France-based CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping company, will hire Indian seafarers through an entity formed in India instead of the current arrangement of recruiting its ship crew with the help of a third-party agency, government sources privy to the matter said.
An announcement in this regard is expected when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in France, travels to Marseille, on Tuesday where India is opening a consulate.
Globally, fleet owners hire crew either on their own or through a third party manning agent. Manning agents have their own pool of seafarers which they allocate to different ship owners.
Exclusive Pool of Experts
By hiring seafarers directly from India, CMA CGM, headquartered in Marseille, is looking to create an exclusive pool of seafarers for its own ships.
“Specialised ships require a certain level of expertise and CMA CGM may want to invest in their own seafarers and retain them,” said a shipping industry executive overseeing seafarer’s recruitment and training.
India is one of the top suppliers of crew to the global shipping industry.