India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has drafted a circular targeting 86 vessels accused of repeated labor violations, detentions, and paperwork irregularities, Maritime Executive reports. The move follows growing pressure on regulators to address a surge in cases of seafarer abandonment worldwide.
According to the draft, the vessels in question have been linked to non-payment of wages, unsafe conditions, lack of repatriation, and in some cases fraud. Many are said to operate without basic documents such as valid P&I coverage or proper seafarer contracts. Authorities also cite poor compliance from crewing agencies and a lack of cooperation from certain flag and port states.
Among the listed ships is the Eagle S, a product tanker currently tied to a high-profile case in Finland, where it allegedly dragged its anchor and damaged undersea cables. The remainder of the blacklist covers a mix of general cargo vessels, tankers, and even a RoPax ship.
The circular instructs recruiting and placement agencies to stop assigning Indian seafarers to the flagged vessels and to arrange immediate sign-off and repatriation for those already on board. Agencies must also provide detailed reports within 14 days on wages, crew status, and repatriation progress, with non-compliance risking license suspension or cancellation.
The crackdown comes amid alarming global statistics. The International Transport Workers’ Federation warned in August that seafarer abandonment is rising sharply, with 2,648 cases reported so far this year – already approaching 2024’s total and up nearly 90 percent from 2023.
