An Indian seafarer’s union is opposing an attempt by the government to ease a manning crisis by allowing foreign crew on to domestic ships.
The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) says there is a high level of unemployment among Indian sailors, according to the Hindu Business Line.
General secretary S Kanjilal said he had not seen the full text of the government directive that would let two foreigners work on each Indian-flagged vessel, but he said he expected the Merchant Shipping Act to have to be amended for the order to work.
He added that only 10% of Indian seafarers could find work. The problem had been compounded by the mushrooming of training institutes which every six months produced hundreds of seamen with hardly any job in sight, he said.
Ships that used 27 crew a few years ago now typically have only 10 or 12 on board.