The Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu, has secured additional support from the Sierra Leonean government to curb maritime accidents and promote safe navigation throughout the region.
During his visit to Freetown, Adalikwu met with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Fanday Turay and expressed MOWCA’s concerns about recent marine accidents involving ferries, boats, and barges, emphasising that adherence to safety protocols could prevent such incidents.
The organisation mourned the loss of lives and investments due to these accidents. Adalikwu advised that water transportation should be strictly regulated to ensure passenger safety and prevent commercial losses.
Adalikwu formally invited Sierra Leone to participate in a regional workshop focused on the safety of inland waterways and passenger ferries in West and Central Africa, scheduled to take place in Libreville, Gabon, from July 15-17, 2024.
He said the workshop is organised in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF).
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Adalikwu referenced a tragic boat accident in Gabon in 2023, which resulted in over 60 fatalities and several people missing.
He said this incident has led MOWCA to seek assistance from Gabon in planning the upcoming workshop.Adalikwu announced that MOWCA is offering maritime training scholarships to 10 Sierra Leonean youths at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, as part of its capacity-building initiative.
He stressed the importance of properly training operators of boats and ferries, noting that many marine accidents in the region involve untrained individuals.
Adalikwu said the upcoming workshop will cover essential safety measures aligned with the IMO’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) conventions and the standards of the Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for emergency and occupational safety on smaller watercraft.
He explained that although SOLAS is designed for sea-going vessels, the principles of accident prevention and emergency response apply to inland waterways.
“We are also examining water transportation rules, particularly strategies to prevent collisions when crafts approach each other,” added Adalikwu. Responding, the Minister recalled the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, particularly the support during Sierra Leone’s crises.
He noted that Sierra Leone is updating its maritime documents for submission to parliament and the cabinet, which will enhance the country’s compliance with international maritime regulations.
Turay thanked Adalikwu for the scholarships, acknowledging the need for younger seafarers to replace the aging workforce. Concerning the waterway transport, the Minister informed the MOWAC scribe that Sierra Leone sought the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the building of jetties as this will go a long way in their transport master plan.
