Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goan Seafarers Association of India (GSAI) on Thursday claimed that the seafarers being stuck due to Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) order, where in permission is not yet granted for conducting practical for Standard of Training, Certification and Watch-Keeping (STCW) courses in particular related to Personal Survival Techniques (PST) and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) course.
According to President Frank Viegas, it has been brought to the attention of Minister of State Shipping Ports and Waterways Shripad Naik, Director General of Shipping Amitabh Kumar that the number of seafarers who have undergone the STCW courses during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been issued the System Generated Certificate valid for 18 months to give extension for 6 months (i.e valid for 24 months) since the shipping companies are insisting for 12 months validity prior joining the vessel.
“Most of these seafarers have been asked to join duty on ship and unfortunately have been asked by their company to redo the STCW courses as the validity of the certificates are nearing expiry or less than one year validity. Some of these seafarers have already approached the Directorate General of Shipping office for advice on this issue but with no favourable reply,” he stated.
The GSAI brought to the attention of the concerned authorities that the seafarers have already gone through enough hardship of being unemployed for over a year and we would not like to further burden them in repeating the course involving redoing the e-learning, online classes and exit exams just for a renewal of another 18 months.
“We have requested to urgently give the seafarers a breath of relief by either extending the validity of the STCW certificate and on priority resumption of practical’s to increase the validity to five years,” said Frank.
