THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
In a significant decision, the central government recently mandated all passenger boats to have insurance for passengers being ferried in the State.
Officials of the Captain of Ports along with the Mormugao Launch Owners Association (MLOA) and various stakeholders of the Mormugao Port convened a joint meeting to discuss and decide on the implementation of the central government circular of mandatory insurance for all passengers being ferried by Boats and Launches associated with Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
Various stakeholders of the MPA including shipping agents, stevedores, ship handlers and others participated in the meeting along with members of MLOA.
Later speaking to media, MLOA President Jose Philip D'Souza said boat owners had already been suffering from less business and a mandatory insurance for passengers would burden them further.
"We had requested the Captain of Ports to attend our meeting and explain the new circular to all our members and stakeholders of the port. We already have insurance for our boats and our workers but we will now have to insure all passengers that move on our boats, according to the carrying capacity of the boat.”
“Our passenger boats in the port only carry staff of shipping agents or crew of ship from the port to the ships at anchorage and we called them as well to discuss on the matter.
D’Souza said they had also sought suggestions from various insurance companies.
“We have decided to implement the notification in totality, but how to do it will be decided after another meeting with stakeholders of the port and insurance companies," said D'Souza.
"We have decided not to pass the burden on passengers or hike the rates and we will first work out the costs. After we have worked out the costs, we will request the shipping agents and stakeholders who provide us passengers to share the burden with us on a ratio that is mutually agreed upon," said D'Souza.
