Latest news with #DirectorateGeneralofShipping
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India's new Coastal Shipping Bill gets Rajya Sabha nod
Advt Advt By , ETInfra Indian flag ships will be freed from the requirement of securing a general trading license from the Directorate General of Shipping for operating along the country's coast while foreign flag ships chartered by Indian citizens or by any other entity and taken to sea from a port or place within or outside India would need a license under a new Coastal Shipping Bill passed by Rajya Sabha on Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha Currently, Indian flag as well foreign flag vessels (chartered by an Indian citizen or company or society) require licence for Coastal Shipping Bill has been carved out of Part 14 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 to help the government make focussed policy decisions and give impetus to coastal shipping.'The Coastal Shipping Bill is a radical step towards achieving the targets set out in the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 for increasing the modal share of coastal cargo which would help in drastically reducing logistic cost, pollution and congestion,' said Sarbananda Sonowal , Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.'The Coastal Shipping Bill will focus on domestic commercial and trade aspects of coastal shipping in India,' Sonowal Bill seeks to do away with the requirement of a general trading license for Indian flag ships to enable ease of doing business for Indian vessels and reduce compliance burden, a government official said.'The aim of this provision is to allow Indian entrepreneurs (who may not be able to own or purchase a vessel), to hire a vessel and operate. It also seeks to facilitate availability of a greater number of vessels for trade by Indian entities,' the official foreign flag vessel that engages in the coasting trade of India (whether directly or by way of chartering) would be required to obtain a licence from the Director General of Shipping. The licences granted to foreign flag vessels could be of different categories and Indian flag as well as foreign flag mechanically propelled vessels (chartered by an Indian citizen or company or society) require licence for trading.'Once the Coastal Shipping Bill is signed into law, Indian flag vessels will not be required to take a licence. Foreign flag vessels, whether mechanically propelled or non-mechanically propelled, will be allowed to participate in the coasting as well as export-import (EXIM) trade after taking a license for ease of business and make more number of vessels available for trade,' the official Bill seeks to update the regulation of vessels engaged in coastal trade and to remove the restrictive conditions on foreign flag vessels such as foreign flagged non-propelled vessels (mobile offshore drilling units or MODUs and barges) to enhance competition, efficiency and availability in the the Bill allows the Director General of Shipping to impose conditions on foreign vessels while issuing licenses. These conditions may include nationality requirements for the crew of each foreign flag vessel that is granted a licence, requirements for the whole or part of such foreign vessel to be built in India, etc.'The nationality requirement for seafarers will promote employment of Indian seafarers while the vessel is operating under Indian licence whereas the built requirement will promote ship building in India,' the official Bill also provides the criteria for grant of license to foreign flag vessels, including the availability of Indian vessels, the compliance record of the foreign flag vessel and other factors that the Director General of Shipping may determine as Bill provides for imposition of fines that have been updated per current international standards and ensures deterrence through imposition of ad valorem violation of Section 406 or 407 and other provisions of Part XIV of M S Act attracts imprisonment of six months or fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or both.'Similar punishment of imprisonment has been kept in the Bill for serious offences such as operation of foreign vessels without licence. However, the penalty amount has been increased to ₹15 lakh or four times the value of payment received by the owner or charterer, whichever is higher, and the vessel shall also be liable for detention,' the official operation of foreign vessels in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a serious offence and hence the same punishment of imprisonment has been kept in the Bill. Imprisonment is there only for limited offences. There are various clauses wherein only monetary penalty can be imposed i.e. no new statute will ensure the identity of foreign flag vessels in India's Exclusive Economic Zone for ascertaining their scope of work and other factors which may affect India's safety, security, environment and other coastal shipping related interests.'By freeing Indian flag ships from licensing requirements, the government is making India an attractive destination for foreign fleet owners to set up shop and register ships locally to take advantage of the right of first refusal for carrying state-owned cargo as well as EXIM cargo,' the official added, noting that 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) is allowed in shipping. Besides, Indian flag ships are covered by the tonnage tax regime – a tax based on the cargo carrying capacity of ships as opposed to the corporate tax 100 per cent FDI in shipping has not been a success so far due to the complex regulatory landscape and an unfriendly operating Bill also envisages the development of a plan for the seamless integration of inland waterway routes with coastal transport. The aim is to enable more transportation of goods via water-based modes of transport, from inland waterways to coastal shipping Bill also seeks to set up a committee to formulate the National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan.A separate legislation for coastal shipping was considered necessary to tap the huge potential of this mode of transport which is not only cheaper than other modes but also has the capability to reduce logistic costs coastal shipping has grown by some 133 per cent between 2015 and 2024 from 74 million tonnes (mt) to 172.5 mt, according to government to Sonowal, the Coastal Shipping Bill will promote transparency and easy access to information for facilitation of coasting trade by the development of a database for coastal shipping which will provide visibility for investment in the the Bill creates a statutory obligation for development of strategic plan for integration and for development of a database for coastal shipping for improvement of coastal shipping based on data assessment, leading to easier and expedited processes for distinct budgetary allocations in the future for promotion of the coastal shipping sector or introduction of other policy interventions, Sonowal added.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
D G Shipping rolls out verification process to weed out seafarers holding fraudulent certificates
Advt Advt By , ETInfra Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. Allaying concerns over loss of jobs due to its July circular, the Directorate General of Shipping has stated that Indian seafarers are not being debarred or disqualified from sailing per se and can continue to sail in their respective ranks based on the genuine qualification certificates provided their documentation is found to be in assess the authenticity of certificates issued to Indian seafarers by foreign maritime administrations that are not recognised by India, the D G Shipping has put in place a verification process. The move comes in the wake of concerns expressed by unions that the circular issued by the maritime regulator on July 18 would hurt thousands of seafarers' employed on foreign flagged a validation process aimed at weeding out Indian seafarers holding fraudulently obtained Certificate of Competency (CoC) and Certificate of Proficiency (CoP), India's maritime regulator has asked the affected seafarers to submit their original training and certification records through the D G Shipping-approved Recruitment and Placement Service License (RPSL) agents who have hired them on the last documents to be submitted includes CoC/CoP issued by state parties which are not recognised by India, STCW modular courses relevant to the CoC/CoP, competency course relevant to the CoC and seagoing service records with copies of the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) showing the relevant sea service preceding the issuance of the CoC/CoP, according to an addendum issued by the D G Shipping on August documents and records have to be submitted along with a notarised affidavit, duly sworn and signed by the seafarer, attesting their RPSL agents have been asked to submit a separate case file for each seafarer along with the documents and records to the D G Shipping within 30 days.A Committee notified by the D G Shipping will then undertake verification of the seafarers' certificates and assess the authenticity of the certificates issued by the foreign administrations and training providers.'If the documents are found to be genuine and meeting the requirements of the STCW Convention, then the seafarers' shall be permitted to join vessels immediately. If not, the reports will be forwarded to the concerned maritime administration for cancellation of CoC/CoP and the RPSL agency and the seafarer will be duly informed about the action being initiated,' Capt Ravi Singh Sikarwar, Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG (Technical) wrote in the August 5 D G Shipping reiterated that its July 18 circular 'does not impose any blanket restriction or prohibition on seafarers from continuing their employment or sailing'.'The circular merely mandates verification of certificates of the seafarers by the RPSL agency, holding qualifications from certain foreign administrations, in the interest of safeguarding maritime safety and regulatory compliance. The seafarers are not being debarred or disqualified from sailing per se; they can continue to sail in their respective ranks based on the genuine CoC/CoP, provided their documentation is found to be in order. The intent of the circular is purely regulatory and preventive, aimed at identifying and acting against fraudulent practices, without causing undue hardship to genuine seafarers,' the regulator D G Shipping said it has received representation from seafarers' unions on the July 18 circular, expressing their concern and the need to have a validation process for seafarers with genuine certificates.'At the same time, all the industry associations and the seafarers' unions expressed support for the cleanup efforts of the DGS and stressed that action should be taken against persons holding fraudulent certificates ,' the D G Shipping added.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
D G Shipping urged to roll back circular barring crew holding certificates through fraudulent means from sailing
Advt Advt By , ETInfra Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. Pressure is building up on the Directorate General of Shipping to scrap its July 18 circular that barred Indian seafarers holding certificates issued by the maritime administration of countries that are not recognised by India from sailing on foreign flagged ships The D G Shipping circular was aimed at curbing the practice of seafarers obtaining Certificate of Competency (CoC) and Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) from foreign administrations through what it calls 'fraudulent' much as 80 per cent of the Indian seafarers are employed on foreign flagged move, though, has sparked widespread criticism over fears that thousands of Indian seafarers would lose expected, at least a couple of individuals have filed petitions in court seeking to reverse the circular issued by the maritime Thursday, hundreds of seafarers, under the banner of the Forward Seamen's Union of India, staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Directorate General of Shipping demanding withdrawal of the has opposed the new regulatory directive that mandates Indian seafarers recruited by Recruitment and Placement Services License (RPSL) agencies for working on foreign-flagged vessels to possess a valid Certificate of Competency (CoC) or Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) issued only by an Indian maritime authority, or countries with mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with India such as Malaysia, the UAE, South Korea, Sweden, UK and Indian Seafarers holding CoC/CoP and modular course certificates issued by Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland may be accepted for recruitment if the certificates were obtained by attending training in these countries.'The circular further excludes CoCs issued by several International Maritime Organisation (IMO) white-listed countries like Panama, Liberia, Honduras, Belize, Bahamas, and Cook Islands directly threatening the employability of thousands of Indian seafarers, many of whom possess legitimately acquired certifications from these jurisdictions,' said Manoj Yadav, General Secretary, Forward Seamen's Union of the mandate to verify the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers), 1978 ( STCW Convention ) certificates only from D G Shipping approved institutes has created significant barriers and fears of disqualification, even among genuinely trained professionals, Yadav FSUI reckons that thousands of Indian seafarers will face career disruption, disqualification, and financial insecurity due to the circular which will increase the burden of compliance, due diligence, and legal ambiguity for RPSL agencies and shipping the order would risk closure of maritime training institutes outside the D G Shipping approval list while potentially creating tensions with flag states whose certifications are now deemed non-compliant, raising diplomatic FSUI has submitted a representation to the D G Shipping seeking roll back of the July circular as well as its 2023 order stipulating age norms for ships for saving thousands of seafarer jobs. The representation also sought protection of seafarers abandoned at foreign ports, grant access to shore leave for all seafarers visiting Indian ports and provide pension benefits to a meeting with the Additional Director General of Shipping, FSUI urged the maritime administration to scrap the July circular but was told that no decision can be taken since the matter was sub to the D G Shipping, Indian seafarers have been lured by authorised as well as unauthorised RPSL agents to take up assignments on foreign flagged ships without adequate scrutiny of the fraudulent certificates issued to of the fraudulent CoC/CoP holders were found in possession of STCW course certificates issued by maritime training institutes which have not been accorded approval by the D G Shipping.'There have been Port State Control (PSC) intervention on vessels wherein engagement of seafarers with fraudulent CoCs/CoPs, and STCW course certificates have been noted with concern. As a prudent maritime administration, the Directorate General of Shipping initiated a detailed inquiry into these acts of agents and touts operating both within and outside the country,' the July 18 circular issued by the regulator inquiry revealed that seafarers sailing as ratings were lured with promises of being eligible to be issued with higher-grade Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) from foreign administrations through fraudulent means.'Fraudulent agents have been offering 'package' of delivering course certificates issued by institutes that were not approved by the Directorate General of Shipping, and the foreign CoC/CoP without any course being conducted. The inquiry had revealed that these maritime institutes did not even exist at the stated addresses,' the D G Shipping the serious nature of these violations, which undermine the fundamental principles and objectives of the STCW Convention and Rules framed under the Merchant Shipping Act, the Directorate has initiated necessary actions including the filing of criminal complaints, confiscation of such fraudulently obtained certificates, and informing the issuing authority with a request to initiate cancellation of certificates by recent times, several Certificates of Competency (CoCs) issued by a few administrations have been confiscated by the D G Shipping, as part of the investigation and identified during Port State Control inspections.'These activities which are attributable to a few unscrupulous agents has not only caused disruption to the lives of seafarers who are facing investigation by the authorities but has the potential to cause more damages in the future if not suitably addressed at this stage,' the D G Shipping wrote in the the FSUI has said that the ship age norms were issued by the D G Shipping in 2023 without a comprehensive study by a competent authority.'No data was provided regarding its impact on the strategic shipping sector, EXIM trade, or the potential loss of jobs. Although the order was later sent for review, the report is still pending. We strongly submit that India, as a developing nation, cannot afford the loss of seafarers' jobs or tonnage. While amendments to enhance vessel safety, marine environments, and seafarers' welfare are welcome, they should not jeopardize thousands of livelihoods,' Yadav pointed union has also asked the D G Shipping to take action for curbing the rising instances of Indian seafarers being abandoned across the world by unscrupulous shipping companies and RPSL agents. These workers are left without food, wages, legal support, or repatriation resulting in a humanitarian crisis demanding urgent resolution, it be sure, the government has incorporated stringent provisions in the Merchant Shipping Bill, currently before Parliament, to deal with the abandonment of Indian seafarers at foreign FSUI also highlighted that despite international norms, Indian seafarers often face denial of shore leave upon reaching destination ports, affecting their mental well-being and violating basic human rights. It has demanded a uniform, humane policy to permit shore leave in line with international union has also urged the government to roll out a nationwide seafarers' pension scheme recognising their service to national and global the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the D G Shipping to call a meeting of all relevant stakeholders, including trade unions, manning agents, training institutes, and maritime employers to discuss and resolve the critical issues in a time-bound manner, FSUI warned that seafarers would be compelled to consider industrial action to protect their livelihoods, dignity, and future if concrete steps are not taken within a reasonable time frame.
Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Equitas Small Finance Bank announces new offerings for NRIs
Launches FCNR(B) Deposit and Equitas Explorer Savings Account Equitas Small Finance Bank has announced the launch of its Foreign Currency Non-Resident FCNR(B) Deposit and the Equitas Explorer Savings Accounttwo specialized offerings tailored to meet the evolving financial needs of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and seafarers respectively. With over 2,85,454 Indian seafarers and maritime professionals working across international waters (as per the Directorate General of Shipping, 2023) and more than 35.4 million NRIs worldwide, this dual product launch reflects Equitas SFB's commitment to delivering flexible, secure, and tech-enabled banking solutions for India's expanding global workforce. Hedging currency is a fundamental need for most NRIs, and holding savings in dollars is a smart way to preserve and grow wealth across bordersespecially by securing favorable exchange rates. The bank's FCNR (B) Depositcurrently available in USDoffering NRIs a robust wealth management tool designed to grow global earnings with ease. FCNR (B) provides rewarding interest rates, tax-free interest income on earnings in India, and full repatriation of both principal and interest. With no foreign exchange risk, hassle-free renewals, and the ability to maximize FCNR earnings, Equitas FCNR (B) Deposit ensure seamless wealth growth for global customerswithout compromising on convenience, security, or regulatory compliance. The bank has launched the Equitas Explorer Savings Accounta specially designed banking solution for NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) working in foreign shipping companies, merchant navy, and oil rigs. Available in both Non-Resident External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) variants, this account caters to the unique needs of seafarers with features such as a International VISA Platinum Debit Card (NRE), Rs 1 crore air accidental death insurance cover, home contents insurance up to ₹2 lakhs against burglary and fire, and mandate holder facility for close resident relatives in India. Customers can also enjoy attractive rates on inward/outward remittances and a 25% discount on annual locker rentals. With a simplified documentation processincluding passport, visa or Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), and merchant navy declarationsindividuals can open an Explorer Account by maintaining either an Average Monthly Balance (AMB) of Rs 1 lakh or a Total Relationship Value (TRV) of Rs 10 lakhs.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Indian Express
A marine engineer's death in Iran, a misidentified body, and Jharkhand family's endless wait for compensation
When he heard of his older brother's death in a workplace accident in Iran, the ground slipped beneath Raghu Mahto's feet. What followed was an ordeal involving misidentified bodies, bureaucratic apathy, and the long wait for compensation. On March 27, Raghu's brother Alakh Nandan Mahto from Tartara village in West Singhbhum district's Manoharpur died at an 'accident' on board the MV Rasa at Charak Port, a ship under the Iran's shipping company BND Yat Ship Management Services — an agency approved by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping). Another engineer was killed in the accident and a third was severely wounded. All three were Indians In the days that followed, the family had received the wrong body and ran into multiple bureaucratic walls as they continued to wait for compensation. But all they have from the shipping company is a vague email in the first week of May. That email, a response to several emails the family sent, said it 'needs time.' 'Even now, over three months since the incident, no one from the Jharkhand government, the employer, or DG Shipping has committed to giving us compensation,' Raghu told The Indian Express. On its part, the DG Shipping claims it blocked BND Marine's licence in late 2024 after some violations. When contacted, Anita Sinha, a senior DG Shipping official, confirmed that the department was 'actively' pursuing the matter. But she also admitted there were 'some complications' – such as Alakh's name being listed against another vessel. 'We've taken this up with foreign embassies, including our Indian mission in Iran and the flag states. We are following up with the agency and the P&I (Protection and indemnity) Club too,' she said. 'This case is of the highest priority to us.' However, Raghu remains sceptical, wondering how, if the company was blocked in August 2024, did it continue to send engineers abroad till March 2025. 'They say the immigration records show my brother was assigned to a different ship, but he died on another one. How is that my brother's fault? Isn't it DG Shipping's job to track this?' he asked. According to the family, Alakh had always dreamed of working at sea. After getting a mechanical engineering degree from a college in Chennai in 2013, he worked briefly at Maruti Suzuki before enrolling in the Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) course – a pre-sea training programme approved by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping). Since then, he worked on rotation-based contracts, travelling previously to Iran, Andaman, and Kolkata ports. In August, he was posted at BND Yat Ship Management Services. After the mishap, the family rushed to DG Shipping's HQ office in Mumbai, where they were told that there was no official communication on the incident. In the days that followed, multiple government departments, the local district police, the Labour Ministry, and the shipping office were looped in. Despite these efforts, it took one month for the body to arrive in Kolkata. But the family was in for a shock – when the coffin was opened, they found that the body inside belonged, not to Alakh, but to another crew member – a man from Uttar Pradesh. Raghu then contacted his father and travelled to Uttar Pradesh to hand over the body. 'Nobody from the government helped. We paid from our pocket for ambulances, legal formalities, coordination with departments… I even carried someone else's body to Uttar Pradesh and returned before finally receiving my brother's remains,' Raghu recounted. 'After a week in May, we received the right body.' Meanwhile, the wait for compensation to be given continues. While the family is seeking ex-gratia assistance under Chief Minister Jharkhand International Migrant Worker Grant Scheme, the latter has said they are ineligible. Under the scheme, in the event of an untimely death during a worker's stay abroad, a lump sum payment of Rs 5 lakh will be made to the dependents of eligible beneficiaries by the appropriate deputy commissioner. 'According to the policy, for ex gratia assistance in such cases, a valid family income certificate showing annual income below Rs 72,000 is mandatory. Without that, we cannot give the compensation. The deceased's family has explained this,' Avinash Thakur, the district labour superintendent officer of West Singhbhum, said. Meanwhile, West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Chandan Kumar said he 'wasn't aware of the case'. But Raghu disputes this saying he had spoken to the deputy commissioner. 'The deputy commissioner and the district labour department say we're not eligible because our family income exceeds Rs 72,000/year. But they don't look at the costs — bringing back the body, repeated travel to Mumbai, emotional toll…Even Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers get more than Rs 6,000 for their work,' Raghu said. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
