MARGAO
The Goan Seamen Association of India has appealed to Union Minister Shripad Naik to use his good office and give relaxation to those seafarers, who have been debarred for a period of five years from applying for the Indian Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC).
Copies of the letter have also been sent to the Union Shipping Minister, NRI Commissioner, Government of India, with a plea to grant relaxation for the seafarers barred from applying for CDC for a period of five years.
In his letter, GSAI President Frank Viegas said seafarers in general see a ray of hope during the pandemic since some of the shipping companies have started planning their voyage schedule.
“Though the development gives a ray of hope for the seafarers to get back on ship and since the company told our seafarers to have Indian CDC as a mandatory document, it is a matter of concern to those seafarers who have been debarred for five years in accordance with the rule 9(9)of M S(CDC) rules, 2017, from applying Indian CDC,” Viegas added.
Since most of the seafarers have jobs and been working on both the ships for the past so many years, Viegas said the GSAI has requested for consideration on the basis of sea service experience to issue Indian CDC and to pardon them by giving relaxation so their jobs can be secured. This is important because the family members of the seafarers are dependent on them for their livelihood at a time when the world is fighting Covid-19 pandemic, he added.
“When jobs are becoming scarce, it is important to protect our seafarers who are also the backbone of our economy,” he said in his letter.
