The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has raised serious concerns about safety deficiencies at the Tin-Can Island Port’s Five Star Logistics Terminal, following a tragic incident on Christmas day that claimed the life of a dockworker. The incident occurred when a Liebherr Crane at the terminal crushed the dockworker onboard the vessel MSC Samu, resulting in his immediate death.
Adewale Adeyanju, the President-General of MWUN, pointed to negligence on the part of the terminal operator and the stevedoring contractor as the primary causes of the fatality. In a visit to the terminal to pay his condolences, Adeyanju expressed his shock at the unsafe conditions, describing the terminal as a “death trap” and warning that the lack of proper safety protocols could lead to further injuries or fatalities.
Stevedoring is not factory work; it is a global profession with standards. In other countries, workers are well cared for, but here, it’s not the same, Adeyanju stated. He pointed out several alarming issues, including the lack of proper supervision and inadequate safety equipment. For instance, workers were seen wearing bathroom slippers instead of safety boots, and many were not equipped with overalls or helmets.
Adewale further criticized the terminal’s management for its failure to provide adequate supervision. Despite the large number of workers required to handle a vessel of the size of MSC Samu, only one supervisor was assigned to oversee the operation. This, he argued, was an example of poor management and a disregard for the safety of workers. The terminal’s two supervisors responsible for managing the Liebherr Crane were reportedly absent at the time of the accident.
This is pure negligence. A responsible company would have already provided a clear explanation of what transpired, Adeyanju added, emphasizing the importance of workers’ welfare in the industry. He also slammed the stevedoring contractor for assigning insufficient supervision, highlighting that a vessel of such scale should have at least three supervisors two onboard and one onshore to effectively manage operations.
MWUN plans to file a report against the stevedoring contractor for their negligence. How can one person manage close to 40 workers? This is unacceptable anywhere, Adeyanju lamented. The union is calling for stricter safety protocols and better working conditions for dockworkers, stressing the need for accountability within the industry to prevent further tragedies.
