Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 12: The Goa Maritime Officers Association has urged the government to establish a Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) office in Vasco da Gama, Goa, India, stating that the absence of such a facility forces seafarers from the state to travel outside Goa for essential certification and examination services.

A delegation of the association met Ports Minister Digambar Kamat at the Goa Legislative Assembly Complex on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum outlining several demands aimed at strengthening maritime infrastructure and improving services for the seafaring community.

The association said the primary role of the Mercantile Marine Department is to administer various merchant shipping laws and regulations relating to the safety of ships and life at sea, ship registration, tonnage measurement, crew accommodation and other maritime operational aspects.

At present, major MMD field offices are located in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, among others.

According to the association, setting up an MMD office in Vasco would help streamline several procedures, including the issuance of continuous discharge certificates, dangerous cargo endorsements and the conduct of maritime examinations. Currently, seafarers and maritime officers from Goa are required to travel to other states to complete these formalities.

The delegation also proposed the establishment of a Goa Maritime Bhavan and Maritime Convention Centre in Salcete, South Goa to serve as a hub for maritime activities, training programmes, professional development and industry engagement.

Kamat acknowledged the concerns raised by the association and appreciated the efforts of the maritime fraternity in highlighting issues faced by seafarers in the state. He assured the delegation that the government would support initiatives aimed at strengthening the maritime sector and benefiting maritime professionals in Goa.