”Neptune Declaration” of Indian Government

It is executed in order to formulate the Maritime India Vision 2030

• India is to execute Neptune Declaration in lieu of Maritime body MUI’s urge to formulate the Maritime India Vision 2030
• It is an urgent call for government to take cognizance of ”Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change”
• The “Maritime India Vision 2030” will be formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India

Key points of the declaration

• The Neptune Declaration was signed by more than 450 organizations
• The declaration highlights the main actions that are required to be taken in order to resolve the crew change crisis
• The daily lives and wellbeing of seafarers was highly impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic. It led to a humanitarian crisis at sea
• This declaration has mentioned four main actions that is needful to address the crew change crisis:

1. To recognize the seafarers as the key workers and provide them priority access to Covid-19 vaccines
2. To establish and implement the gold standard health protocols which are based on the existing best practice
3. To increase the collaboration between the ship operators and charterers so as to facilitate the crew changes
4. To ensure the air connectivity between the key maritime hubs for seafarers

Recommendations of Maritime Union of India

• Recognize seafarers as key workers and give them priority access to Covid-19 vaccines
• Establish and implement gold standard health protocols based on existing best practice
• Increase collaboration between ship operators and charterers to facilitate crew changes
• Ensure air connectivity between key maritime hubs for seafarers

Maritime Union of India (MUI)

• The Marine Union of India is the oldest marine office
• It represents the Merchant Navy Officers who are its members
• The office is affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), London, United Kingdome
• It has around 700 unions that represents over 4.5 million transport workers from150 countries
• The office is also affiliated to the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), New Delhi
• The office work with the primary objective of working for and ensuring the fairness of work and wage conditions for the members
• It also has Branch office in Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Tuticorin
• The office also looks after the implementation of the international regulations such as Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), 2006 Maritime India Vision 2030

Policy and Economy