 is an important measure for operation of merchant ships.){kind=link}
Ministry of Home Affairs issued Standard Operating Procedure for streamlining Sign-on/sign-off of Indian seafarers on 21st April as change of crew of ship (seafarers) is an important measure for operation of merchant ships.
Union Minister of State for Shipping Shri Mansukh Mandaviya has welcomed the issuance of SOPs for sign-on and sign-off of Indian Seafarers at Indian Ports. In a Tweet, he thanked the Home Minister for the order which will make it possible now for the crew change at sea ports as it will end hardships faced by Seafarers.
Following guidelines have been issued:-
I. For Sign-on
i. Ship owner/ Recruitment and Placement Service (RPS) agency will identify the Indian seafarers for joining a vessel.
ii. Seafarers will intimate their travel and contact history for last 28 days to the ship owner /RPS agency by email.
iii. The seafarer would be examined by Director General of Shipping (DGS) approved medical examiner, as per the guidelines prescribed for this purpose.
iv. The local authority in the area where the seafarer resides will be intimated about his clearance for sign-on and for issue of a transit pass from the place of residence to the place of embarkation on the shipping vessel.
v. The transit pass for such movement by road may be issued by the Government where the seafarer resides.
vi. The transit pass will be issued for a fixed route and with specified validity and will have to be strictly adhered.
vii. Social distancing would be followed by the vehicle transporting the seafarer.
viii. At the port of embarkation, the seafarer shall be tested for COVID-19.
II. For Sign-off
i. The master of a vessel, shall ascertain the health of each person on board the vessel and submit the Maritime Declaration of Health to the health authorities of the port and to the port authorities.
ii. Indian seafarer on vessel would undergo the COVID19 test for confirmation that he/she is negative for COVID-19.
iii. Till the time test reports of the seafarer are received, the seafarer shall be kept in the quarantine facility by the Port/ State Heath Authorities.
iv. If seafarer is tested positive for COVID-19, he/ she will be dealt with as per the procedures laid down by MoHFW.
v. For seafarer tested negative Local Authority will be intimated about his/ her clearance for sign-off, and for issue of transit pass to the place of his residence.
vi. Transit pass for seafarer and driver, may be issued by the Government.
vii. Transit pass will be issued for fixed route and with specified validity and will have to be adhered to strictly.
viii. Social distancing and other hygiene norms, as per standard health protocol, would be followed by the vehicle transporting the seafarer DG(Shipping) will prescribe the detailed protocol with regard to sign-on and sign-off to be followed in the above cases.