A gazette notification issued on March 16 withdraws the facility, requiring them to obtain the passport like any other citizen with effect from June 1.
No reason is given except citing “public interest” in the notification for withdrawing the facility that was granted in view of the functional requirement of a seamen’s foreign travels.
Members of the crew and tindals of sailing vessels were so far exempted from the mandatory requirement of a passport on the condition that they hold identity card or vessel has permit under the Sailing Vessels (members of crew) Rules, 1967 under a notification issued on September 25, 1968.
Those already on the sea may face problem if they do not secure the passports by May end, though the Foreign Ministry said all passport issuing authorities in India and abroad have been told to extend full support in expeditious issuance of passports to such applicants.
All Indian missions abroad are empowered to issue the passports and hence Indian seamen of any vessel landing at a port can rush to these missions to get the passport made.
Since many seamen may not be well-versed with English, the notification has been also issued in Urdu, Tamil and Malayalam languages.
