Ex-naval officers protest new clause of DG Shipping

If the retired naval officers do not acquire the Certificate of Competency now, all of them will be rendered jobless in 2002, as per the 1995 amendment of the 1978 Convention for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW, 1978).

Though this amendment was introduced in 1995, its implications are being felt only now after the latest DG Shipping notice (number 2 of 2000) was issued on March 23. “A merchant ship’s design, construction, operation, manning and management practices have become considerably specialised and vastly different from those of naval ships. Hence the holders of the Certificate of Service from the Indian Navy will be required to undergo the procedures of certification,” reads the official notice.

Remarks an ex-naval officer: “After putting in 20 years of selfless service for the Indian Navy and another three years in the merchant navy, I shall now have to undertake new tests to prove my competency. This is sheer discrimination for retired naval officers, who already have a Certificate of Service.” He says that prior to this notice, both the certificates of Service and Competency were at par, so there was no problem for naval officers seeking employment in the merchant navy after retirement.

“But by making it mandatory for us to acquire a Certificate of Competency, the DG Shipping is clearly discriminating against naval officers, who have already acquired vast practical experience in their distinguished career,” adds another officer.

From 1980 to 1999, about 3,000 naval officers were issued the Certificates of Service, and they easily managed to continue working for the merchant navy after retirement. The latest ruling is therefore being seen as “dictatorial”.

The officers also allege that the College of Advanced Maritime Studies, which conducts ungradation courses, refuses to give the appropriate certificates to former naval officers even though they attend the same lectures and pay the same fees as the other merchant navy officers.

Director General of Shipping, D T Joseph, told Newsline that he did have a detailed discussion on the non-renewal of the Certificate of Service after 2002, with the naval headquarters, but the talks were not conclusive in spite of certain modifications in the notice.

“India has always been proud of her high maritime standards. By diluting our standards, we would be affecting our reputation and decreasing the chances of our merchant navy officers in the international market. Hence examination standards are maintained at high levels by our examiners,” he says.

He, however, adds that the DG Shipping is considering how holders of a Certificate of Service can be helped in retaining jobs at least in the Indian coastal sector. The final decision will be taken by the end of this month.