the goan I network
MARGAO
Ministry of Home Affairs order opening the seaports for disembarkation of Indian seafarers may pave way for the return of crew members employed on the cruise ships.
Director, NRI Affairs and Nodal Officer, Seafarers, Anthony D’Souza, was categorical in saying that a Royal Caribbean ship presently sailing in the Asia-Pacific region is heading towards India with crew members.
Seafarers, however, said only the opening of the airports could help the early return of the thousands of Indian and Goan seafarers safely back home. The NRI Affairs Director could not exactly state the number of crew members that may return home to India and Goa over the next few days. “The NRI Office is in the process of ascertaining from the shipping companies how many cruise ships are likely to head to India and Goa over the next few days. We are compiling the data, but one thing is clear that Royal Caribbean ship is presently heading to India for the Indonesian-Phillippines region,” D’Souza told The Goan on Wednesday.
He pointed out that MHA order will help many a cruise company to set sail to India with the crew members, but hastened to add that the no concrete data is available whether any such ship has set sail to India.
Founder President of Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) Dixon Vaz pointed out there may be some companies that may not be averse in sailing to India with the crew, but said it will take over a month for a ship sailing from Los Angeles to reach India.
“We have information that a cruise ship has left Los Angeles for Asia with the crew. But, it will take nothing less than a month for the ship to dock in India as it will have to sail via Hawaii, Australia and other countries,” Dixon added.
Dixon said the only way left for the Goa government in particular and the Indian government is to ensure the early return of the seafarers back home is to open the airports on the lines of MHA order on the seaports. “Let the MHA order the opening of the airports only to allow the charter flights to land in India. We will not only save time, but also ensure the early return of the seafarers,” he added.
