New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a model Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with foreign countries for recognition of seafarers competency certificates.
This MoU will pave the way for mutual recognition of maritime education and training of seafarers by the countries involved, an official statement said.
The proposed bilateral MoU will enable India and another country with which such an MoU may be entered, to mutually recognize maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, documentary evidence of training and medical fitness certificates, issued to the seafarers who are citizens of respective countries.
Indian Seafarers, therefore, will be eligible to be placed on ships under the flag of that country for employment, thus leading to increased employment opportunities.
The bilateral MoU would therefore, make the seafarers of both the countries to be eligible for employment on ships of either party based on the certificates so recognized.
India being a seafarer supplying nation with large pool of trained seafarers will stand to be benefitted.
The unilateral MoU would facilitate unilateral recognition by another country of the certificates issued by the Directorate General of Shipping to Indian seafarers, without seeking similar recognition by India of the certificates issued by that country.
