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The two key regulations abolished by the Home Ministry require crews of Indian-flagged ships, such as dredgers, research vessels, and others, operating solely within the confines of Indian ports, to follow a sign-on and sign-off system and a shore leave pass (SLP) process.
Centre abolishes immigration system for Indian ships
New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has abolished the decades-old requirement of sign-on, sign-off, and shore leave passes for all Indian ships operating exclusively within the country's coastal regions. Providing relief to Indian seafarers, the Union Home Ministry on Thursday abolished two decades-old immigration procedures.
The two key regulations abolished by the Home Ministry require crews of Indian-flagged ships, such as dredgers, research vessels, and others, operating solely within the confines of Indian ports, to follow a sign-on and sign-off system and a shore leave pass (SLP) process.
Previously, seafarers faced complex paperwork, including international immigration clearance, despite transiting between Indian ports. Additionally, a recurring immigration pass (SLP) was required for disembarking and shore leave.
With this decision to abolish these two processes, the government has fulfilled a long-standing demand of seafarers. Reacting to the matter, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the Narendra Modi government stands firmly with India's seafarers.
"Under the decisive leadership of Home Minister Amit Shah, the Union Home Ministry has taken this step towards empowering our seafarers," he said in a post on Instagram. He explained that under the previous system, every crew member had to personally visit the immigration office every 10 days to obtain and renew their SLP.
He said that these processes were considered a huge burden, making it extremely difficult for seafarers to focus on their essential responsibilities on board. He explained that considering that these ships operate exclusively in domestic waters, the Home Ministry decided that the time-consuming immigration process was obsolete.
He said a new framework has been simplified for Indian seafarers, under which they will not be required to complete shore sign-on/sign-off paperwork or 10-day renewal of shore leave pass while operating in Indian waters.
