Panaji: Union Minister of State for AYUSH (IC) & MOS Defence Shri Shripad Naik’s efforts have been a great relief to the Seafarers in Goa for obtaining the ‘Continuous Discharge Certificate’ (CDC) required to work on a foreign ship for non-compliance with the law. The five-year ban imposed on Seafarers by ‘D.G.Shipping’ has been reduced to three years. ‘D.G.Shipping’ has given a chance to Seafarers who have completed their earlier detention, too, to apply for a new CDC.
Section 9 of the ‘Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) Rules,’ enacted under the “Central Merchant Shipping Act, 1970” prohibits Indian sailors from working on foreign vessels. Seafarers who submitted bogus or incorrect documents to obtain a CDC were barred from re-applying. Applications for 700 such sailors are pending.
The petitioners had appealed to the Shipping Directorate to take a sympathetic decision in the matter. Accordingly, ‘D.G.Shipping’ has decided to treat Indian sailors in accordance with the provisions for obtaining international CDCs. It has been earlier decided to lift the ‘lifetime ban’ imposed to get the CDC and ban it for five years only.
Under the new rules, Seafarers who submit bogus or incorrect documents to obtain a CDC will be banned for 3 years only. By the same judgment, those who have obtained ‘CDC’ by submitting bogus or false documents, will also be banned for 3 years only. Sailors who have completed the three-year ban will be able to apply for a new CDC and, if eligible, will be given a CDC, said Subhash Barguzer, Deputy Director, Zee Shipping, in a statement issued on Thursday.
Minister Naik recently met Union Minister (Shipping) Shri.Mansukh Mandavia and requested him to lift the restrictions imposed on Seafarers in Goa. Shri Mandavia has stated lifting over the ban and sailors in Goa will soon be able to apply a of new, Naik said.
Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik has been sympathetic to the plight of sailors in Goa from the outset and extended a helping hand to them. “It is a matter of joy and satisfaction for Seafarers who have been working on foreign ships for many years,” Naik said.
“I am grateful and thankful to @mansukhmandviya ji for taking quick steps and resolving long standing issue of Seafarers. Now those seafarers who were debarred from applying for CDC can apply freshly.” Shri Naik expressed.
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