New Delhi:For thousands of Indian seafarers who are stranded in foreign ports for months now due to the lockdown, can now travel back home by registering with Indian missions of respective countries and seafarers seeking to accept a contract to serve on vessels abroad can now travel by air under Vande Bharat Mission confirms Ministry of Shipping via tweet.
The decision came after the MHA issued a revised Standard Operating Procedures for special flights ferrying Indian nationals stranded abroad as well as for the movement of those who are left stranded in India and now desire to travel abroad.
Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Directorate General of Shipping, Amitabh Kumar said, "Indian seafarers are allowed to travel through the Vande Bharat Mission flights. Seafarers who wish to join the foreign ports and those who wish to travel back from foreign ports to India can utilize the Vande Bharat Mission flights."
"Permission is received for chartering a flight from Denmark to India. The permission has been granted, 40 seafarers would fly back by the flight and they have offered 50 seats to Indian nationals too. They are bringing them free of costs", he informed.
Read:Govt mulling to bring back thousands of Indian seafarers stranded at foreign ports: DG Shipping
"Indian shipping companies have been allowed to charter flights to bring back Indian seafarers from foreign ports and to ferry Indians abroad. For seafarer who wishes to fly back from foreign countries, need to register in the website of the ministry of external affairs which contain links for every high commission and embassy, seek the permission of the Indian missions in the respective country, who in turn would take permission from MEA in India, the states and UTs where the flight would land and then finally grant approval for chartering of incoming flights. The cost will be borne by the companies as they must repatriate seafarers stranded abroad", Kumar told ETV Bharat.
He underlines, "In terms of outgoing flights that is for Indian seafarers or crew seeking to accept contracts to serve on vessels abroad, can travel on the non-scheduled commercial flights departing from India under the Vande Bharat Mission or charter flights after seeking permission from the Ministry of Shipping."
The DG further stated, "For seafarers who wish to travel abroad to board the ship is more important now as they might lose a job. Charter flights are allowed on case to case basis. Moreover, 458 Indian mariners had already reached Goa from Italy in three chartered flights. Many voyages are ongoing where seafarers are travelling through cruise ships of which we have received a request for sign off in June. They are expected to reach in June.
Read:Repatriation flight carrying 168 seafarers arrives in Goa from Italy
"Around 7,000 seafarers have registered on the MEA website and have been able to return to India from different foreign countries. The returning of seafarers has many factors involved - whether sign off is allowed in the particular country, what kind of policy the country is following, whether foreign nationals are allowed in the ports, if not allowed then a seafarer will have to go to other port of the country which would allow sign off", he added.
The DG also said, "The scenario seems to be grim as most of the countries have closed their border and seafarer is a job that requires movement of crew and crew change is an important aspect of shipping. Countries have to seat together and decide as to how they will facilitate crew change at each other's port."
It is to be noted that India is carrying out Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate its citizens from abroad. The exercise is currently in its second phase, which began on May 16 and is scheduled to end on June 13. The first phase of éxercise was held from May 7-14.
Also Read:Govt paves way for return of stuck seafarers to homes, issues guidelines for crew change
