Any Questions: moc.lanoisseforpemitiram|troppus#moc.lanoisseforpemitiram|troppus for Your News. INDOS comes as a boon for Indian seafarers. by Joseph Fonseca Jun 06, 2011, 2:29PEST The Indian National Database of Seafarers gives a leg up to seafarers At long last Indian seafarers who have acquired their certificates of competency (COC) from the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Government of India can have their authentic record on the official website of the DGS which is accessible to the shipping trade and others concerned in any part of the world. Henceforth, shipping companies, manning agents and other firms who are approached by seafarers for employment can check the status and veracity of the documents produced by them as well as their validity by logging onto the DGS website. The Indian National Database of Seafarers (INDOS) the computerized national data base, has been set up(When?) primarily to help facilitate regulatory authorities and employers of seafarers to have a quick reference and at the same time to prevent the use of fraudulent certificates. The system also provides the details of changes if any, in the COC status taking place from time to time and update real time INDOS database of the concerned Indian / foreign nationals holding COCs granted by the Indian government. The INDOS can be accessed from the website: www.dgshipping.com. * intentions were good, whether competent to put it into practice?
According to an official of the Indian administration, presently 2,84,337 persons have registered with INDOS. These, cover the following categories of seafarers / persons:- * Why no control exercised during issuing stage itself for an INDOS No.?
1) All persons including foreign nationals who hold a COC granted by the Indian government;
2) All persons including foreign nationals who undergo modular courses in India approved by the DGS under the STCW 78 / 95;
3) All Indian nationals who possess Indian continuous discharge certificate (CDC) i.e. those who hold a valid Indian passport and an Indian CDC;
The cell issuing the INDOS number to the seafarer has been doing so on-line after the change-over took place from manual to electronic mode recently. Those registered belong to 12 different categories including nautical officer, engineer, polyvalent certificated officer, deck crew, engine crew, catering department (saloon rating), G. P. crew, medical officer, electrical / electronic officer, foreign national CDC with sea service, fitter / purser, etc. and also non-seafarers. (Does this make sense, while INDOS, is Indian National Database of Seafarers.
The cell also carries out verification of certificates received from foreign administrations. So far the certificates verified include COC (deck & engine), revalidation of COC (deck & engine), watch keeping (deck & engine), dangerous cargo endorsement and global maritime distress and safety system endorsements. (* we wish all this is put into practice, as much said only. )
On an average nearly 200 certificates are received for verification by post as well as fax from foreign administrations every month. Besides, request for certificate verification received by email from Indian / foreign companies are attended to the same day. These number over 40. About the same number of requests is received by post and these too are carried out within 24 hours of receipt. There have been nearly 174 cases of fraudulent certificates that have come to light and these have been forwarded to the shipping companies for necessary action to be taken. (* seafarers (during their hard-earned leave period, have been held up for weeks and months together, harassed in MMD’s for services, includes lost certificates as they don’t acknowledge for the originals received, at their mercy. Is this the standard of public service for those who bring in foreign-exchange to their country? ) The initial objective of INDOS was to do away with the need of seafarers having to carry original documents while training ashore. For e.g. a second mate who undergoes seven modular courses and one competency course would be forced to carry all his original documents. Once seafarers obtain their INDOS certificate, they have no need to produce original documents for admission to courses anywhere in India. INDOS provides the necessary details. Further, in case of loss of original documents, INDOS also helps in getting duplicate certificates. The advantages appear to be limitless! What is this polyvalent certificated officer? How necessity arose? Why not Standard norms?
From the Editor’s Desk, M a r i n eW a v e s, Jan.2009,S a f e g u a r d O u r S e a s
"Corrupted people have a good network and they are united, for illegally amassing quick and easy money, leading a care-free, easy way of life." Liberally throwing the share of amassed easy earned money, they build to muscle-power to threaten those who do not yield to their pressures. It is, for all the government employees to take oath: solemnly and sincerely swear, that will faithfully and honestly fulfill the duties that devolve by reason of employment in the public service of State/Union Govt./ Territories. As you would see that This is a clear case of corruption, incompetence and lack of long term initiatives.
A Case Study on INDoS reveals:
Though INDoS, introduced 8 years ago, as computerized national database 4 quick reference by statutory authorities. The existing INDOS system is totally unplanned and a failure, since it cannot reveal the realistic quantitative figures. Ask for yourself as to whether, we can be able to draw out Statistical figures of Indian seamen (Officers and ratings), engaged on merchant navy vessels? Month wise, Year wise statement ? Any enlightened citizen. You are requested to please clarify the basic and prime information on Indian Seamen, which may be expected of by any enlightened citizen, to know of his countrymen, working with risks and sacrifices, out at sea? Indian seafarers: out at sea,
and of those returned back to land, with their hard-earned leave, joining family after long separation, their near and dear ones, earning bread for their family and dependants, simultaneously earning foreign-exchange to the coffers of our nation's treasury, building national economy. Time frame for achieving various Statistical figures on seafarers? ie Revenue annually earned by seafarers, active seafarers outgoing and incoming, seamen injured while in active service and hospitalized, casualty onboard etc. Discipline need to be the watchword.
Though I have been making exposition of the deficiencies and defects in the system this had been another valid query raised. Appearing in "MARINEWAVES", but left ignored / neglected. Therefore, what is the criteria and control exercised basically on allotting an INDOS No.? this was my query*while the INDOS known from shipping directorate website, as an introduction of national database of Indian Seafarers venturing out at sea, on high risk employment. While that is the case:
• How does INDOS serve the purpose, while it is not a fool-proof system (not covering all those Indians working out at sea). i.e.foreign-shipping Co's/and oil rigs etc. What is the difficulty, to cover those employed in foreign shipping-companies, oil rigs etc. though they are issued with an Indian CDC, from the department or sailing on Panama, Liberian flags CDC etc?
Hence, what is the control exercised by the Govt. of India, in the interest of Indian seafarers?
• Why not a fool-proof INDOS system, in the interest of Indian seamen and the nation at large? Who has designed it? How much paid for such cheap work? not taking into all the attributes? If outsourced, questions the Competence? Adding on:
1. Is their a Seamen employment and guidance bureau? For public interest and awareness.
2. Why the Seamen/Seafarers Club, continues to be handled by Surveyors while they claim shortage for their own primary work and why not this by a Welfare Officer who
exists? CWO existed over25 years ago. Why not centralized?
administration of seamen clubs and reviving welfare measures by a Chief Welfare Officer, when the strength of seafarers multiplied, by the increased Maritime Colleges, Institutions, Academies, Universities (Deemed), Indian Maritime Universities.
3. Do we not need to co-ordinate INDOS with CDC and Indian Passport, which should have been the basic step? For affective control.
4. Lacks practical approach or leaving loop-holes deliberately. Fake CDC and unrealistic quantitative value of CDC issued by the department, reporting of unfair pay scales on the other hand 3EO unfairly dismissed thrown out of service on medical grounds without legitimate dues even after 14 long years since SCI management have given their deaf ears, harassing the individual since he a whistle blower. Which was not expected in a Govt. of India Enterprise.
5. Are the above-said queries, enough evidence of systemic-failures? Do they not reflect upon the poor quality of incompetent mariners inducted into the Shipping directorate of our nation, owing to lack of right publicity forcompetition on real merits, while kept in par with bureaucrats (the cream of national talents) in our national maritime administration? It's high time, the recruitment policy and practices are revived to streamline our national maritime administration.
• INDoS has been implemented over eight long years, if the feedback itself is taken in good spirit, FROM TRIAL AND ERROR METHODS should have ITSELF improved by now. INDoS No. makes no sense. Cleansing the existing system with a new vision would work wonders.
Hence, this is a clear case of corruption, incompetence and lack of long term initiatives. System itself being corrupt, as said in "Marine Waves". "Those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act." Albert Einstein. 'Innovation comes from connecting with the best of minds' with the willingness to contribute, towards a pursuit to excellence.
Dr. Chandran Peechulli,Ph.D; MBA; D.Sc; FIE(India), PgDIMS(UK), PgTED; FIIPE; MSEI; MSNAME(USA),
Ex.Chief Engineer(Marine), G.M.(Tech) Crossworld Shipping.Managing Editor & Publisher-"MARINE WAVES" International Maritime Newsletter. Ref: M m a r i n e W a v e s 3 January 2009 www.themarinewaves.com
S a f e g u a r d O u r S e a s
Silence is never been an option for concerned Citizens
chennai Systemic failures in the Directorate general, Indian Shipping Ministry
Blog : moc.lanoisseforpemitiram|troppus#moc.lanoisseforpemitiram|troppus
Posted By: Chandran Peechulli on:1/8/2009 12:24:06 AM
Kind attention: Capt.Mukesh Baveja, OSD-INDOS,Camp:LBS, Mumbai.
Dear Capt.
During the course of my talk with Mr.Dhar, Principal, LBS, forenoon of 2nd Jan.2009, he referred me to speak to you on Telephone No.022-2370 4425, since you are the Officer on Special Duty in charge of INDOS. While, you have expressed busy on an important priority work and asked me to get to know over the e-mail, same e-mail bounced back. Checking with INDOS Cell, this message on corrected e-mail ID. ten.lnsv|sodnisbl#ten.lnsv|sodnisbl in lieu of e-mail ID moc.lnsv2|sodnisbl#moc.lnsv2|sodnisbl You are requested to please clarify the basic and prime information, on Indian Seamen, which may be expected of by any enlightened citizen, to know of his countrymen, working with risks and sacrifices, out at sea.
• Statistical figures of Indian seamen (Officers and ratings), engaged on merchant navy vessels? Month wise, Year wise statement.
1. Indian seafarers: out at sea, and of those returned back to land, with their hard-earned leave to join back after long separation, their near and dear ones, earning bread for their family and dependants, simultaneously earning foreign-exchange to the coffers of our nation's treasury, building national economy. Statistical figures?
Though this being a valid query raised in my editorial of "MARINE WAVES", long back but left ignored / neglected. What is the present status? What is the control exercised basically on allotting an INDOS number? *while the INDOS known from the shipping directorate as introduction of national database of Indians venturing out at sea, on employment.
2. How does it serve the purpose, while it is not a fool-proof system (covering all those working out at sea). i.e. foreign-shipping and oil rigs etc. Why? Many seafarers who are employed in foreign shipping companies, oil rigs etc. continue to sail without INDOS number?
3. Is their a Seamen employment and guidance bureau?
4. Do you not need to co-ordinate INDOS with CDC and Indian Passport?
5. Why not a fool-proof INDOS system, in the interest of Indian seamen and the nation at large? Who has designed it? If outsourced, Competence?
6. Are the above-said queries, not enough evidence of systemic failures? Do they not reflect upon the poor quality of mariners inducted into the Shipping directorate of our nation, though kept in par with bureaucrats (the cream of national talents) in our national maritime administration? * Why, not considering recruitment on pure merits. When is it going to be streamlined?
Last but not the least your e-mail ID refers to LBS and not DGS, while your subject is national and not restricted to institutional. The above-said queries rose, since INDOS is directly under your jurisdiction and it is over eight long years since the INDOS has come into existence. With due respects to you, on the specialized subject (INDOS) chair of authority, felt to have your valued thoughts, to clarify my above-said doubts.
I suppose, I could have your valued thoughts for inter-action, with your rich experience on this specialized subject of authority. With best regards.
Thankingyou,
Dr. Chandran Peechulli, Ph.D ; D.Sc., F I E (India), F.I.I.P.E., M.S.E.I., Pg.DIMS(UK), Pg.DTED, MSNAME(US), Fellow - Institution of Engineers (India), Indian Institution of Plant Engineers & Ex. Vice Chairman TN Chapter, Life Member &Ex.Executive Member-Indian Institute of Standards Engineer T N Chapter, Indian Institute of Occupational Health, Mg.Editor& Publisher - “Marine Waves” international maritime newsletter. Corporate-Member-Chennai Press Club. Ex. Chief Engineer (Marine) & General Manager (Tech),Consultant- CeeCee Industrial & Marine Mgt. Consultants,moc.oohay|484ckp#moc.oohay|484ckp,sserddAmoc.semitaidni|namsrerafaes#sserddAmoc.semitaidni|namsrerafaes: M107-5, 29th Cross Street, Besant Nagar, Chennai-600090. 044+42018982.
From the Editor’s Desk. July 2011. www.themarinewaves.com
PRESS and the POLITICIANS. A delicate relationship. Too close, danger ensues. Too far apart, democracy itself cannot function, without the essential exchange of information. Creative leaks, a discreet lunch, inter -change in the Lobby, the Art of the unattributable telephone call, late at night… Howard Brenton.
MEDIA plays an important and vital role of awakening the general public in upholding human rights, even if our trusted, elected public representatives fail to perform well. Dr. Chandran Peechulli. Think it over Why does a person, knowing what truth is, hesitate to speak it? Is he ashamed? Ashamed of whom? Whether he is a superior or a subordinate, what matters it? The fact is that habit swallows us all. Let us reflect over this and rid ourselves of the bad habit…M.K.Gandhi, published on 8th Dec 1988. Indian Express. The butterfly counts not on months but moments, and has time enough. Rabindranath Tagore. ‘TIME’ is equal to life,hence waste your time and waste your life. or master your time and Master your life.AlanLakein "Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." Harriet Braiker.
From Wikipedia: INDos (Indian National Database of seafarers), is a computerised national database of Indian seafarers which is of use for quick reference by statutory authorities such as Flag State, Port State, Immigration & Employers etc., to prevent the fraudulent issue of certificates. The database includes data like the seafarer's address, photographs, signature, telephone, etc. An INDos number consists of eight alphanumeric characters. Henceforth, no seafarer without an INDos number will be admitted to any course other than a three month pre-sea training course in India. All Indian and foreign nationals holding a COC (Certificate of Competency) granted by the Government of India or an Indian CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate) or who have completed modular courses approved by DG Shipping are listed in the database. Courses not approved by the Government of India, except GMDSS, will not be included in the INDos data. The advantage to seafarers is that they do not need to carry the original document while training ashore with the implementation of INDos. For example, at present, a second mate has to undergo seven modular courses and one competency course for which he has to carry all his original documents. Once he has an INDOs certificate, he does have to produce the original document for admission to any course in India. Furthermore, in case of the loss of original documents, the INDos will help in retrieving a duplicate certificate. Notwithstanding INDos, seafarers still need to carry the original document while serving onboard a ship. Clip from DG Shipping notice as refer below link- quote 'Every seafarer shall obtain INDos No certificate from the assessment centers /LBS CAMSAR, Mumbai. 'Details of documents issued by government authorities like COCs, Letters of Authority for issue of a COC (commonly referred to as a "Blue Chit"), endorsements for serving on special ship types, CDCs, etc., issued in due course are directly communicated to the INDos centre for updating the data. Such details are not accepted from the seafarer. Such certificates are verified subsequently from records provided to INDos by the training institutions and authorities that distribute these documents.[1]
It is almost a decade, since the Office of the DGS introduced INDOS, INDos, seen Seafarers ‘as small’. What was the need of the news article on INDos by Joseph Fonseco, of www.maritimeprofessional.com, hired by the directorate, to blindly write biased information for the office of DGS, i.e. which is CONCEALING THE TRUTH, from a scam that continues for issue of CDC’s, without much publicity, to those who are not eligible to obtain by standard norms of entry attending conventional courses. This already said in the deficiencies and defects reported, already by the Publisher & Editor of MARINE WAVES, through its popularly known monthly editorial contents, made available online also in its archive of www.themarinewaves.com Instead of expressing the deficiencies and defects in the INDOS system, after lapse of over ten long precious years, due to trial and error methodologies, adopted with loopholes by the mariners of the Shipping Directorate. This is a clear case of systemic failure. Lacks creativity and adaptability to initiate systemic reforms, What is required is a strong political will coupled with decisive action, to restore Indian seafarers faith in the overall system.
• We need to look forward for truth in the media and start changing the system, through increased awareness, which was built with loopholes to suit the conveniences of vested interests. The nation should support and encourage journalists who tell the truth. Journalists pay a high personal and professional price for telling the truth. Professional journalists committed to truth in media are invariably penalized by their corporate employers. They are pressured into accepting media disinformation as routine, as part of the job. They are encouraged to skim the surface or to convey half truths. Those who refuse to abide by the standards of the mainstream media are not only fired, they are blacklisted and their prospects extinguished. Journalists who have the courage to say the truth find themselves marginalized and excluded. We believe, it is important for a good governing nation to support and encourage journalists in their endeavours to deliver independent news and analysis to the broader public. Independent coverage of world events which is not coloured created or manipulated by corporate, government or institutional stakeholders. We ask you to support us in supporting the writers who continue to bring you the material you need in order to understand what's happening in the world in reality. Never before has it been so important to have independent, honest voices and sources of information. We are, as a society – inundated and overwhelmed with a flood of information from a wide array of sources, but these sources of information, by and large, serve the powerful interests and individuals that own them. The main sources of information, for both public and official consumption, include the mainstream media, alternative media, academia and think tanks. The mainstream media is the most obvious in its inherent bias and manipulation. The mainstream media is owned directly by large multinational corporations, and through their boards of directors are connected with a plethora of other major global corporations and elite interests. MARINE WAVES publication, as an institution acts as a research centre and as well as a source of alternative news, through the website www.themarinewaves.com, has become a much needed voice of independence, seeking to break through all the propaganda and misinformation. To maintain our independence, MARINE WAVES does not accept assistance from public and private foundations. Nor do we seek support from universities and/or government. While the objective is to expand and help spread important and much-needed information to more people than ever before, we rely more upon necessitated our readers to support the organization. Thank you, my dear readers, for your tireless support. Supporting MARINE- WAVES, is supporting the cause of Seafarers, the truth and the fight against media disinformation.
Dr. Chandran Peechulli, Ph.D ; D.Sc., F I E (India), F.I.I.P.E., M.S.E.I., Pg.DIMS(UK), Pg.DTED, MSNAME(US), Fellow - Institution of Engineers (India), Indian Institution of Plant Engineers & Ex. Vice Chairman TN Chapter, Life Member &Ex.Executive Member-Indian Institute of Standards Engineer T N Chapter, Indian Institute of Occupational Health, Mg.Editor& Publisher - “Marine Waves” international maritime newsletter. Corporate-Member-Chennai Press Club. Ex. Chief Engineer (Marine) & General Manager (Tech),Consultant- CeeCee Industrial & Marine Mgt. Consultants, moc.oohay|484ckp#moc.oohay|484ckp, moc.semitaidni|namsrerafaes#moc.semitaidni|namsrerafaes Address: M107-5, 29th Cross Street, Besant Nagar, Chennai-600090. 044+42018982.
Krishna (guest) 16 Aug 2012 00:11
