PANJIM: The Centre has granted major relief to seafarers on the eve of Diwali as the five-year ban imposed on seafarers by DG Shipping has been reduced to three years.
Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, who had been aggressively pursuing the seafarers issue with the Centre said the DG Shipping has given a chance to seafarers who have completed their earlier detention, too, to apply for a new CDC.
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Section 9 of the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) Rules, of the Central Merchant Shipping Act, 1970 prohibits Indian sailors from working on foreign vessels. Seafarers who submitted bogus or incorrect documents to obtain a CDC were barred from re-applying. Applications for 700 such sailors are pending.
The petitioners had appealed to the Shipping Directorate to take a sympathetic decision in the matter. Accordingly, DG Shipping has decided to treat Indian sailors in accordance with the provisions for obtaining international CDCs. It has been earlier decided to lift the lifetime ban imposed to get the CDC and ban it for five years only.
Under the new rules, seafarers who submit bogus or incorrect documents to obtain a CDC will be banned for three years.
By the same judgment, those who have obtained CDC by submitting bogus or false documents, will also be banned for three years. Sailors who have completed the three-year ban will be able to apply for a new CDC and, if eligible, will be given a CDC, said Subhash Barguzer, Deputy Director, Zee Shipping, in a statement.
Naik recently met Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandavia and requested him to lift the restrictions imposed on seafarers in Goa. Mandavia has stated lifting the ban and sailors in Goa will soon be able to apply a of new, Naik said. “It is a matter of joy and satisfaction for seafarers who have been working on foreign ships for many years,” Naik said.
“I am grateful and thankful to @mansukhmandviyaji for taking quick steps and resolving long standing issue of seafarers. Now those seafarers who were debarred from applying for CDC can apply freshly.” Naik expressed.
