Mr. Gautam Chatterjee, Director General of Shipping, has called upon the Maritime Administration, ship owners and the seafarers’ representatives to work together for the development and uplift of the entire shipping fraternity.In his address as Chief Guest at the Seamen’s Unity Day celebration on Nov. 6, he also stated that “Indian seafarers should further improve their skills and thus increase their quantum in the world shipping and for this the Maritime Administration will extend all the possible support and co-operation”.
The beneficiaries of the various NUSI welfare initiatives, through the Trusts, like Financial Medical Assistance, Educational Scholarship Grant and Interest free loan for Ratings to become Officers received financial assistance at the hands of Mr. Gautam Chatterjee.
Dr. Shanti Patel, President of NUSI, presided over the function. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the importance of seafarers staying united under the banner of the NUSI and working together for achieving their goals. On this occasion, the NUSI Executive Committee felicitated Dr. Shanti Patel for receiving the “Vayoshreshtha Samman” award from the Government of India. NUSI honoured him by presenting a memento, which he received at the hands of the Director General of Shipping.
NUSI General Secretary-cum-Treasurer Abdulgani Y. Serang reminded the gathering about the unfortunate tragedy on board the vessels “Prathibha Cauvery” of Prathibha Shipping and “Maharshi Krishnatreya” of Varun Shipping wherein 11 seafarers had lost their lives. He furthered said that as mark of respect and homage for the departed seafarers, the Seamen’s Unity Day function was organized in a low key.
He also presented a brief report about the various welfare initiatives of NUSI for the benefit of the seafarers and their family members and asked them to take benefit from it. He assured the gathering that NUSI will continue to work hard for the benefit of the seafarers in particular and for the development of the shipping industry in general. He openly declared that NUSI is associated with the seafarers right from “womb to tomb”.
Capt. S.V. Subhedar and Capt. Vinay Singh gave the Indian and foreign ship owners’ perspective urging the seafarers to enhance their skills and thus become a better workforce for the future.
The function was attended by hundreds of seafarers and their family members, besides dignitaries from major shipping organizations. Varuna Award winner Capt. S.C. Sood, CMD of IMS Ship Management who was present on the occasion, was also felicitated.
Earlier, a two-minute silence was observed by the shipping fraternity, including the seafarers, to pay homage to the departed souls of the seafarers of “Prathibha Cauvery” and “Maharshi Krishnatreya”.
Every year seafarers celebrate Nov. 6 as the Seamen’s Unity Day. It was on this day in the year 1963 that many unions came together under the banner of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI). This safeguarded the interests of the seafarers in particular and the entire shipping industry in general. NUSI organizes this function to commemorate the occasion and to give the details of its activities to the seafarers.
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