(a) whether the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) proposes to outsource management of ships;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;
(c) whether Seafarers Associations are opposing this move; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and reasons of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS(SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Keeping in view the business dynamics and availability of qualified and
competent manpower, the shipping companies all over world including some Indian companies often
place their vessels for manning and management under the charge of competent and qualified managers
in course of their business. The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)’s decision is primarily
actuated by the acute shortage of qualified and competent seafaring officers which in the recent
past has resulted in the loss of trading days.
(c) & (d): The seafarer’s unions namely Maritime Union of India(MUI), National Union of
Seafarers of India(NUSI) and Forward Seamen’s Union of India(FSUI) along with SCI Officers
Association and SCI Staff Union jointly opposed the notice issued by SCI inviting tenders for
manning and technical management of 30 vessels. The Seafarer’s Unions apprehend loss of job of
the seafarer’s as a result of placing the SCI vessels on manning and technical management. SCI
Officers Association and SCI Staff Union alleged that the jobs of clerical/ technical nature
could not be outsourced under the agreement with the Staff Union. They also demanded stopping
of the tendering process and convening a meeting with them. A reply was sent by SCI to MUI, NUSI, FSUI, SCI Staff Union and the SCI Officers
Association on February 8, 2008 explaining the rationale of the decision and assuring that there
would be no loss of employment opportunities and the SCI management will completely abide by all
subsisting agreements and settlements. It was also clarified that a settlement in relation to the
shore staff that is non-seafaring personnel provided that only the clerical jobs which are of
perennial nature would not be outsourced and that the contract would not in any manner run
contrary to the said settlement. The Seafaring Unions were assured that in the event of manning
and technical management being outsourced, the Seafarer’s would continue to be employed. The
management also had a meeting with the representatives of the Unions to address their concern
and to assure them that in the event the vessels were outsourced, they would be taken into
confidence. Government has been informed by the SCI about their decision.