Indian directorate warns seafarers of rising fraud in maritime recruitment

The Directorate General of Shipping have received representations from seafarers, seafarer families and seafarer unions that Indian seafarers are facing significant challenges of getting abandoned, stranded, arrested, detained at various ports worldwide.

Moreover, a recent report by International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has mentioned that a concerning number of vessels with Indians seafarers and a notable portion of which are reported to have flown Flags of Convenience (FoC), are being abandoned and indicating potential lapses in regulatory oversight.

Whereas, it is noted that Flags of Convenience (FoC) refers to the practice of registering a merchant ship in a country other than that of the ship’s owners, often a nation with less stringent regulations and lower taxes. Ships registered under FoC are subject to the maritime laws of the country of registration rather than the owner’s home country and may offer economic benefits to ship-owners but have been frequently criticized for facilitating substandard working conditions, exploitation of seafarers and thereby contributing to regulatory loopholes within the maritime industry.

Whereas, it has also come to this Directorates attention that certain Indian registered Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers (RPS) agencies are engaged in deceitful practices during the recruitment process of Indian seafarers and are posing risks to Indian seafarer’s well-being and their rights.

Whereas, seafarers are mandated to be recruited through approved Indian registered Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers (RPS) agencies, on behalf of foreign ship owners under the Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules 2016. To further facilitate the said recruitment processes, RPS agencies are required to e-Migrate seafarers through the Directorate’s EGovernance system. Whereas, the e-Migrate system for recruitment of Indian seafarers was introduced by the Directorate General of Shipping vide Merchant Shipping Notice No. 07 of 2017 date 11.08.2017 with an aim to tackle the challenges faced by Indian seafarers recruited and placed on foreignflagged vessels by unlicensed RPS agencies. The said system serves to regulate and monitor recruitment, ensuring transparency and adherence to regulations.

Whereas, since its inception, the Directorate has conducted series of review and orientation sessions with Indian ship owners and RPS providers to streamline the uploading of seafarers’ data into the e-Migrate system, ensuring its effective operation.

Whereas, within the e-Migrate system, RPS agencies during the recruitment process are directed to a specific page where they are to submit seafarer’s data. Upon submission of requisite data, a system-generated SMS alert as well as email is sent to the seafarers registered email id as well as to the RPS agencies registered email id, thereby confirming the recruitment of seafarer through the RPS agency for a designated vessel.

Whereas, the said uploaded data is also transmitted online to the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) in batches every three (03) hours, alongside the usual Emigration Clearance (EC) data batch. Upon arrival at the immigration checkpoint, seafarers whose data is entered into the system have their information readily available to BoI officials for verification and facilitating smooth passage from airports or seaports.

Whereas, after due departure from India and arrival at the port of joining, the following occurrences are reported:

• Seafarers are often advised by unscrupulous / fraudulent RPS agencies to join vessels other than the ones initially designated, citing various reasons such as the vessel’s departure at joining port or delay of the vessel in arrival joining port.
• Seafarers who comply with the advice of the RPS agency regarding joining of another vessel, may find themselves assigned to vessels that do not meet minimum safety standards or are abandoned vessel of substandard quality.
• Employment agreements or contracts provided by RPS agents may be invalid or signed between the ship owners and seafarers may be without proper authorization.
• source : safety4sea