Margao: The Goa Seamen Association of India (GSAI) has appealed to the President of India for his urgent intervention for the well being of Indian seafarers who need medical assistance or moral support in time of this pandemic situation COVID-19.
GSAI said the Centre has delayed to repatriate the stranded seafarers, while other countries like Philippines, Indonesia etc have repatriated all seafarers, while Indian seafarers await Indian government to act.
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“As the delay continues, seafarers who have been stranded in different parts of the world are getting more concerned about their health and mental well-being on board the ships,” expressed GSAI President Frank Viegas in his letter to the President of India.
He sought the intervention of the President at the earliest by addressing the urgency of the seafarers who are mostly in high-risk affected countries. “It will ensure seafarers’ lives are saved. A global strategy is required to deliver necessary co-operation among relevant stakeholders for the safety of the seafarers and changeover of ship crew as soon as practicable,” Frank added.
Meanwhile Captain Venzy Viegas of the AAP Seafarers Cell said the State government needs to closely liaise with DG Shipping and the Maharashtra Chief Minister to get Goan seafarers on Karnika and Marella Discovery ships directly to Goa either by flight or bus from Mumbai to Goa directly under a Green Corridor.
“Green Corridor can be a special arrangement in which all seafarers sign off from vessels Karnika & Marella Discovery to clear immigration at Mumbai and board a bus or flight, which is to be sanitised and directly come to Goa,” Venzy added.
“Out of total 158 Goan seafarers, 93 from Karnika and 65 from Marella all come from various constituencies from Goa and the respective MLAs must now show their concerns” Venzy appealed.
“Karnika has 27 boys from the North Goa and 66 boys from the South which totals to 93,” said Capt Venzy Viegas who wrote a letter to CM and other officials of the CMO.
