NUSI Launches Seafarers’ Lounge, Chatbot and Ambulance Service
The National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) has opened a new lounge for seafarers and launched two welfare services at the Indian Sailors’ Home Society (ISHS) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on India’s west coast. The launches took place at the union’s Seafarers’ Unity Day event on 6 November, a day observed as a paid holiday under all NUSI agreements for seafarers on Indian and foreign-flag ships. The union, which recently pressed for revised wages for Andaman seafarers, mainly represents ratings.
The NUSI Seafarers’ Lounge was opened by the chief guest, Mr Ravish Kumar Singh, Deputy Chairperson of the Mumbai Port Authority. It offers workstations, massage chairs, karaoke, free Wi-Fi and other recreation facilities for seafarers who come to the city for joining, training or paperwork.
From the CrewMirror Blog
Capt Nitin Mukesh of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) launched the NUSI SATHI chatbot. It is meant to help seafarers and their families find information on welfare schemes, training opportunities and assistance services. The union also started an ambulance service with Zenzo Ambulance Services, extending emergency health support to seafarers and their families across India.
Senior DGMA officials gave talks on benefits under the Seafarers’ Welfare Fund Society (SWFS), seafarers’ rights, the online grievance system that DGMA tracks every month and career paths for ratings who want to become officers. NUSI also gave scholarship awards to children of ratings, including messmen, a chief cook, a fitter and a pumpman. A wreath was laid at the Seafarers’ War Memorial, and a two-minute silence was held for seafarers who lost their lives in recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Indian ratings and their families now have a few more places to turn for help ashore. Seafarers who are NUSI members can find out from the union how to use the lounge, the SATHI chatbot and the ambulance service before an emergency arises.
