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India Repatriates 286 Seafarers from Gulf; Ports Offer Concessions

The Indian government has facilitated the safe repatriation of 286 seafarers from the Gulf region, with 33 brought home in the past 48 hours. A dedicated control room has handled thousands of calls and emails from seafarers and their families seeking assistance. Major ports are providing concessions on charges and monitoring cargo operations, with no current congestion reported. An inter-ministerial group is coordinating with various stakeholders to ensure seafarer safety and the continuity of maritime trade.

Key Points: India Repatriates 286 Seafarers, Monitors Gulf Shipping

  • 286 seafarers repatriated from Gulf
  • 3,030 calls & 5,497 emails handled
  • Ports offering anchorage & storage concessions
  • No congestion at major ports
  • Inter-ministerial group formed for operations
2 min read

Govt repatriates 286 Indian seafarers from Gulf region

Govt repatriates 286 Indian seafarers from Gulf, handles thousands of calls/emails. Ports offer concessions, report no congestion.

"Major ports across the country are closely monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations and providing support - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways"

New Delhi, March 16

The Directorate General of Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of 286 Indian seafarers from the Gulf region so far, including 33 repatriations in the past 48 hours, the government said on Monday.

Since activation of the DG Shipping Control Room, 3,030 phone calls and about 5,497 emails have been handled from seafarers, their families and maritime stakeholders seeking assistance, including over 310 calls and 597 emails in the past 48 hours, according to a statement by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

"Major ports across the country are closely monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations and providing support to shipping lines and cargo stakeholders, including concessions in anchorage, berth hire and storage charges. Ports are coordinating with Customs and other stakeholders to facilitate cargo operations," the statement said.

All Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no shipping incident involving Indian seafarers has been reported in the past 24 hours, it added.

At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers remain in the west of the Persian Gulf region. The Directorate General of Shipping continues to monitor the situation in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions, the ministry said.

The ministry further informed that JNPA has provided temporary transshipment storage for containers bound for the Middle East and granted a 100 per cent rebate on ground rent and dwell time charges, and around 80 per cent rebate on reefer container plug-in charges for up to 15 days for containers originating at JNPA.

"There is currently no congestion at any major port, and export-bound containers at JNPA have reduced from about 5,600 to around 3,900. Ports are also providing safe anchorage for loaded vessels bound for the Gulf that are currently unable to transit," the statement added.

An inter-ministerial group has been formed under the Directorate General of Shipping with members from Customs, ports, and other stakeholders to address operational issues.

The Ministry said it continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions, shipping companies and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers while maintaining continuity of maritime trade and port operations.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see coordination between ministries. The control room handling thousands of calls shows the scale of the issue. Hope the remaining 611 seafarers on those 22 vessels also stay safe.
A
Aman W
While the repatriation is commendable, I hope the support continues for the families left behind. The article mentions concessions on port charges, which is good for trade, but the human cost matters more.
S
Sarah B
The efficiency shown here is impressive. Handling over 8,500 calls and emails is no small task. It's reassuring to know our ports are functioning smoothly without congestion during such times.
V
Vikram M
My cousin is a seafarer. The uncertainty for these families is terrible. Thank you DG Shipping for the control room. The 100% rebate at JNPA is a sensible move to keep exports moving. 🙏
K
Karthik V
This is a well-managed operation. Forming an inter-ministerial group is the right step to tackle operational hurdles. Hope they also plan for the long-term welfare and skill development of these repatriated workers.

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