Highlights of his interview

Early education; joined NNSL in 1975; sent to Ghana nautical college for primary cadetship, then to vessels; after passing out parade, back to Lagos for posting to a ship; reaction of cadet to first sea voyage, such as vomiting; the cadet who left sea because of the roughness of the sea during the first voyage to Liverpool; his dad being seaman was motivation for seafaring career; fellow cadets and seniors; rigours of training to become an officer, such as proper dressing; behaviour training experience at Elder Dempster vessels, Ebani and Eboe; elaborate uniforms provided by the company; voyages and cargo handling procedures for cocoa, logs, palm kernel and palm oil, etc; calls at the ports of West Africa for cargoes, except French West African countries, up to Central Africa (Point Noire and Matadi); tasks at sea; the restrictions imposed on Ghana-trained cadets by Liverpool training managers; how he experienced the advent of containerization; vessels sailed on; expatriate and African sea-borne staffers; family based in Lagos although schooled in England sometimes, effect on family; sailing with wife and children, arrangements; salary and comfort differential between NNSL and other carriers; promotion procedures; view on NNSL’s declining fortunes, reasons; effect of Nigerianizing Nigerline UK; personal challenges; left NNSL when liquidated; joined Nigeria Unity Line; joined Exxon Mobil; now in retirement, keeps active with Nigerian Association of Master Mariners; problems of aspiring Nigerian seafarers; the lack of fun with containerization as opposed to the excitement of knowing ports of the world under relaxed or extended cargo operations as opposed to container ships which leave ports within 12 hours or 24 hours.