Chennai:
Soon after it left Chennai Port, the bulk carrier MV Karaagac with 21 crew members was stranded about seven nautical miles off the coast of Chennai, raising questions about the seaworthiness of the vessel that could endanger the lives of the crew.
The ship that had faced trouble in Chennai over unpaid wages to the crew had set out around 1 am on Saturday en route to Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh when it faced a technical snag in the engine that brought it to a halt.
Indian Coast Guard officials told Express that two engineers were hired by the ship’s agent to rectify the defect. But the plan had to be postponed as the sea was rough. “They will sail tomorrow,” said the coastguard spokesman.
The ship with Panama flag was detained following order by the Madras High Court for its failure to pay wages the crew. The wages were settled, but its seaworthiness has been one of the issues.
The Marine Mercantile Department had detained the ship on 16 counts, including for not having Collective Bargaining Agreement, which is mandatory under Maritime Labour Convention 2006. Under ‘Port State Control’, the procedure to take stock of the safety, maintenance and manning, ships have to comply to the basic requirements in this regard.
“It is very rare that a crew would complain about the seaworthiness of a vessel for the fear of losing their jobs. But in this case the crew have given a written complaint. By giving a clean chit to the ship, the MMD has put the lives of crew at risk,” charged International Transport Workers Federation inspector Sreekumar.
“Since it is under the jurisdiction of Chennai Port State Control, It has to be detained and ensured that everything is in order before letting it sail,” Sreekumar added.
When Express contacted S Barik, Port State Control officer, he said it is the duty of the flag officer to check it. But Panamanian flag inspector Captain Aditya Kapoor said that in this case, it was the duty of the Japanese company Nippon Kaiji Kyokai to certify the ship’s seaworthiness.
Stressing the significance of the tripartite Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the crew, ship owner and union, Manoj Joy, Chaplain Sailors Society, pointed out a ship could be detained under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 in the absence of a CBA.
“There should be zero tolerance for violation of the convention. Also, under the Registration and Placement Service Licenses (RPSL) Rules, the manning agent is duty bound to follow the rules," Manoj Joy, Chaplain Sailors Society.
However, contending this, Barik said although India has signed the MLC, it would be implemented only next year. Till then, India can’t detain the ship for violating the convention.
Factfile:
Name of the ship: M V Karaagac
Flag: Panama
Registry: Panama
Built: Shangai Shipyard
Manager: Amanos Gemi Isletmecilihi Ltd
Agent: PSTS
Type of Vessel: Bulk Carrier
Class: Nippon Kaiji Kyokai
Insurer: Skuld
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