Assessing the Impact of Safety Regulations for Marine Fleets in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The Niger Delta region is a critical and endangered hub for maritime activities in Nigeria, with numerous marine fleets operating in the area as well as wrecks and pollution from anthropogenic actions. However, the region is prone to various maritime hazards, including slip and fall, poor housekeeping, fatigue, grounding, collision, fire, and torpedoed incidents. A study assessed the impact of safety regulations in the region and found that measures such as "U-see-U act policy" (69%), job safety and hazard analysis (65%), and daily safety meetings on board (71%) can mitigate non-adherence to safety practice standards. A survey of 254 respondents from 44 vessels operating in the Niger Delta revealed that the organization priorities were in the order of preventing damage to the ship and equipment (28%), minimizing operational cost (24%), and ensuring the safety of the crew (19.4%). The extent of compliance to operational standards and safety performance was moderate (mean = 3.2, SD = 0.8), while the organizational safety culture was perceived to be high (mean = 4.1, SD = 0.6). Statistical analysis using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between safety culture and compliance to safety regulations (r = 0.72, p < 0.01). The results also showed that the average individual risk (AIR) value for the inland waterways of Niger Delta was 6.30 x10-5, with a fatal accident rate (FAR) of 877 fatalities per 7642 exposed hours, and an accident frequency rate (AFR) value of 0.68%. This study concluded that there is a need for regular assessment and reassessment of safety culture to discover predictors and incidence of marine accidents in the Niger Delta. The implementation of safety regulations, such as rewarding individuals for strict compliance and providing timely training and retraining, can significantly reduce maritime hazards, hence promote safety and sound environmental standards.