The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Government of India has answered a query about the recruitment of merchant navy professionals in the Rajya Sabha. The Ministry confirmed that the demand for merchant navy professionals has increased due to the rising commercial activities in recent years. However, the government has not prepared any special recruitment scheme to overcome the shortage of merchant navy officers. The Directorate General of Shipping is responsible for the administration of the Indian Maritime Industry, but it doesn’t employ seafarers directly. The employment of seafarers is done by Shipping Company Owners or Recruitment and Placement Services Licenses (RPSL) Companies. The government has taken various measures to increase the share of Indian seafarers across the globe, including introducing simplified Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) Rules, digital/online mode of maritime training during the pandemic, and scholarship to women candidates undergoing maritime courses. As a result of these steps, the number of Indian seafarers employed in the calendar year 2022 has reached the record level of 2,50,071 on national and international fleets.
Recruitment of merchant navy professionals
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1589
ANSWERED ON 14/03/2023
RECRUITMENT OF MERCHANT NAVY PROFESSIONALS
- SHRI TIRUCHI SIVA:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the demand for merchant navy professionals has increased due to increasing commercial activities over the last few years;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of merchant navy professionals recruited in the last three years;
(c) whether Government has prepared any scheme to conduct a special recruitment drive to overcome the shortage of merchant navy officers; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) Yes Sir.
(b) The number of Indian Seafarers engaged in the last 03 years is given below:-
| Year | Total No. of seafarers engaged |
| 2020 | 2,24,478 |
| 2021 | 2,05,787* |
| 2022 | 2,50,071 |
- Employment in the year 2020-21decreased due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
(c) & (d) No Sir.The Directorate General of Shipping is the administrator of Indian Maritime Industry. It doesn’t employ seafarers directly. The employment of seafarers is done by Shipping Company Owners/ Recruitment and Placement Services Licenses (RPSL) Companies. However, the Government has taken various measures to increase the share of Indian seafarers across the globe as given below:
- A policy shift was made by the regulator by holding the training institutes responsible for on-board ship training of the students. Further, to release more ship-board ship-training slots, a decision was taken to allow ship board training of officers and ratings on tugs and offshore vessels also. These two initiatives have opened additional berth for trainees.
- Seafarers are employed on board ships through secured path i.e. either by Indian ship owner on Indian flag ships which is well regulated under Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 or through registered RPSL under Merchant Shipping (R&PS) Rules 2016 on foreign flag ships. This ensures the proper working conditions and welfare of the seafarers.
- Promulgation of new simplified Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) Rules in 2017 and making the entire process and issuance of CDC online has facilitated an increase in the number of Indian seafarers.
- Introduced e-submission of engagement & discharge details by the Indian ship owner and registered RPSL in the DGS e-governance system.
- Introduced a Three-Tier Mechanism of training leading to issuance of Course Completion Certificate. The Three-Tier Mechanism of Learning comprises E-Learning, training at Maritime Training Institutes and passing of an On-Line Exit Examination. This novel approach helped the seafarers to take on their employment, with digitally signed e-certificates.
- Continuation of Maritime training during pandemic by digital/online mode.
- Scholarship to women candidates undergoing maritime courses has started.
Due to these continuous reformative and progressive steps taken by the Government, the number of Indian seafarers employed in the calendar year 2022 has reached the record level of 2,50,071 on national and international fleet.
Source: Rajyasabha