Maritime Boss Neto Lighe Cautions Liberian Seafarer Against Vessels “Ship Jumping”

Margibi County Marshall:The Liberia Maritime Authority Boss Neto Lighe says New Graduate of Liberia maritime Training (LMTI) Should Not go about Ship Jumping from One Vessels to another.

Neto Lighe said Liberia Maritime Authority has reliably been informed that some of LMTI past Graduate who are sailing international vessels have been engaged into ship jumping intentionally leaving their contractor obligations for another obligations.

He said these illegal and unscrupulous practices have cast a bad repetition on Liberia and have resulted ship owners requesting the Liberian government to signed agreements before employing any Seafarer.

He urge the third (3^rd) batch of LMTI Graduates to desist and honored their contractors engagements and their by redeeming the honor and repetition of the Liberian Flag.

 “To our third batch of graduates, let me make this clear that we have been informed that some of our cadet and seafarer have been engaged into ship jumping intentionally disregard their contractor engagement for another purpose” He said

In maritime terms, Ship Jumping” refers to the act of departing from a ship without permission, often to escape forced or harsh service. It originated from the practice of sailors leaving their service without proper notice or permission, for another suitable job.

The Liberia Maritime Training Institute held its 3rd Graduation Ceremony for the conferment of Associate Degree in Marine Engineering putting out a batch of 24 that includes two (2) females and twenty-two (22) males fully equipped with the expertise required for the seafaring profession and will be sailing international vessels around the world.

 The graduation was graced by his Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, government Official LISCR shipping company and parents of the 24 graduates.

 Maritime Boss Neto Lighe spoke during the program and urge the 24 graduate not to Ship Jump from Vessels to another 

Counselor Neto Lighe, disclosed that government has received reports of some Liberians who were employed a on ships flying the Liberian Flag jumping ship to flee in other countries. According to him, these allegations have placed a bad shadow on the Liberia Maritime industry with ship owners expressing skepticism about employing them on their ships at the end of the program, 24 cadets were awarded associate degree for successfully completing the requirements of the institution.

Meanwhile President Joseph Boakai during the graduation ceremony instructed the board of directors of the Liberia Maritime Training Institute to embark plans aimed at expanding the facilities, dormitories and compound of the institution with the objective of increasing the enrollment of more cadets and elevate it to degree granting entity.

He said the LMTI must continue to lead the way in preparing the youths and the succeeding generation for the space that Liberia occupies in the maritime industry. President Boakai gave the directive when he delivered the keynote speech at the third graduation ceremony of the Liberia Maritime Training Institute in Marshall, Margibi County on May 16, 2024.