Team Herald
PANJIM: An umbrella organization of activists, Goencho Avaaz has applauded the Central and the State governments for the evacuation of stranded seafarers. The forum has also brought to the notice of the Pramod Sawant-led government that another 95% seafarers are still stranded in various parts of the world.
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“We appreciate the Union and the State Government for releasing the SOP for sign-on and sign-off of our seafarers. It’s a huge relief to those seafarers, especially the crew on the Marella Discovery, Karnika and other ships, which are already in Indian waters as also Ovation of the seas planning to sign-off at Indian Ports,” a press statement states.
The forum further said that more than 95% of Goan seafarers and rest of the Indian crew are stranded on ships who may not fall under the scope of the SOP released by Indian government; unless the shipping companies agree to bring their ships into Indian waters and sign off the Indian crew at Indian Ports.
“This in a sense is only going to delay the return of the seafarers as the SOP indirectly insists upon the shipping companies across the globe to bring their ships to Indian Ports. Way ahead, the government needs to urgently get in touch with the other shipping companies and formulate the SOP for getting back our Goan seafarers who will have to be necessarily signed off at foreign ports. It is the responsibility of respective shipping company to repatriate their crew back to their country of origin as per their contractual obligation and MLC (Marine Labour Convention) 2006,” it said.
The activists suggested opening up of air space to so that the chartered flights arranged by the shipping companies could land for swift and safe repatriation procedures. The process of sign off is stalled mainly because the Indian airports are not operational.
Goencho Avaaz has submitted a detailed SOP right from the first step of identifying the crew presently on board or at hotel in foreign countries awaiting repatriation to India, to the quarantine procedures upon their arrival in Indian airports which can be readily pursued by the authorities.
