Navigating the Future: Safety First!
Water plays a crucial role in the well-being of life on Mother Earth, with more than 70% covered by water. Waterways play an important role in trade, transporting huge quantities of cargo and connecting the people who produce and use the goods. A large workforce toils giving their time, often alone away from their families and countries. Yes, these are Seafarers. “The Day of the Seafarer” is observed every year on June 25. An estimated 19 lakh seafarers work in this industry. Asia ranked as the world’s largest seafarer pool. Recently, we have seen international conflicts due to territorial disputes and geopolitical tensions. South Sea has been at the centre of conflicts between major powers. Piracy at sea has a long and storied history. The observation of seafarers acknowledges the invaluable contributions of the seafarers and brings attention to the issues affecting their work and lives.
Seafarers Keep Us Safe.
Water plays a crucial role in the well-being of life on Mother Earth. More than 70% of the earth is covered by water. Water bodies and waterways play an important role in trade, transporting vast quantities of cargo and connecting the people who produce and use the goods. Maritime trade contributes significantly to the growth of countries’ economies. The majority of international trade (~90%) is through sea. The advantages are the low cost and greater economy of space. To make this happen, a large workforce toils, giving their time, most often spending time alone away from their families and countries. Yes, these are Seafarers. These skilled professionals contribute to the safe operation of the vessels. They contribute to safeguarding the oceans’ health by observing strict environmental protocols. A resolution was adopted in the 2010 Conference held in Manila to observe “The Day of the Seafarer” on June 25 every year to recognise the contributions of the seafarers. The observation is to acknowledge the contributions of the seafarers to the well-being of humanity. It is also a UN day of observation. It is the day for all seafarers, Coast Guards, Navies, fishermen or cruise ship captains. India has a rich maritime history. Several ancient ports played crucial roles in trade and cultural exchange. It connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa as early as the third century BC.
Let Us Salute Seafarers ‘for Their Essential Work, Support Their Safety’Â Â Â Â Â
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
An estimated 19 lakh seafarers (45% of them are in officer grade) work in this industry. Asia ranked as the world’s largest seafarer pool. Most come from China, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and India. More than 250 thousand Indian seafarers are employed on domestic or foreign vessels. Asia is leading in the maritime freight area and the global leader (85%) in the shipbuilding sector. China, South Korea, and Japan are the major shipbuilding nations. Even though India has made strides in shipbuilding, it currently runs a minuscule 1.3% of the global vessel fleet, which is only an eighth of China’s share.Â
One must acquire specific qualifications to become a seafarer, like any other profession. Merchant marine academies and training programs are preparing the aspirants. The role on board, is decided by the path one chooses. Be it navigating a ship, maintaining machinery, or providing hospitality services. Training and Certification is essential. Good wages are a significant attraction for young people choosing to be seafarers. As seafarers climb the ranks, their salaries increase accordingly. Salaries also vary based on the type of ship. For example, working on a tanker is well rewarded, taking into consideration the dangers associated with it. A seafarer’s average time at sea depends on their role and the vessel. Modern shipping refers to it as a ‘3 on 3 off’ rotation (3 months at sea followed by a 3-month break on land). Women work as seafarers, and although their representation remains low (1.2%), efforts are being made to enhance the number and empower women in maritime roles.
Recently, we have seen international conflicts due to territorial disputes and geopolitical tensions. South Sea has been at the centre of conflicts between major powers. Piracy at sea has a long and storied history. We keep reading about the Somalian pirates once in a while. Can we forget the trials of pirates of the Caribbean? They happened in the 17th century.
India has a rich maritime history. Several ancient ports played crucial roles in trade and cultural exchange. The Indian Ocean trade routes connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa as early as the third century BC. Lothal in Gujarat is an important port city of the Indus Valley civilisation. Some of the historically recorded seaports are Muziris in Kerala, Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu, and Arikamedu near Puducherry. Calicut in Kerala was a thriving port along the Malabar Coast.The Indian Ocean’s rich history of trade continues to shape global connections. How can we forget the exploratory journey made by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who established a sea route to India? What followed afterwards changed Indian history forever.
The observation of seafarers is to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the seafarers and bring attention to the issues affecting their work and lives. Governments have to play an essential role in having robust policies and ensuring their adherence by all the players.
Get ready to set sail.
It is June 25 and is the Day of the Seafarer.
Toons: Advika and Anusha
Logs: M Sai Baba
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