‘‘Operation Danke’’, the joint Naval exercise between the Nigerian Navy (NN) and their visiting German counterparts, on Sunday February 22nd 1987, alongside a unit of the Nigeria Air Force. The exercise – Operation Danke- was designed as exercise to enable the Naval Ships performs certain maneuvers, which culminated in the creation of an air-tight-shield for Merchant Navy (MN) Ships at the sea.

Suffice to say that in times of War, the Nigeria Merchant Navy (NMN) Ships which carry large quantities of war essentials and life-support materials for troops of their country represent prime target as they are the military auxiliary supply chain.

However, a convoy of Military War equipment and good-landing-Merchant-Navy (MN) vessels properly screened or protected by a contingent of Naval Ships has a good chance of getting to its destination with little or no mishap The celebrated ‘‘Operation Danke’’ recalled was under the tactical Command of Commodore MURTALA NYAKO; while CAPTAIN ALLISON MADUEKE was the fleet Commander for the exercise, and CAPTAIN JEROME was the Command Technical Officer. Other top Military officers who participated in the exercise were Captain Okahi Mike Akhigbe, former Military Governor of Lagos State; Commodore FRANK NESIAMA, Chief Staff Officer Western Naval Command; and Colonel DAVID A.B MARK, Commander of Corps of Signals, Nigerian Army Now currently, His Excellency, President of the Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria .The exercise witnessed the assemblage of four Nigerian Navy Ships, NNS ARADU, NNS AMBE, NNS LANA and NNS EKPE; two German Navy Ships- ROMMEL D-187 and KOLIN F-211 and one Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Ship M/V RIVER MADA under the tactical command of Captain CALLY JOE also participated in the exercise .

THE NIGERIA MERCHANT NAVY (NMN) AND THE NIGERIA NAVY (NN)
RELATIONSHIP- THE COMPLIMENTARY PERSPECTIVE

The Nigeria Navy (NN) often collaborates with Nigeria Merchant Navy (NMN) fleets Officers and Ratings on auxiliary, logistics, vessels services and at times multilateral organizations. The affiliation of the NMN also known as the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) (Seafarers) Maritime Security and Safety Corps will in the long run attract international –job – creating organizations to Nigerian maritime and petroleum economy. Specifically, the benefits that will accrue to Nigerians if the Nigeria Merchant Navy bill is enacted are stated viz;
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) will use this as a Merchant Navy opportunity for the protection of foreign merchant ships, officers and crews on board. Further this will also be an avenue for Nigerians to pay their union dues as at when due; create international sea jobs for Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Seamen/Seafarers’ just like their counterparts in Philippines, Korea, Malaysia, Ghana, Coted-ivoire, Congo, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, to mention but a few that are currently tapping into this vista of massive job opportunities. This will in addition give the Nigerian Merchant Navy as well as the sailors- in- training the opportunity to celebrate the World Seafarers’ Day by keying into the I.T.F programs with government support.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will oversee the welfare and conditions of sea service with a view ensuring working environment conducive for all seafarers. The IMO will make Nigerian an African regional hub for the celebration of World Maritime Day as African largest market and top economy.
The United Nations International Transport Organization (UNITO) is also contemplating provisions for the Merchant Navy Seamen direct participation in Peace Keeping Mission, or in time of conflict resolution under the United Nation Peace Operations. This prospective direct participation will be in terms of rendering logistic and humanitarian services.

BRIEF REVIEW OF THE MERCHANT NAVY CORPS IN OTHER CLIMES

THE UNITED STATE MERCHANT NAVY (USMN) CORPS IS CALLED THE UNITED STATE MARINE CORPS. It was established as a separate service within the United States, which provides specially trained amphibious force, readily available to each of the major fleet commands. The concept was reaffirmed in the National Security Act if 1974 of the United State of America, which changed the US Marine Corps with the Primary Mission of providing, troops essentials; the prosecution of a responsibility for continue development of tactics for territorial water Security and Safety.

The United States Coast Guard was also created from the United State Merchant Navy (MN) (Seafarers) under review. The US Coast Guard- as an auxiliary arm of the US Military- has about 34,000- guard work force spread across their Nation; it is wholly composed of civilian volunteer organization. It was established it 1912 under a multinational agreement upon which the government enacted International Ice Patrol Act of the US. The Coast Guard comprises Crewmen; who can jump into the water to rescue others; embodying the long standing tradition of coastline world over.

Currently, the United States citizenry do not revere much invaluable role of the Coast Guard in almost all their National Maritime issue. That is unfortunate because the smallest (Coast Guard) of the five armed Services responsible for the tracking of Maritime crime and ensure the safety of lives in the water ways of all states of the United States of America plays an invaluable role in the national security.

THE GREAT BRITAIN: THE BRITISH MERCHANT NAVY (BMN) THE BRITISH MARINE, THEY CONSTITUTED THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY (BRN) OF ENGLAND. Thus, in 1914 the United Kingdom had huge total of import and exports, but a very small seagoing Merchant Navy. Whereas Norway with a very small modes of commerce of its own, had a very impressive Merchant Navy (MN) fleet the engage primarily in carrying goods for others, which includes England and Germany, who in a bid to protect their economic stronghold developed sophisticated shipping at that time, backed by strong coastal Merchant Security. This is to secure their maritime- business- market share. As a result of the British- Argentina- Falkland—Territorial-war Treaty, British Nursery of seamen Merchant Navy (MN) were put on alert, to alert large numbers of trained sailors in case of imminent attack. The Queen Elizabeth of England for instance, utilized her position as Head of the Church of England to then decree that Wednesday as well as Friday be declared “Meatless days” in order to build up reserve of trained Merchant Navy (MN) Seamen; by increasing the fishing trawlers fleets. The Merchant Navy (MN) vessels too were frequently drawn into Naval Service in England as light cruisers or patrol craft, just as they were also constantly receiving series of letters of marquee, which licensed them to spy on enemy shipping as pirates.

THE RUSSIAN SOVIET UNION HAS HER OWN VERSION OF MERCHANT NAVY (MN) SEA SECURITY CORPS REFERRED TO AS THE “COASTAL DEFENCE FORCE”. The former Admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union named Sergio Georgiyevich Gorshkov, emerged in the then Soviet Union as a great builder of the soviet sea power from the soviet Merchant navy (MN) Coastal Defence Force into global reckoning. This gave the United State of America Navy a serious international challenge and restlessness up to the cold- war period. This era began from on the 5th January 1956, when he took over as Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet navy, until he retired; about 29 years later. He did not relent in ensuring a cumulative build-up of a formidable Navy, commensurable with then large Soviet Unions. He complimented his work with the development of a world – class Merchant Navy (NM) (as a reinforcement reserve) with a view to fulfilling and sustaining USSR’s global super mission.

THE MALAYSIANS MERCHANT NAVY (MN) SECURITY AND SAFETY OF THEIR MARITIME WAS CALLED MARITIME SECURITY AGENCY and has nothing to do with Malaysia Military Force – no conflict of role with the Malaysian Navy because the Malaysia government did not want anything that jeopardize her international trade and commerce.

UNITED KINDOM, UNITED STATES, OF AMERICA, OTHER LIKE AUSTRALIANS, CANADIANS, PANAMANIANS, THE GHANAIANS, SPANISH, PAKISTANI, IVOIRIANS, NORWEGIANS, INDIANS, SINGAPOREANS, GREEKS, SENEGALESE, SIERRA LEONE LIBERIANS, EGYPTIAN among other countries have their Merchant Navy (MN) Corps established in the line with international laws and conventions. The enforcement agencies are the International Merchant Organization (IMO); International Transport Workers Federation (ITF); United Nation International Transport Organization (UNITO) and African Union Organization (AU) General Assembly resolutions on the “international Ship and Port facilities Security (ISPS) Code” convention in Geneva, Switzerland 2001. These resolutions mandated all countries that have access to both Ocean and sea to establish their Merchant Navy Corps and affiliate them to all the foretasted internationally related Organization. 4.6 The benefits accruable to Nigerian government on the basis of NMN –proposed legislative establishment and affiliation to the aforementioned international agencies are
1. The Merchant Navy (MN) regional and international countries will
Prevent any illegal exportation of dangerous weapons from their
Countries, to any of the member state countries;
2. The ITF will create international and regional sea jobs for Nigerian
Merchant Navy (NMN) (Seafarers) by means of prompt an adequate
Payment of ITF (Seafarers) engagement – on-board- union dues and
Adequate payment salaries of ITF wages based on the carbotage Act
2003, and the implementation of (SOLIAS) STCWC Mandatory
Convention.
3. The IMO will oversee the welfare and working conditions in the
Maritime industry-focusing mainly on seafarers, sea service, the safety
and environment conducive for seafaring and to enforce the international ship
and port facilities security ISPS Code
4 The UNITO will give the world-class logistic and technical support
Service to the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Security and Safety
Corps in terms of strategic intervention or when call upon to undertake Logistic
service for African Union (AU), ECOWAS and United Nations Peace-keeping
missions or in times of conflict resolution – Supply of Relief materials in distress
situation.
The major objective of seeking legislative enactment for the Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) (seafarers) Maritime & Petroleum Security and Safety Corps Bill (2011) are:
i to ensure proper coordination of all Nigerian Seamen nationwide with the view to bringing development into marine areas and
ii to ensure that Nigeria maximize her economic potentialities in the maritime sub-sector which are currently in favor of foreigners, thanks to the dredging of the Lower Niger and future dredging of more inland water ways. The Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Corps will through its operations amongst other things generate revenue for the federal government of Nigeria and create.
The Flags and Ensign of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Ship
Flag of Nigerian Ships Act 1968 of No. 29,
[14th May 1968]

Nigeria National Flag Cross of St. George Flag








M/Navy Blue Ensign Flag M/Navy Red Ensign Flag








The federal military government hereby decrees as follows:-
Flag as evidence of Nationality of Nigerian ships, other than ships of the Nigeria Navy or Naval Reserve to be worn on all lawful occasion, shall be classed as ensigns distinguished by the color of their respective grounds; and



(A) For ships owned by any of the Government of Nigeria, the flag shall have a blue ground with National flag filling the top left hand corner and quarter of the hoist, and be known as the blue ensign;
(b) For ships other than those owned by any of the Government of Nigeria, the flag shall have a red ground with the National flag filling the top left hand corner and quarter of the hoist, and by known as the red ensign;
And unless regulations under this act otherwise prescribe, a ship affected by this subsection shall display the ensign appropriate to be worn by it.
2. --- (1) it is hereby declared for the avoidance of doubt that the commissioner for Defence may prescribe the flag to be worn by vessels of Nigeria Navy or of the Naval Reserve; and until so prescribed the flag shall have a white ground, with the red cross of St. George quartered thereon and the National flag in the top left hand quadrant. The flag shall in either event be known as a white ensign and as such shall be worn by vessels aforesaid on such M/Naval occasions as may from time to time be prescribe according to the custom and usage.
(2) In this section “vessels” includes craft of any description under M/Naval control.
3. The flag on land of any ensign for use under this act. or otherwise than onboard a ship for which it is prescribed, without the prior approval in the case of the blue or the red ensign, of the commissioner for Transport or in the case of the white ensign, of the commissioner for Defence shall be an offence punishable on conviction by a fine or by imprisonment f or a term of 12 months or both.
4. The commissioner for Transport may respect the blue and the red ensign, but not otherwise, make regulations prescribing:-
(a) Recommended proportions for the ensign appropriate to the size of the
Ship.
(b) Special occasions on which the blue ensign may be worn by ships not owned by the Government of Nigeria;
(c) The form of warrant of Authority with reference to the wearing or the blue ensign;
5. --- (1) the act may be cited as the flag of Nigerian Ships ACT 1968 and shall apply throughout the federation.
(2) in this Act, the expression “ships” means craft of any size or shape constructed or used as the case may be, for the carriage on, through or under water, of persons or property whether designated as ships or vessels for the purposes of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1962, or the Navy Act 1964, as the case may require, or constructed or used for other Maritime purpose, and the expression includes craft capable of being used for carriage of persons or property or both, and:-
Designed for use or to be used with hydrofoils, or
So constructed that in use on water the craft is separated therefore by a
Cushion of air or other gaseous substance.

MADE at Lagos this 14th Day of May 1968.

MAJOR-GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON,
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
L.N. 54 of 1968
Flags of Nigerian Ships (Other than Naval Vessels)
Regulations 1968
Commencement: 14th may 1968


In exercise of the power conferred by section 4 of the flags of Nigerian ships act 1968 and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the federal commissioner for transport hereby makes the following regulations:-
1. – (1) These regulations may be cited as the Flags of Nigerian Ships (Other than Naval Vessels) Regulations 1968 and shall come into force on the commencement of the Act.
(2) Nothing in these regulations shall apply to naval Vessels, and with that exception they shall apply to all Nigerian ships and have effect throughout the Federation.
2. – (2) The size of an ensign appropriate to the length of the ship on which it is to be worn shall correspond with the following ship measurements varying according to free-board and design; and subject thereto and to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this regulation, the length of an ensign shall be twice its breadth

(2) The breadth of the ensign in the case of a ship in length,--
(a) Not less than 800 feet, shall be 9 feet;
(b) less than 800 feet but not less than 400 feet, shall be 7½ feet;
(c) less than 400 feet but greater than 200 feet, shall be 4½ feet;
(d) Up to including 200 feet, shall be 3 feet
(3) In the application of this regulation to the ships in the category of harbor craft, the ensign may be a size proportionate to that harbor craft on which, in any particular case, it is to be worn.
3. – (1) If the Chief of Naval Staff by warrant under his hand in the form prescribed in paragraph (2) of this regulation authorizes a Nigerian ship to wear the blue ensign that ensign may be worn instead of the red ensign on all customary occasions where the officer commanding the ship and at least one other officer of the ship’s company are officers on the Nigeria Navy Retired or Emergency List, or they are officers on the Active or Retired List of the Nigeria Navy Reserve; and where a warrant is issued under this regulation the fact of such issue shall be noted in the ship’s Article of agreement.
(2) The form of warrant of authority as evidence of entitlement to fly the blue ensign shall be in the following terms or as near thereto as the occasion may require that is to say-‘‘To
(Name of vessel)

The Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigeria Navy has been pleased to approve the flying of blue ensign on board the above vessel on all lawful occasions and until countermanded; and this notification of approval shall serve as your warrant of authority, and be noted in the ship’s Articles of agreement accordingly

DATED at Lagos this 14th day of May 1968.

Chief of Naval Staff

The failure without reasonable excuse to comply with the size of an ensign appropriate to the length of the ship shall be an offence punishable on conviction by a fine of not less than the specified amount or more than the amount; and for the purpose of this regulation an excuse shall be reasonable if the person charged with the offence satisfies the court that because of a low freeboard or the general nature of the superstructure and design of the ship the ensign would trail in water or
Otherwise e liable to material damage.
MADE at Lagos this 14th day of May 1968.


J.S TARKA
Federal Commissioner for Transport

The Nigerian Merchant Navy (NMN) Seafarers Maritime & Petroleum Security and Safety Corps has obtained her Legal Nigeria Certificate of Registration of trade mark and license of trade mark Act, (CAP 437 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1999; Section 22 (3) Regulation 65) The Trade Mark shown above has been Duly Registered in part (A or B) of the Registered in the Name of Nigerian Merchant Navy seafarers, Maritime & petroleum Security and Safety Corps, of No. 6 Force Road, TBS Onikan Lagos. Manufacturers and Merchants and in used In Class 25 under No.85454 as of the date 23rd of July, 2009 in respect of Clothing, foot wears headgear. The Names of items Registered is as Follows:-
1, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Seafarers Maritime & Petroleum Security and Safety Corps,
2, the Nigerian merchant Navy Ranks size and structure from the Rank of junior Ordinary Seaman to the Rank of Admiral of the Nigerian Merchant Navy,
3, Liberty and Bush jackets Dress Uniforms white,
4, Cook tail Liberty Uniforms White,
5, Ceremonial Dress Uniforms Black,
6, Working Gears Blue Rig, and Merchant Navy Police Blue Rigs Uniforms Color of the sea,
7, Camouflage Lithe Blue Color of the sea,
8, International Maritime Organization IMO Carton Color,
9, Nigerian Merchant Navy Golden Color Eagle on Logo,
10, Nigerian Merchant Navy General Badge,
11, Nigerian Merchant Navy Official Pass,
12, Nigerian Merchant Navy Name Tag With Logo,
13, Nigerian Merchant Navy I D Card,

The Purpose of the use of Ware ring Uniforms it is to distinguished officers from Ratings and Differentiate one Fighter, one warrior from another and Soldiers from Non Combatant or from civilians.

THE MERCHANT NAVY ESTABLISHMENT ADMINISTRATION (MNEA)

In Addition. The Merchant Navy Establishment Administration (MNEA) as a deportment in the Merchant Navy Corps, is establishments set up to negotiate crew employment contracts. Such an establishment is only responsible to registered seafarers. The unions representing the officers and ratings and the employers are represented on the National Maritime Board. The majority of present-day merchant seamen owe their long-term security and permanency of employment to this scheme. The MNEA replaces the insecurity and impermanence of employment on a ‘voyage to voyage’ basis. Any person is more likely to work efficiently if he can rest assured that there is a reasonable measure of security in the occupation he has chosen to pursue.
What exist in effect is an employment exchange for seamen much in the way that there is an exchange or market for the ships in which they serve. The trade unions, officers and ratings take an active part, and with the added interest and representation of the employers on the one side and unions on the other, maximum opportunity is afforded for the negotiation of fair and responsible terms and conditions of employment for the seafarers.

We now have in the United Kingdom a combination of the crew `agreement which directly relates to the voyage, and an underlying service contract which, read in conjunction with the crew agreement, produce an overall contractual relationship between the seafarers and his employer these contract of employment exist in various grades. It should be emphasized that the MNEA is not an employer but acts very in the role of an employment exchange. A seaman in general: (a) has a company service contract; (b) is a registered seafarer; or (c) is neither a contract employee nor a registered seafarers.
In order that a seafarer may be employed in a federated ship he or she must either be a company service contract employee or registered seafarers. To be employed on board non-federated ships he or she may belong to any of the above three categories.
Company service contract employees agree to serve in any ship belonging to a particular ship-owning company or associated company. Registered seafarers agree to serve in any United Kingdom registered ship, irrespective of owner-ship, subject to that ship being a federated ship. The principal parties to this contract are the seafarers and the MNEA.
No seafarers who are neither contract employee or registered seafarers are free to choose their own employers although in general the scope of their employment will be limited to non-federated ships
The benefits available under a company service contract must not fall short of those available to registered seafarers. If they did, those seamen having a company service contract would be at the mercy of individual companies’ policy changes which, in time of temporary unemployment, could be significantly prejudicial

Right and duties of seaman

The world ‘seaman’ is defined in the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (section 742), as including every person employed or engaged in any capacity on board any ship except the Master and Pilots. The Master is employed by written agreement and must appear in the crew list, but is not a seaman within the statutory definition.
Right and duties imposed y any contract are either expressed or implied and the crew agreement is no exception to this general rule. It could be strongly argued that the traditional role of a seaman calls for a higher devotion to study than the work of an employee in any other industry or occupation. Seaman and their ships are exposed to the perils of the sea for long periods of their working lives; the long history of maritime disasters is proof enough of this. Therefore one of the implied duties of a seaman is to endeavor at all times to safe his ship in time of trouble or danger. It is expected of him as a duty and he can never, unless his employment contract has already been dissolved, claim reword for helping to save his own ship.
It is also inherent in his terms of employment that he must carry out the lawful orders of the Master providing such orders relate to the ship, or things pertaining to her, including the cargo she is carrying. A seaman must be able to perform his designated task with reasonable care and skill. Contracts of service or employment, being inextricable bound by code of conduct, are essentially based on trust. What has been the custom and practice over the year, and has become a recognized and established method of performing employment contracts can give rise, by implication, to binding contractual obligations on either party to the contract.
Wages

Historical theory

The basic consideration given by the shipowner or employer in exchange for all the duties expressed or implied which the seaman agrees to carry out is the payment of wages. Under the old common law a seaman was only due his wages at the successful termination of the voyage. He was, as it were, a joint venturer in the risk. If the voyage never terminated he lost his right to wages. The idea sprang from the notion that wages were paid out of freight earned and, under common law, freight was not earned until right and true delivery of the cargo. The injustice of this is not difficult to see. For a long time wages have been paid in consideration of services rendered and in accordance with the length of period of service. Successful completion of the voyage is irrelevant. This change is of particular importance where a ship has been wrecked or lost.

Disciplinary procedures for the Merchant navy seamen

The subject of discipline in the Merchant Navy has been a matter of review in recent times by a working party of shipowners, seafarers’ organization and the Department of Transport. The working party was set up by the secretary of State and result of their work was published in November 1975. The principal recommendations of the working party or ‘group’ called for a new disciplinary system, including a code of conduct and a disciplinary structure ashore to deal with serious or persistent offenders.
The principal recommendations were: (a) offences prejudicial to safety to remain the subject of criminal prosecution and the scope of such prosecutions to be widened (see above); (b) a stringent code of conduct to replace the short list of offences contained in the disciplinary regulations; (c) the master’s powers of investigation, decision and logging to remain unchanged; (d) the master’s power to levy fines to be abolished, i.e. the disciplinary regulations to be repealed, and the following penalties to be available to him: (i) warning; (ii) reprimand; (iii) adverse report to a shore0based committee; and (iv) dismissal from the ship; (e) the master’s powers at ports abroad to be enlarged. Repatriation would be at the employer’s expense but the offender would e liable to contribute up to one week’s wages towards the cost; and (f) joint disciplinary committees, with statutory backing, to deal ashore with seafarers dismissed from their ships for indiscipline, with powers to exclude from the industry and to remove an offender’s discharge book in the most serious cases.
The cornerstone of the new disciplinary arrangements will be the code of conduct, which will be applicable to all officers and ratings serving in United Kingdom registered ships. The code will contain a list of offences which warrant dismissal or lesser disciplinary action and will lay down detailed procedures for the maintenance of discipline on board a ship. The code will be designed to embrace the fundamental principle.

COMMODORE ALLEN BENSON EDEMA
D G COMMANDANT
Nigerian Merchant Navy
Maritime, petroleum, security and safety corps

For more information kindly send a mail to
nigerianmerchantnavycorps@yahoo.com
nigerianmerchantnavy1914@gmail.com