The Indian government is concerned at its dwindling global market share of seafarers and is taking action.
Representatives of leading shipping associations in the country – such as the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), the Maritime Union of India (MUI), the Maritime Association of Shipowners, Shipowners and Agents (MASSA) and others – have joined a taskforce formed by the Directorate General of Shipping to work out how to increase the global share of Indian seafarers’ market to more than 9% from the current 7%.
A list of recommendations will be submitted to the Director General of Shipping in Mumbai later this week.
“Our report will include various suggestions like actions required for increasing the global share of Indian seafarers and restructuring of maritime examination systems in India,” said MASSA chairman Capt Prashant Rangnekar.
“We cannot afford to rest on our laurels. India should be ready to meet the anticipated demand of qualified seafarers when the shipping industry witnesses an upturn globally,” said Malini Shankar, the director general of shipping.
