Indian delegation led by Ports, Shipping and Waterways Secretary T K Ramachandaran raised the issue of abandonment of seafarers and safety of maritime workforce at the 132nd session of Council of IMO held in London. India has been able to secure its position among the eight governments representing IMO in the joint tripartite working group.
India is an elected member of the IMO Council and is listed in the category of countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade. Shipping Secretary at the Council gave a clarion call for addressing the growing cases of seafarer abandonment on an urgent basis. The delegation pointed out that despite efforts, there are 44 active cases involving 292 Indian seafarers. On the occasion, India also reiterated its proposal for the South Asian Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (SACE-SMarT). This group is dedicated to identifying and tackling seafarers’ issues and the human element in maritime operations. Other proposed members include the Philippines, Thailand, Liberia, Panama, Greece, the US, and France, it added.
