Maritime transport incidents; level of safety awareness and safety practices in selected states of the Niger Delta Region

Nwoye, Selema Mildred

Occupational Health and Safety, Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, Institute of Petroleum, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria.

Accepted August 02, 2019

The current study examines maritime transport incidents; level of safety awareness and safety practices in selected states of the Niger delta Region. The research design is the cross sectional design. The researcher employed a structured questionnaire which was administered on target respondents. Data analysis was achieved using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings include that, in Anambra state, 3.8 % of the total respondents accented to the fact that boat mishap happens daily, 5.9% suggested that, boat mishap happens weekly, while on a monthly bases boat mishaps happen for 54.1% of the period. In the same state 36.2% of the total respondents suggested that boat mishap occur quarterly. Furthermore, in Rivers state, only 0.5% of the total respondents adduced that boat mishap happens daily, while majority (69.9%) of the respondents suggested that boat mishap occurs monthly in the area. A similar pattern existed in other locations in the study area. Similarly, Overloading, Offshore collision and fire accidents were among the accident types identified by respondents to be among the accident types that occur in the area regularly. The analysis of variance result showed that there is spatial variation in boat accidents in the area p<0.05{130.8}; there is variation in safety awareness p<0.05 (F=4.4) and that spatial variation in safety practices in the study area exist (p<0.05, F=48.9). The study recommends the use of standard and routinely maintained boats, properly constructed and equipped jetties, initiation of programs of training and retraining of Beach Masters, Quarter Masters, Deckhand and beach or jetty personnel, amongst others.

Key words: Niger Delta, Boat-Mishap, transport, accidents.

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