The number of Indian seafarers has increased by over 60,000, according to Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Mansukh L Mandaviya. While only about 92, 000 people were engaged in ship-related jobs, their number has currently gone up to 154,000, he informed.
The Minister said the government has taken steps to increase employment opportunities for the youth in this sector. The reforms under this include improving the seafarers examination.
He said, while earlier only 1-2% of applicants could clear the said examination, with improved curriculum the pass percentage has gone up to 10% now. This has resulted in more and more young people qualifying for jobs in the sector.
Shri Mandaviya further said that rules and regulations have been strengthened for ensuring that students training to be seafarers get a chance to visit the sea during their training period. This, he said, will give them better exposure and prepare them well for jobs in the sector.
Earlier in 2018, Indian Minister of Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari, signed an MoU with the Republic of Korea on mutual recognition of certificates of competency of seafarers, paving the way for the two governments to mutually recognize the certificates of maritime education and training, competency, endorsements and medical fitness of seafarers issued by each other.
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