The Indian Government, specifically the Directorate General of Shipping is failing in its commitment to provide jobs to seafarers but issues controversial orders which are "ruining the existing jobs of seafarers," was the consensus at the International Maritime Federation's recent meeting in Mumbai to discuss pressing issues of the shipping industry.
Following the welcome address by Vivek Rastogi, IMF Chairman, the spotlight of opening speakers, notably Capt Sudhir Subedar, IMO, was on the DG Shipping Order 6 of 2023 with reference to the age norms of vessels, which is not supportive, neither in terms of tonnage nor in terms of securing jobs.
No feedback or suggestions were taken from the shipping sector by the DGS.
The new age norms will affect approximately 700 ships and 7000 seafarers.
"The order needs to be reviewed and kept in abeyance at least for domestic shipping which will not be able to fulfil these requirements. "Capt Subedar said.
It is important to note there has been no response from DG Shipping despite two letters from IMF.
"This order will kill cargo, as it does not have lead time for owners to take stock of situation.The order is loss for all. " Capt Subedar said, recommending that renewal of tonnage, should be left to owners.
Capt Thiwana passed scathing remarks on the sector.
"We can't look after our coastline, we don't have skills or shipowners. At most, we break even. Can India become a maritime nation without being ship owning? Let's have Indian controlled tonnage, not tonnage control by Chinese, Japanese or Germans. "
Capt Ramji cited three studies on the issue. "Discrimination against older vessels unjust and counter productive.The DG order goes against IMO directives.DG should encourage older vessels to scrap or modernize he said.
Capt Subedar also suggested a visit to Delhi on May 9 to discuss the issue with the relevant authorities.
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India
(FSUI ) had raised the issue in Parliament with help of MPs drawing attention to the threat to the livelihood of over 15000 seafarers deployed on vessels exceeding the age limit of 20 years. The concerned minister had not responded to these concerns. FSUI had also raised the issue of Rs
10,000 crore oil leakage in ONGC, twice in Parliament.
Mrs Aishwarya Pilankar, Vice chair IMF, spoke on RPSL Companies, Marine Institute DG Portal issues,
and fines of Rs 5000 for RPSL and Rs 3000 for Institutes for filing of vessel details respectively.
She said penalties and other impositions on shipping industry were unfair and
suggested a single penalty for the entire vessel and not a variety of penalties as are currently imposed.
As regards marine pollution, an RTI with the Oil and Natural Gas Commission ( ONGC ) and the CAG report of 2021 stated there were many leakages found in the sea well pipe line including oil and water jet which is more dangerous as compared to the vessels, says Manoj Yadav, FUSI General Secretary.
It is pertinent to note the government has not given any subsidy to increase the tonnage of vessels nor built requisite infrastructure to fill the vacuum which will be created once the vessels are disused due to age norms.
The trade unions want to know on what basis the DGS took the decision without securing the seafarers employment concerns ans protecting the interests of small fleet owners who are playing a critical role in the development of country and providing employment to thousands of seafarers.
Capt Raj Sinha spoke on e governance issues which was started in 2015 to protect the interest of seafarers and avoid illegal recruitment by non registered fly by night operators. Hundreds of seafarers have been abandoned in foreign ports in terms of detention of vessels, wage issues, repatriation issues etc
It is pertinent to note that seafarers who join vessels in foreign ports are the responsibility of the DGS office and employer as well as the agency (RPSL) Even so, many loop poles are found which require to be rectified and resolved to save the interest of seafarers, urges Mr Yadav.
Forward Seamen Union of India is a registered union affiliated to the Center of Trade Unions(CITU), Water %ransport Workers Federation (WTWFI) and the International Transport Federation (ITF). FUSI has more than 20,000 seafarer members across all major ports of India.
FSUI has been representing Indian seafarers globally from 1956.
"Our interest to protect the interest of seafarers working onboard national as well as foreign flag vessels, " says Mr Yadav.
Vessels registered in India or Indian flag vessels are governed by the MS Act 1958 and paying Seafarers Provident Fund ( SPF) is mandatory. Regrettably there are seafarers who are not even aware PF is due to them, Capt Venkat Iyer from Chennai said, pointing out that India doesn't have a system for repatriation of funds.
"It's a bilateral agreement with foreign flag countries where large numbers of Indians are being employed. eg UAE. "
He cited the 2006 scam and Parliamentary Report presented in 2007 as well as the 2018 scandal when Rs 120 crores of seafarers PF were "lost. This continues year after year, there is no investigation from the DG, no accountability, no system to administer PF. Even annuity and gratuity are not factored in at all. Only PF. "
Mr Yadav told SeaandCoast that as Indian registered vessels owners are governed by the law of the land but foreign flag owners are not, many of the foreign owners are not willing to pay SPF. Given these conditions, the government should have a bilateral agreement with owner based countries for securing social securities of Indian seafarers working onboard foreign flag vessels, he said.
Capt Tushar R Pradhan of the Maritime Union of India said " Blacklists of bad rpsl's don't help. Half a dozen grievances are received daily. " He also said the organisation "doesn't have the names of 23 Indian seamen onboard the ship detained by Iran at Bandar Abbas."
Suggestions from the floor at the IMF meeting includes asking DG for a written explanation for the basis of the notification, discussion of the
matter with the ministry or as a last resort, going to court.