the goan I network
MAPUSA
Stating that 95 percent of the Goan seafarers may not come under the SOP released by the Centre, Goencho Avaaz on Wednesday said the Indian crew members will benefit only if the shipping companies agree to bring their ships to the Indian ports.
“This is only going to delay the return of the seafarers as the SOP indirectly insists upon the shipping companies across the globe to bring their ships to Indian Ports,” said Viriato Fernandes, co-convenor of Goencho Avaaz.
After dilly-dallying for several days, the Central government released the standard operating procedure for sign-on and sign-off of the seafarers who are at the Indian ports.
According to Goencho Avaaz, the government needs to urgently get in touch with other shipping companies and formulate the SOP for getting Goan seafarers who will be signing off at foreign ports.
“We have submitted a detailed SOP right from identifying the crew to be signed off, to the quarantine procedures for the seafarers stranded on ships and hotels across the globe which can be readily pursued by the authorities,” Fernandes said.
“We hope the government will now implement the comprehensive SOP Goencho Avaaz has submitted to the government to bring back all the remaining seafarers who have completed their contracts as well as those who are being allowed by their respective employer/parent companies to sign off,” the co-convenor said.
The Central government’s SOP has come as a huge relief to seafarers and the crew on the Marella Discovery, Karnika and other ships which are already in Indian waters.
