DG Shipping Calls For Quality And Competency In Seafarer's Training

Mr GS Sahni, DG Shipping, Govt of India called the Maritime Training Institutes to usher in excellent quality, modern technology and efficiency in the training of Indian Seafarers. Updating of professional knowledge is imperative to perform maritime operations in a perfect manner. Constant training will only make the Indian Officers more competent than those of other seafaring nations. With this objective in mind, a strict benchmarking of maritime training institutions, by international credit rating agencies, has been introduced. DG Shipping was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of Pentagon Maritime Training & Research Institute, Nerul, Navi Mumbai on 21 Jul 2005.

Officials of foreign Shipping Companies who attended the function spoke high of Indian Seafarers and mentioned that whenever they have an option in the selection of seafarers, they prefer the Indians. Senior Officers from the shipping industry expressed the view that remuneration bargaining power can be achieved only if professional competency is increased to a level above that of seafarers of developed nations – it is a brand proposition.

Speaking to newsmen, the DG Shipping made the following clarifications on matters of maritime interest.

•   On current shortage of marine officers: This is s global phenomenon and the principles of ‘demand and supply’ play its role. Under the Merchant Shipping Act it is possible to make the newly trained officers to serve the Indian flags compulsorily, before taking up foreign offers. But it may not be just and fair since the government has not exercised such restrictions on graduates passing out from other professional institutions of repute.

•   On employment of foreign officers by Indian Shipping Industry: It is a matter of mutual recognition of Certificate of Competency. Presently, India has mutual recognition agreement with UK, Ireland, Iran, Malaysia and Italy only.

•   On National Maritime Development Policy: The new policy has been placed on the website of Department of Shipping and feedback is being studied. A formal policy will be announced soon.

•   On Maritime University: An expert group has submitted their recommendations for setting up a Central Maritime University. The Shipping Ministry will take up the matter with other related ministries and a decision is expected within six months.

•   On Seafarers Identification Document (SID): The requirement for an amendment in the Merchant Shipping Act enabling incorporation and promulgation regarding modalities of SID is being taken up with the Ministry.

  On availability of Indian National Data on Seafarers (INDOS) on the website of Dept of Shipping: The National Shipping Design & Research Centre (NSRDC) has been assigned the work and most probably the data will be uploaded within three months.