Crusade for Seafarers’ Right to Shore Leave Rolls on

Delphine Estibeiro

Welcoming Mr. Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, are Capt Gajanan Karanjikar, Capt Kedar Chaudhary, and Capt Nazir Upadhye

In pursuance of the demand for all Indian seafarers’ right to Shore Leave in all Indian Ports, the Seafarers’ RIGHTS Committee (SRC-MUI) founded under the auspices of The Maritime Union of India (MUI), met the new Director General of Shipping, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, to express their strong feelings over this issue and appeal for an early and permanent resolution to it.

The SRC members, comprising of Capt Tushar Pradhan, Capt Kamal Chadha, Capt Kedar Chaudhary, Capt Nazir Upadhye and Capt Gajanan Karanjikar, highlighted that different procedures are followed in different ports in India and applicants to shore leave have been given different and often vague answers by concerned authorities when denying them shore leave.

The SRC members also pointed out that the importance of granting efficient access to shore facilities and shore leave for the well-being of seafarers is clearly recognized under ILO Conventions Nos. 108 and 185 on Seafarers’ Identity Documents, as well as in the relevant sections of the Maritime Labour Convention.

“Denial of shore leave affects the seafarers’ mindset, health & wellbeing and may affect their performance and morale and may lead to undesirable incidences aboard, in port and at sea”, the statement added.

The committee urged Mr Jagannathan for his immediate intervention with the relevant authorities like the Immigration Chief in Delhi, to address this issue so that this gross injustice is stopped at once and a proper SOP is put in place at all Indian ports for granting shore leave.

Additionally, they suggested that the online system of processing and issuing shore passes be set up in all ports (strangely some of the minors ports do have this facility) so as to shorten the processing times.

The Port Community System (PCS) set up under Sagar Mala as part of the National Logistics Portal may be utilised for this purpose to declare the security levels in ports and the related shore leave status for the information of all.

Mr Jagannathan, who took charge as head of the Directorate General of Shipping on 03^rd July, has assured the visiting team that due attention will be given to the matter at the earliest.

Marex Media