The number of seafarers in India has seen an unprecedented growth of 42.3% due to various policy level changes brought in by the Government in the last four years, said a Minister in India.
According to Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Chemical & Fertilizer, from 108,446 seafarers in 2013, India now has 154,349 seafarers. India now provides 9.35% of the global seafarers and ranks 3rd in the list of the largest seafarer supplying nations in the world.
At present, there are 17 lakhs seafarers globally including the 154,349 Indian seafarers. The Maritime Agenda of 2010-2020 had set a target for increasing the global share of Indian seafarers from 6% to 9% and this target has been achieved in advance.
Indian Government has also lifted the ban on opening of new pre-sea and post-sea institutes and introduced new courses which will increase the number of maritime training institutes and Indian seafarers.
The Directorate General (Shipping) is working to bring an exhaustive list of services under one digital portal to ensure transparency and efficiency in maritime the sector.
Also, internal departments of DGs, function of the various outside organization/ agencies viz a viz Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs), Multimodal Transport Operators (MTOs), Recruitment & Placement Agencies (RPSLs), Recognized Organization (RO)Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Shipping Master Offices (SMOs), Seamen’s Provident Fund Organization (SPFO) and Seafarers’ Welfare Fund Society (SWFS) would be brought on the portal.