Unfit vessels finding safe haven in India’s smaller ports

Unfit vessels finding safe haven in India’s smaller ports India’s minor ports are benefiting from a lack of regulatory control regarding vessels flying flags of convenience, a report in the Economic Times said Sunday.
   A weeklong action by seafarers in parts of Sri Lanka and India were designed to highlight the problem. India’s issue is that the national government controls 12 of the country’s biggest ports, where there are strict regulations on vessel and crew standards. But there are 216 ports in all in India — ranging from world-class container facilities to a single jetty — and many of the private or state-run ports aren’t held to the same standard as the 12 majors.
   According to the story, a source from the International Transport Workers’ Federation said, “Many of the foreign vessels that come to India do not adhere to international regulations governing shipping practice, arguing about the need for it. ITF plans to focus more on the region where many operators from countries like UAE are engaged in shipping which calls for attention.”
   Sadhan Kanjilal, general secretary of Forward Seafarers’ Union of India, said, “It is unfortunate that about 20 percent of Indian vessels are also rust buckets and they should be regulated.”