UK Govt Bats for More Protection for its Seafarers
Capt Kamal Chadha – The UK government has announced a draft Employment Rights Bill designed to strengthen protections for seafarers, a development that has garnered support from Nautilus International, the maritime union based in the UK. This bill, which will soon be introduced in Parliament, aims to toughen regulations pertaining to collective dismissals and enhance…
India’s New Regulations to Boost Domestic Shipping Participation
Pratik Bijlani – The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) in India is finalizing groundbreaking regulations that will require international container lines operating in Indian waters to reserve at least 5% of their cargo space for Indian domestic operators. This move is part of the Indian government’s broader strategy to enhance the competitiveness of Indian flag…
Visakhapatnam Port Authority Sets New Cargo Handling Benchmark with 6% Growth
Pratik Bijlani – Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has achieved a new milestone by handling 41.79 million metric tons (MMTs) of cargo in the first half of FY 2024-25, marking a 6% growth compared to 39.60 MMTs in the same period last year. This growth is attributed to increased handling of key commodities, including crude oil,…
Maritime Community Unites for Mental Health Awareness at IMF Seminar
On September 27th, the International Maritime Federation (IMF) hosted a successful Mental Health and Wellbeing Training Seminar at The Park Hotel in Belapur. The event drew together seafarers, officers, and IMF members, demonstrating a collective commitment to promoting mental health awareness within the maritime industry. Renowned experts Dr AM Hajwane, Ms Liza Hazarika, Dr Amol…
FOSMA: A Vanguard of Industry Growth
The Foreign Ship-owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA) was founded in India in 1989 with the goal of raising issues of common interest for member companies and their seafarers with relevant authorities, aiming to achieve sensible resolutions to these issues. From humble beginnings, FOSMA has grown to its current distinguished position, representing thirty-three member…