Directorate General of Shipping resumes BSID data capturing for seafarers

MARGAO: A circular issued by Directorate General of Shipping has resumed the data capturing for issuance of Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID) under controlled conditions at government shipping offices and mercantile marine departments, upon which Mercantile Marine Department, Vasco has also resumed its service. 

Subhash Barguzer, Deputy Director General of Shipping (Crew) on September 7 issued the above circular. 

"Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic in the month of April 2021, the application/data capturing of seafarers for issuance of BSID was suspended until further orders. And in view of decline of COVID cases in most of the States of India, and relaxation and revised guidelines issued by several State governments regarding movement of general public," stated the circular. 

Further, stated that after receiving representations from the Indian seafarers requesting for resuming of BSID data capturing facilities in the respective data capturing centres, the Directorate has reviewed the matter and decided to resume data capturing for issuance of BSIDs to Indian seafarers from all its nine centres with immediate effect under strict protocols. 

It has been urged to follow the protocols strictly failing which entry in the data capturing centres will not be allowed. 

It is brought to attention that the seafarers who are joining ship from United Kingdom and Brazil can visit MMD office directly with company covering letter, for rest of the seafarers who already had an appointment will be intimated with new appointment. They don't need to take a fresh appointment or visit MMD office Vasco. 

“Around 40,000 plus seafarers are waiting to apply for the SID cards at different centres of India. Since SID cards have become mandatory for joining or signing off in some countries it has been uncertain for those seafarers who don’t possess Indian CDC,” said Frank Viegas, president of Goa Seafarers Association of India (GSAI). 

He also said that GSAI had brought to the attention of Shipping Ministry, Government of India for availability of Indian CDC on case to case basis as applicable, especially those seafarers, who have been debarred from applying Indian CDC.