PANJIM: The Maritime Administration has issued new guidelines which will enable thousands of eligible seafarers working on cruise and other merchant navy foreign flag ships to get the Indian seafarers document (CDC) to facilitate their employment prospects.
In addition, the new entrants on cruise ships will also receive the CDCs. There is no cut off date to receive the application. The seafarers can also apply for CDCs when they sign off from the ships.
The guidelines follows, the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) letter to Director General of Shipping Gautam Chatterjee, wherein they presented the grievances of thousands of Indian seafarers employed on cruise ships and other merchant navy foreign flag ships but do not have Indian CDC due to stringent CDC guidelines.
Meanwhile, NUSI has also started a facilitation centre at NUSI Head Office at NUSI Bhavan, 4, Goa Street, Ballard Estate, Mumbai to give free assistance and guidance to eligible seafarers to get CDC's,.