The Directorate General for Shipping (DG Shipping) has responded to breaches in maritime regulations by taking action against 97 hiring agencies. With 74 blocked and five facing license suspension, the DG Shipping seeks to protect Indian seafarers from exploitation, emphasizing the need for regulation and quality assurance in placement services.
The crew of the offshore support vessel Star Apollo, stranded in Indonesia since October 2024, is facing unpaid wages and poor living conditions. With the help of the ITF, they are seeking assistance to return to India. The escalating issue of seafarer abandonment highlights the need for better enforcement of maritime regulations to protect vulnerable crew members.
Seven Indian seafarers, including two engineers from Tamil Nadu, were kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Africa. The family members have appealed to the Union government for their rescue. The ship was attacked by heavily-armed pirates, and the crew activated the emergency alarm. The situation is critical, and immediate intervention is required.
France-based CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping company, is set to hire Indian seafarers directly through an entity in India. This move, to be announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Marseille, aims to build a specialized pool of seafarers for the company’s ships with specific requirements.
The latest Seafarers Happiness Index reveals a troubling decline in seafarers’ morale due to isolation and workload challenges. Compounded by record abandonment rates, it’s crucial for the maritime industry to prioritize the welfare of seafarers. Addressing these issues is vital for improving their overall well-being and ensuring a sustainable future for maritime operations.
The Directorate General of Shipping has established an expert committee to evaluate Collective Bargaining Agreements for Indian seafarers, focusing on wages and working conditions. Over 350,000 Indian seafarers represent a significant portion of the global workforce. The review aims to align CBAs with national and international standards, improving conditions overall.
Maersk’s Equal at Sea initiative has significantly increased the number of female cadets in India, with a rise from 41 to over 350 this year. The company aims for equal gender representation among cadets by 2027. The initiative addresses the underrepresentation of women in the maritime industry, with only 29% of the workforce being female.
The Indian government has launched a white paper emphasizing seafarer welfare, focusing on mental health improvements. Collaboration between the Directorate General of Shipping and the National Institute of Mental Health aims to address severe depression and suicide risks among the 250,000 Indian seafarers. Industry leaders advocate for mandatory mental health resilience training.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reports that Indian seafarers are the most abandoned nationality, with 411 cases recorded so far in 2024. Two vessels in the UAE have all-Indian crew members abandoned in extreme conditions, highlighting the urgent need for attention to the plight of seafarers worldwide.
A recent report shows Indians are the most abandoned seafarers for the second year in a row, with 411 already abandoned in less than six months. The International Transport Workers’ Federation is set to record a higher number of abandoned vessels this year compared to 2023. Maritime Coordinator Jacqueline Smith highlights the issue of wage theft and underpayment among seafarers.
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Following Stories compiled in this News Digest for the week from 20 Jun 2022 to 26 Jun 2022 in descending…
