PAKISTANI SEAFARER’S PROBLEMS AND THEIR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
PAKISTANI SEAFARER’S PROBLEMS AND THEIR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS,
I am writing this article on behalf of seafarer’s community of Pakistan to inform government authorities of the current situation that the Maritime Sector is going through and over the years. How the Seafarer’s Community has been neglected by the Government and why it should now be paid attention to.
About 95% of trade being conducted worldwide is carried out through the sea as it is the cheapest form of doing so. For that shipping companies are hired to transport billions of dollars’ worth goods from one place to another. To operate these vessels and their machinery during normal, and also in rough conditions at sea, highly specialized manpower is needed which works onboard on a contract basis. This labor sends their pay, back to their homeland in the form of remittance which acts as a financial inflow and competes with International aid thus stabilizing the economy.
The Philippines earns about $32.2 billion in 2018 solely from foreign remittance by its seafarers. Similarly, Panama/Liberia earns a major part of its economy by the open registration policy it has introduced allowing private firms to register under its flag. For a developing country like Pakistan, this is a golden opportunity to strengthen its maritime sector and solve the problems which this sector is facing as mentioned below to strengthen its economy.
Following are some problems faced by the Shipping Sector with possible solutions mentioned with them:
1-INFRASTRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS AND OTHER RELEVANT OFFICES
2-OLD SYSTEM OF RECORD KEEPING
3- EXAMINATION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEM
4-JOBS CRISIS FOR PAKISTANI SEAFARER’S
1-INFRASTRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS AND OTHER RELEVANT OFFICES
Currently, in our country, our sea, and shipping related government offices are in Karachi. Very sorry to say, but our ministry of maritime affairs in Karachi doesn’t have their office, they are on one floor of KDLB building.
Another office related to the Ministry of maritime affairs is MMD (mercantile marine department) also has the same situation. Another office GOVERNMENT SHIPPING OFFICE is also in the same situation. Besides, the Physical condition of all these offices is worse than ghost/haunted places.
Which gives a very negative and bad impression.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
The first thing to be done is a proper and state of the art modern offices, for shipping and manning related matters.
I am aware of this that it will cost a lot of money. So to resolve this issue temporarily and effectively, the government can accommodate all these offices in one place, and the best place is the PNSC building. On one floor the Ministry of shipping can be accommodated and on another floor all the other related offices. And once concerned ministry has enough budget, they can establish their offices, all in one place.
Another Main issue to be solved is, Bureaucratic staff in the ministry of maritime affairs and other related offices should be personnel from the shipping background, I. E senior Deck and Engine Officers. So, they can be appointed as office staff in different ranks.
2-OLD SYSTEM OF RECORD KEEPING
All Paperwork to be digitalized as we are aware that the whole world is going to adopt the digital Era, and almost all develop countries have digital offices and paperless offices. Sadly to say that our shipping and crewing offices are still in the paper world. This old system is already outdated and needs to be updated digitally on a Very urgent basis.
In this Digital Era, if small paperwork is taking two mints digitally, in old paperwork and paper files system that simple work is taking almost 2–5 days.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
An Updated and State-of-the-art website plus complete digital setup for DG SHIPPING office is mandatory. And must be monitored on a 24/7 basis, to resolve issues and provide good & effective service As soon as possible.
This system can be used for,
A. Seafarer’s Data and documentation
B. Examination and Certification (can be separated office but on the same website)
C. Sign On and Sign Off monitoring
D. For new jobs and hiring by national and international companies
3-EXAMINATION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE UPDATED
The examination system needs to be completely updated. As currently, we have a very shortage of Examiners and surveyors, also the system is very old and out of date, which is taking extra time and delays in getting professional certificates.
Due to this system, many Pakistani seafarers going to foreign countries for their professional exams, and paying a huge amount there. If the Ministry of shipping update this old system here, so, it will save Pakistani young seafarers Money and time and can generate handsome revenue.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION.
Currently, the responsible body for Examination and issuing certificates is MMD. Mercantile Marine Department. Which is working on some old paperwork system. This to be updated and can be “EXAMINATION AND CERTIFICATION BRANCH “of the ministry of maritime affairs, instead of MMD, and Online. Its whole system of examination, yearly programs, dates, syllabus, eligibility criteria, applying for exam booking, applying for Oral exams, applying for Certificates, etc., all to be done digitally, within specific minimum time. And this Specific time to be very strictly monitored to save time and money of young seafarer’s.
All short courses, licenses, other relevant doc’s and certificates from this branch to be applied online, and then send via Courier. All this to be updated in the DG SHIPPING WEBSITE, in each seafarer digital profile.
There must be a minimum of 05 examiners for the Deck side, and minimum 05 examiners for the engine side, to conduct Written and Oral exams within a given time frame, and nothing to be delayed.
All examiners/surveyors must be from merchant Navy Background. All examiners/surveyors to be provided good packages and incentives, and their selection criteria to be managed realistically with the current situation in Pakistan. So they will give their best to improve Pakistan maritime sector.
All short courses from private institutes to be digitally updated within 03 working days of certificate issuance by that institutes, in seafarer digital profile in DG SHIPPING website. According to manila amendments, all certificates validity within 05 years or any other certificate near to expiry, a self-generated email to be sent to that a certificate holder, as a reminder to update the required certificate.
4-JOBS CRISIS FOR PAKISTANI Seafarers
The Major Problem for Pakistani seafarers is Job crisis. There are many reasons behind it, that why in the international market there is less Pakistani seafarer’s.
A. Visa Problems:
1. Pakistani Seafarers are facing serious problems regarding the issuance of visas to join the ship in other countries as it is a very hectic & long process over here. Because of the prolonged duration of such a simple thing, most seafarers are unable to join their vessels on an urgent basis, and International Companies seeing this give preference to other nationalities Seafarers.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
To resolve this issue MINISTRY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS and INTERIOR MINISTRY must work together, and make a policy As soon as possible and implement it.
1. A simple solution can be the issuance of “special Seafarer Passport” which is especially for this purpose of international traveling and help our seafarers get visas quickly. Thus International Shipping Companies would also start to recruit more manpower from Pakistan.
2. In the past, Pakistani seafarers used to join on OK-TO-BOARD letters. Ministry of Maritime Affairs should write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate a process of “Visa-Free Entry” or “Visa on Arrival “or “OK TO BOARD“ to many countries as much as possible.
3. The UK allows seafarers holding seaman service book issued as per ILO 185 Identity Convention to join ship without Visa. Ministry of Maritime Affairs should write to the UK Home Office to allow Pakistani Seafarers to join ships in the UK without a visa as soon as possible.
4. Most shipping companies require US Visa of C1/D type, and until this specific problem is not resolved, Multinational Companies won’t hire Seafarers from Pakistan. Thus, the Foreign Ministry and ministry of maritime affairs have to Sign an MOU with US Consul General for issuance of C1/D visa to Pakistani seafarers.
5. The government should negotiate/sign MOU with friendly countries like KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA, CHINA, IRAN, UK for “ON-ARRIVAL” & “OKAY-TO-BOARD” facility, so that we can get some flexibility in the visa process.
This will reduce financial as well as administrative burden onto foreign companies and employment opportunities for Pakistani seafarers shall increase tremendously and this will bring about billions of dollars worth foreign exchange in the form of remittance to Pakistan.
OTHER RELEVANT SUGGESTIONS TO HELP SOLVE JOBS CRISIS.
As Government is doing different business deals with other countries like CPEC project, LNG deals with QATAR, etc. in all those deals where Sea and ports are involved, they can put the Ministry of maritime affairs, as one of the stacks holders. And can add one more topic to their discussions that, any foreign company Ship visiting Pakistani ports or doing business with Pakistan, they must have to give employment to at least 50% Pakistani Seafarers and in return, they will get some relaxation in the documentation and other paperwork.
One more suggestion is, all foreign flagships visiting KPT, PORT QASIM, GAWADAR port, Pakistani authorities have to facilitate them as much as possible, in routine paper works, and give them easy access to sign off their crew/officers, whoever they want to give sign off, and in return, they have to give chance to Pakistani seafarers.
Accommodation of More Cadets On Our Flag Ships:
Presently only one cadet (from each branch: Nautical & Engine) is being employed in PNSC, at a time, on our National Vessels. Due to only a handful of vessels left in our National Fleet, this circulation has created unemployment for the upcoming batches. 400 to 500 cadets are left unemployed and have to wait for 04 to 06 years after passing out to get their first ship in PNSC. Because sea cadets are only specialized in this specific field and have specialized An Associate Degree’s & Courses they cannot apply elsewhere for shore jobs and are ultimately forced to wait for PNSC’s call list or foreign companies recruitment which normally takes the time of at least 05 years.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
In place of 01 Cadets, the Ministry can board a minimum of 03 to 04 cadets on the same vessel from each branch (Engine & Nautical). This would be beneficial in tackling the junction of unemployed fresh cadets from Marine Academy within a short span of 02 years and with sailing certificates of their cadetship tenure on 70,000+ GRT Vessels (which PNSC offers) they can now apply in Multinational Shipping Companies which will induct them easily.
Therefore, this step is required and no International Law prohibits a National Flag Carrying Fleet to do so, and we have seen Companies like Awasi Shipping hiring up to 10 cadets with of course salary compensations in their cadetship tenure.
2. At present, there are three (03) ships (FSRUs) permanently moored in Pakistani, waters for the business of imported LNG. These companies should be compelled to employee Pakistani Seafarers, especially fresh passed out cadets of Pakistan Marine Academy and private institutes for training skill development and their future employment within LNG Sectors.
3. It is kindly requested to amend SRO-99 of 2003 to grant at least 05% concession in “Port Dues” to foreign-flagged ships employing Pakistani Seafarer’s. This would save millions of dollars’ worth expenditure of Multinational Companies by hiring manpower from Pakistan.
Thus job opportunities would increase for Pakistani Seafarer’s as International Companies would focus on hiring Pakistani seafarers rather than from other nationalities.
Sign-On/Sign-Off Problems:
As per Shipping Ordinance of Pakistan, a Pakistani Seafarer is to only follow the Sign-On & Sign-Off and Port Health Medical procedure from within Pakistan if he is to board a vessel from the National Fleet and not for Foreign Vessels. Sadly, this is not being implemented and for foreign vessels, seamen are required to come back to Pakistan, follow this procedure, and then go back abroad to join their new vessel which by this time has set sail. This is one more reason Multi-National Shipping Companies is reluctant to induct Pakistani Seamen into their company and give priority to Seamen’s of India, Bangladesh, Filipinos, etc.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
Ministry of Maritime Affairs should issue a circular with immediate effect to implement Section 123 and 127 of Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 2001 that no Sign-On/Sign-Off and Port Health Medical is required for Seafarers joining Foreign Vessels.
If this shall be implemented solely thousands of seafarers would be able to join foreign vessels on very short notices, thus creating more job opportunities for Pakistani Seafarers in the open market bringing about billions of dollars’ worth foreign exchange in the form of remittance. Ministry of Maritime Affairs should issue circular as soon as possible to implement sections 123 and 127 of the MSO 2001.
To avoid any fraud and misuse in imposing SECTION 123 and 127, the ministry of maritime affairs can set up a mechanism with the help of FIA, a digital system, to update/monitor Pakistani seafarers joining and leaving ships, and Entry/exit via airports.
EXPANSION OF FLEETS UNDER PAKISTANI FLAG (A BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH POTENTIAL): Pakistan only has about 11 vessels left in its National Fleet and for further Import/Export of Pakistani Cargo, foreign vessels are used which requires expenditures of millions of dollars. Here not only a handsome amount of money is lost for continuous trade which could be saved if we used our vessels, but also our highly professional seamen are left jobless. Remembering, if these same seamen were on board they would be sending billions of dollars’ worth remittance every year, which is quite useful from an economic point of view. No Pakistani Citizen or anyone from abroad is allowed to register his vessels under the Pakistani flag. Here we should learn from Panama, a small country of merely 3-million people, to expand its economy allowed open registration of shipping vessels and now has the largest fleet in the world with over 8,500 vessels registered under its national flag. This number exceeds beyond that of the vessels registered under both the United States & China. By this Panama can earn Billions of Dollars as foreign exchange every year.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
The Government of Pakistan should increase the number of vessels in its national fleet. The following are the advantages of doing so: -Pakistan won’t have to depend upon foreign vessels for import/export of Pakistani cargo. -Cadets unemployment can be resolved if the number of vessels is increased as the rotation cycle for new inductions would also increase accordingly. -With a large fleet, the Government of Pakistan can also charter some of its vessels to foreign companies, saving foreign exchange and creating more jobs for Pakistani Seafarers.
2. The Government of Pakistan should allow the private sector as well as private investors/firms to buy/register ships under Pakistani Flag. Multinational Shipping Companies should be allowed to carry Pakistani Flag. Relax registration policies should be made to attract investors from all over the world.
3. The government of Pakistan should do a joint venture with China. A new shipping company named Pak-China Shipping Company can be formed where Pakistani, and Chinese seafarers would work together. Creating more job opportunities.
4. Joint venture shipping companies should be made with other countries as well.
SIMPLE-ONLINE VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS & END-TO-BRIBERY CULTURE:
Every seafarer is aware of the fact that unethical, unprofessional people are employed in departments under Maritime Ministry such as Shipping Office, KDLB, MMD. Where every work is done on bribery. At the moment, the process of obtaining any documents from the government department is very complicated and very time-consuming. To overcome these hurdles the staff hired there asks for a bribe to do all the work smoothly.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
A simple solution is to make the whole system digital and online. Also, all staff in the Ministry of maritime affairs, especially dealing with seafarer’s must be from a merchant navy background. SSB’s, SID’s, Medication Certificates and other documents should be issued as soon as possible. As seamen of senior ranks are often required to board vessels on an urgent basis and are required to have every mandatory document with them at the time of travel otherwise cannot do so.
Ministry of Maritime Affairs should provide a facility for online verification of all Pakistani Certificates including SSB. For example website verification, and QR CODE verification system.
CRACKDOWN AGAINST AGENT MAFIA:
Agent Mafia in the manning sector of shipping is a serious problem that needs to be handled by the Government. Private agents are set up all over the city and most of them are involved in fraud cases where they take hundreds of thousands of rupees for recruiting purposes and send people to small tugs, supply vessels in place of large tankers/container vessels as in their contract.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
The Government should take strict action against these agents’ mafias, and they should be held accountable under some rules & regulations if they are caught in some frauds doing. All agents have made their price lists regarding different vessels. Some regulatory authority should be made that oversees their doing and a check & balance should be made that so no particular agent overcharges anyone in return for some vessel induction.
DESERTION OF SEAFARERS IN SOME COUNTRIES
This is also one of the reasons, due to which many companies are not providing jobs to certain seafarers. This can be solved, if the ministry of maritime affairs and interior ministry work together and sign MOU. And took some specific measures to control this. It’s not a big issue for authorities to be solved. (one suggestion, local police station can be kept in picture, and a signed agreement by seafarer must be there always, stating that if this above-named seafarer leave ship in any other country without proper legal documentation, and ministry of maritime affairs complained about his/her desertion, SO two very close relatives of his family must be kept in police custody, until his/her arrival. And once concerned seafarer arrives, he/she can be kept in custody for a certain time, not less than 03 years. )
SOME OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR MINISTRY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS.
1- Pakistani flag state administration must comply with international standards, like IMO, MLC and other related international standards/codes.
2- There must be a specialist in the maritime sector, for different areas’ of policymaking. Like LNG EXPERTS, CRUDE OIL EXPERTS, CHEMICAL EXPERTS, BULK Carrier EXPERTS, CONTAINER EXPERTS.
3- With the current CPEC project, our shipping industry can be directly connected regarding jobs to our seafarer’s, port facilities, ship registries, and many sectors.
4- There should be a specific media person, to deal with media with maritime sector updates, having basic knowledge about this field.
5- All office staff of senior ranks and junior ranks, related to the maritime sector in the ministry of port and shipping, must be merchant shipping background.
6- Formation of a committee with senior EX-MERCHANT NAVY Masters and Chief Engineers to make a proper comprehensive policy for the maritime sector, combating real challenges.
These were the main problems faced by the Seafarers community mentioned above. We hope we have made our points clear regarding why is the maritime sector needed to be paid urgent attention towards and what benefits are awaiting if these hurdles are overcome.
