28/05/2019
THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE HISTORY OF THE FUNCTION
OBJECTIVES AND DEVELOPMENTAL PRIORITIES OF THE NIGERIAN
MERCHANT MARINE TRANSPORT SAFETY CORPS RC/CAC/IT/NO 30810 UNDER 1915; 2007 NIGERIAN MERCHANTS MARINE ACTS FOR ALL SEAFARERS AND ITS MARITIME SECURITY AND
SAFETY*
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 , , and in . 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 shipping Agency, shipping Agency, company, 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. 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 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 (QMF) in combine joint west Africans marines amphibian force comprises the , , , 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 (8)
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 and others West African , while the Nigeria Army (NA) was also introduced and where named the Quree’s Military Force. Quree’s Owned Nigerian Regiment ( ).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, 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 . 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 in Belling Germany and around the world. The performance of the /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 B**G 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 (NPA). And
(3) The ( ),
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 B**G 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.
* -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.
Merchant Marine Transport Safety of Nigeria is a Voluntary organization with a special focus to serve humanity. The organization was founded on the basis of patriotism and has the obligation to support the government agencies in the maritime , oil and gas sectors It was established on the 8th of Jan...
