Merchant Navy condemns sack of ten seafarers by Barnaly despite unpaid 3 months salaries. 

Banarly Nigeria Limited, a fishing company has disengaged ten seafarers with the fishing trawler, HRV II without due diligence, the workers have alleged.

They added this is even as the firm is owing it’s workers three months salaries.

The sacked seafarers who are ten in number were disengaged by management of the fishing company on the 27th of November 2023.

It was also gathered that the fishing company has allegedly refused to pay the sailors for three months despite their voyage at sea.

The management of the fishing form was said to have slammed a fine of four million naira on the accused crew members for the alleged crime even when their collective salary in a year is not up to the amount slammed on them.

The union in charge of seafarers (officers), Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), stated that the captain of the trawler vessel had admitted to the offence but the management of Barnaly shipping insisted that all the crew members must pay for the crime committed by an individual.

Our correspondent learnt that the fishing company recently sacked some seafarers working with Olokun iii

The union, in a press release signed by Comrade John Okpono Aleakhue General Secretary of the union, dated 1st December 2023, expressed concerns over the reccurring high-handedness of Banarly management adding that the company’s policy on staff should not be seen as anti labour, slavish and trapping on the dignity and rights of Nigerian Marine fishers.

Explaining, the statement titled “Termination Of Employment Of All The Crew On Board HRV II, stated that “Prior to this time their salaries have been withheld since September, 2023, and the offence for which they are made to collectively suffer was committed by the Captain on board HRV II .

“Information reaching us revealed that the crew onboard the vessels were first time offenders.

Seeking ways to resolve the issue, NMNOWTSSA has called on the management of the fishing company for dialogue over the issue.

“Though we are taken aback by the complaints because we just resolved similar issue onboard O!okun III, we are concerned that recurring incidence like this may provoke low staff morale.

“We must reiterate that Banarly policy on staff management should not be seen as slavish, anti — labour and trapping on the dignity and rights of Nigerian Marine Fishers in your organization.

“In view Of the above, we request a meeting for next week to hear your management side of the story and put head together for a win — win solution.’

Meanwhile, management of Banarly Nigeria Limited declined comments when our correspondent attempted to make inquiry about the sacked sailors at the company’s entry point at Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Phase 1 Lagos.

However, an internal memo from the company over the termination of the ten seafarers’ appointment reads that “You would recall that you were personally and severally queried on the 18th of September, 2023 regarding the entire crews’ operational misconduct while on a voyage with FT HRV II which occasioned the company’s huge loss as well wasting of operational cost of the vessel on that voyage.

“Recall too that as a result of your representations to management in response to this query which was rejected- management gave the entire crew members more than six weeks to mitigate these losses to no avail.

“In view of the above management has decided to terminate your appointments with effect from today, Monday 27th November 2022..