Onions save ship from ITF raid

MUMBAI, November 20: A consignment of 400 tonnes of onions spared the captain and crew of the M V Aishwarya from a raid by the International...

MUMBAI, November 20: A consignment of 400 tonnes of onions spared the captain and crew of the M V Aishwarya from a raid by the International Transport Workers8217; Federation ITF at the Mumbai port on Thursday, when the precious consignment was discovered in its hold.

The ship, whose Flag of Convenience FoC credentials had placed it on the ITF hitlist, had sailed with 25 containers of Iranian onions all the way from Dubai. However, when its cargo was inspected, ITF volunteers decided to make an exception and waive regulations so that the onions could be offloaded. The federation, which is cracking down on vessels with dubious FoC credentials countrywide, has instead extended the deadline for the M V Aishwarya to sign the ITF-approved agreement to December 1, 1998. 8220;We did not want to delay the onions from reaching consumers,8221; ITF Inspector Abdulgani Serang told Express Newsline.

The ITF, which represents more than 46 lakh transport workers from 533 trade unions in 128 countries, raided 12 ships with FoCcredentials at the Mumbai port and recovered about US 1.8 million from the shipowners as backwages during its Action Week which concluded today.

Vessels flagged under FoC do not fly the flags of the country of origin. Instead, they assume nationality of the country from where the FoC is obtained. This is done to avoid taxes, hedge on wage deals with their crew among other irregularities.

Last year, more than 500 ships were inspected by 60 ITF-affiliated seafarers8217; and dockers8217; unions. In Mumbai, 12 ships were impounded and seven were later released after the requisite formalities were carried out.

IRRADIATION OF ONIONS: The Department of Atomic Energy DAE has offered to transfer irradiation technology on a commercial basis build up a buffer stock of this perishable commodity. The new technology, which gives onions a shelf-life of six months, has received clearance from the Union Health Ministry.

The technology, accepted as safe worldwide, prevents losses in storage due to sprouting,according to Dr Paul Thomas, head of the Food Technology Division at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre BARC.

Story continues below this ad

The BARC will soon set up a demonstration plant at Lasalgaon, the onion bowl of Maharashtra in Nashik district, at a cost of Rs 70 million with a capacity to irradiate 60,000 tonnes of onion per annum to expose onion growers, their cooperatives and traders, to the new technology. Cost addition is negligible as irradiated processing of 1 kg will be cost about 10 to 15 paise.