MUI Calls for Better Seafarer Rest and Shore Leave Policies
Seafarer welfare must mean more than safety on deck. That was the main message from the Maritime Union of India (MUI) at a panel on “Seafarer Welfare and Well-Being” during INMARCO 2026. The session was moderated by Capt. Shiv Halbe, CEO of MASSA, with Capt. Savio Ramos speaking for MUI.
Rest before duty: Capt. Ramos said fatigue management starts at home. Seafarers need proper rest before they join a ship, and their leave should not be filled with too many training courses. He also called for existing courses to be reviewed and brought up to date so that time spent in training is useful.
Shore leave: Panel members said shore leave is important for both physical and mental health, and MUI will continue to press for it.
Support for families: Capt. Ramos explained MUI’s welfare schemes, which include medical, maternity and dental help, access to convalescent homes across India, and financial support for families in hardship. In one case, the union has paid for the education of an abandoned and detained seafarer’s children for more than two years.
Women at sea: MUI repeated its commitment to gender equality and gender sensitivity, pointing to the Sagar Mein Samman initiative, which aims to make the maritime workplace more respectful and inclusive.
Speakers agreed that employers, unions and policymakers must work together so that welfare covers health, rest, family support and dignity.
Seafarers facing welfare problems or abandonment can often get help from their union for their families as well as themselves, so they should keep their membership details handy.
