High drama at docks: 4 ships detained

ITF inspectors assisted by dock workers stormed the vessels to run a check on the employment documents. In most cases, the ship-owners flouted rules and maintained double books of account to save on seafarer8217;s wages, whose figures were inflated.

At least one of the ships detained in today8217;s raids was found to be unseaworthy. 8220;Sun II has been detained as her voyage would to be hazardous for the crew,8221; said ITF inspector Maruti Rethrekar. Theships under detention include Limasol flagged Dallard Star, Panamian Sun II, Tasmia from St Vincent, Sea Grace I and Zijan.

In similar operation last year, 12 ships were impounded in Mumbai alone and more than US 10,00,000 were recovered in back wages from the defaulting shipowners.

Ship-owners obtain FoC flags of tax-havens like Aruba, Bahamas, Cyprus, St Vincent, Panama, Vanuata, Antigua, Liberia and Belize to avoid adherence to stringent regulations and to save on taxes and labour charges and to cut costs on taxation. It also helps avoid inspection of their vessels by the country of origin and inevitably results in recruitment of untrained, unqualified crew.