The working group report

Sub-Group's Report on

Seafarers' Supply and Maritime Training

under the Working Group on

Shipping and Inland Water Transport (IWT),

for Preparation of the

11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012)

Preface
A Sub Committee for preparation of the draft XI plan was Constituted by the Government of India Department of Shipping vide Letter No.SY-11018/3/2006-SC dt. 22nd June 2006 (Annexure V) The Committee had three Sittings and numerous interactions with maritime training bodies, Industry Nominees and Various other shipping entities.

1) The terms of reference for the Committee set out by the Government of India are as follows:

INSERT TERMS OF REFERENCE HERE

2) The seriousness with which the Government has for the first time included the agenda of maritime training in the XI Five Year Plan itself is an indicator of the genuine intention of the government to bring about radical reforms in the way in which maritime training and training are run and administrated. The very fact that the government has constituted a sub group for this sector, signifies its importance. It is clear that the present system of maritime training has left much to be desired, and our goal should be to build on the good foundation that exists for Competency Courses, but also to impart higher learning that is sought to be introduced under the aegis of the proposed Indian Maritime University.

Further, the Committee had the unanimous feeling that the present system is more oriented to suit the needs of the training institutes rather than that of the student community. Many trainees are left high and dry after completion of the shore based training, without any provision or guarantee for obtaining sea time. This deprives them of the opportunity to complete their sea-going training and to obtain a professional licence, thus nipping a youngster’s career in the bud, apart from inflicting financial loss and psychological damage. This came for a serious review and the recommendations of the Committee are, inter alia, meant to set right this basic anomaly.
Though the Committee sat together with that on Maritime Employment constituted by the DOS, certain discussions relating to induction of more rural youth into merchant navy could not fructify into solid decisions. Hence, there would be a separate report on these aspects.
I as the Secretary of the Committee, take immense pleasure in conveying the appreciation of the Chairman of the Committee to all its members, who put their hearts and valuable time for the accomplishment of the onerous task of compiling this report. Our sincere thanks are due to Capt. Shridhar Nivas, MASSA Maritime Academy, who made enormous contributions to the drafting of the report and the interpretation of statistics of world seafarer demand.. The Committee also feels privileged to express its gratitude to the Government of India for the trust reposed and the privilege offered by the Government in making this report.
Though baffling initially, the task was never short of delights and challenges and I take this opportunity to express my personal gratitude to all the members of the Committee for their unstinted support and valuable contribution in bringing out this report.

(P.H.Krishnan)

Deputy Director General of Shipping

and

Member Secretary
Place: Mumbai

Dt.:15.11.2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

S.No	Title	Page No
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1	Introduction	4
1.2	Increase in World Trade and Tonnage	4
1.3	Supply of Seafarers – Rise in Demand for Officers and Oversupply of Ratings.	5
1.4	Indian Seafarers’ Population	6
1.5	India's Share of the Global Sea-going Employment	8
Chapter 2 – Marine Training Programme
2.0	Targets and Objectives.	9
2.1	Targets for Marine Training Programme	9
2.2	Trainees annual out-turn	9
2.3	Requirements	10
Chapter 3 – Quantitative Focus
3.1	Quantitative focus	11
3.2	Training Capacities – Officers	11
3.3	Training Capacities - Ratings	11
3.4	Scarcity Sea Time Berths	11
3.5	The Qualitative Issue	12
Chapter 4 – Quantitative Issues
4.1	Creation of Additional Sea time berths	13
4.1.1	Embedded Sea time Internship in Pre Sea Courses	13
4.1.2	Training Obligation Under Tonnage Tax	15
4.1.3	Proposal to IMO for Compulsory Training Slots aboard all Ships	15
4.2	Creating a Database	16
4.3	The Qualitative Issue	16
4.3.1	Monitoring and Control	16
4.3.2	Rating of Training Institutes	17
4.4	Impact of Indian Maritime University on Training, Academic Support processes	17
4.4.1	The Establishment of the Indian Maritime University (IMU)	18
4.4.2	Reconstitution of Academic Council in to an Advisory Group	18
4.4.3	Regional and National Support Resources Centre	18
4.4.4	Faculty Competence Improvement Schemes and Support Systems	18
4.5	Review of Examination and Certification Processes	18
4.5.1	Examination of Certification	18
4.5.2	Controller of Examinations	19
4.6	Shore base Carriers – Training needs, Lateral Movement of Seafarer to these position	19
4.7	Goal of at least one Indian National on every Foreign Flag Ship	19
4.8	Working Conditions	19
Chapter 5 – Indian Maritime University
5.1	Objectives	20
5.2	Proposals	20
5.2.1	Formation of IMU as a Central University and Enactment of IMU Act.	20
5.2.2	Transfer of Employees	20
5.2.3	Financial Implications	21
Chapter 6 – Financials
6.1	Plan Proposals	22
6.2	Research Support Groups for Indian Maritime Training Systems	22
6.3	Research Support Groups – Purpose	22
6.4	Research Support Groups – Rest of HQs and Regional Offices	22
6.5	Research Support Groups – Regional Offices	23
6.6	Post-Sea Training Institutes	23
6.7.0	Pre-sea Institutes (New)	23
6.7.1	In-Principal Approval	23
6.7.2	Letter of Intent	24
6.7.3	Final Approval	24
6.8	IMU – Major Aspects	25
6.9	Funding of Maritime Universities of Maritime Nations	25
6.10	Non-Plan budget	25
6.11	Requirements of Fund	25
7.0	Indian Maritime University	25
7.1	Indian National Seafarers Information System	26