Drive against FoC system docks in Mumbai

The 1,300-tonne cargo vessel includes a museum which has exibits of the perils of modern shipping. Articles and photographs spotlight the scourge of runaway-flag shipping, the importance of the shipping industry and the need for solutions to substandard shipping.

The cargo hold includes giant images of work at sea while an onboard cinema flashs images mirroring the goings-on of 44 lakh mariners on board 22,000 FoC ships. 8220;We want Mumbaikars to know about the horrors of runaway-flag shipping like poor on-board conditions like safety,8221;said ITF inspector in Mumbai Abdulgani Serang.

An FoC ship is one whose shipowner, whose business intrests lie in one country, chooses to register in another country. Shipowners can thus avail of low or non-existent taxes, lax safety standards and training. Also, there are no restrictions on the crew8217;s nationality.

Some countries identified by the ITF where the FoC facility can be availed of are Panama, Liberia, Malta, the Honduras, Cyprus, St Vincent, Sri Lanka, Antigua and Barbados.

ITF Assistant General Secretary, Mark Dikenson, admits that there are not enough controls to eradicate the menace of the FoC system in the fiercly competitive shipping industry. However, the comming years will see a downward trend in FoC system, he says.

Members of the public can visit Global Mariner at Ballard Pier extention till September 21 between 10 am and 5 pm.