By Hemang Palan

Twitter : @hemang_palan

All major ports in India will allow ‘shore leave’ to Indian seafarers and a detailed circular pertaining to this crucial matter is likely to be issued soon. This information was given to the senior maritime journalist, HEMANG PALAN on July 4, 2023 during evening hours during his EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION with MR SHRIPAD NAIK - Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India.

“The matter associated with shore leave of Indian seafarers at major ports of India is an issue linked to immigration related formalities. I am in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs of India and can assure you that this issue will be settled in the interest of the Indian seafaring population within 4 to 5 weeks’ time,” said Mr Shripad Naik.
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Shore leave is a fundamental right of seafarers worldwide and it indeed plays an important role in managing the mental health of the seafarers and their performance aboard the vessels.

Interestingly, the prime focus of the Union Shipping Ministry of India to boost the global share of Indian seafarers and their well-being has paid rich dividends under the Modi regime as the number of Indian seafarers has grown from 1,17,090 in 2014 to a remarkable 2,50,071 in 2022, registering an increase of almost 114 per cent in just nine years. Chairing a meeting on the shipping sector last month in June 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the port and shipping Ministry to focus on how to increase the number of Indian seafarers. He cited the example of the Philippines which has a higher number of seafarers despite being a smaller country.