Pressure is building up on the Directorate General of Shipping to scrap its July 18 circular that barred Indian seafarers holding certificates issued by the maritime administration of countries that are not recognised by India from sailing on foreign flagged ships.
The D G Shipping circular was aimed at curbing the practice of seafarers obtaining Certificate of Competency (CoC) and Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) from foreign administrations through what it calls “fraudulent” means.
As much as 80 per cent of the Indian seafarers are employed on foreign flagged ships.
The move, though, has sparked widespread criticism over fears that thousands of Indian seafarers would lose jobs.
As expected, at least a couple of individuals have filed petitions in court seeking to reverse the circular issued by the maritime regulator.
On Thursday, hundreds of seafarers, under the banner of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Directorate General of Shipping demanding withdrawal of the circular.
FSUI has opposed the new regulatory directive that mandates Indian seafarers recruited by Recruitment and Placement Services License (RPSL) agencies for working on foreign-flagged vessels to possess a valid Certificate of Competency (CoC) or Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) issued only by an Indian maritime authority, or countries with mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with India such as Malaysia, the UAE, South Korea, Sweden, UK and Iran.
Besides, Indian Seafarers holding CoC/CoP and modular course certificates issued by Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland may be accepted for recruitment if the certificates were obtained by attending training in these countries.
“The circular further excludes CoCs issued by several International Maritime Organisation (IMO) white-listed countries like Panama, Liberia, Honduras, Belize, Bahamas, and Cook Islands directly threatening the employability of thousands of Indian seafarers, many of whom possess legitimately acquired certifications from these jurisdictions,” said Manoj Yadav, General Secretary, Forward Seamen’s Union of India.
Besides, Indian Seafarers holding CoC/CoP and modular course certificates issued by Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland may be accepted for recruitment if the certificates were obtained by attending training in these countries.
“The circular further excludes CoCs issued by several International Maritime Organisation (IMO) white-listed countries like Panama, Liberia, Honduras, Belize, Bahamas, and Cook Islands directly threatening the employability of thousands of Indian seafarers, many of whom possess legitimately acquired certifications from these jurisdictions,” said Manoj Yadav, General Secretary, Forward Seamen’s Union of India.
(source: ET Infra)