The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the ratification of the International Labour Organisation convention number 185 on seafarers identity document (SID). Following the approval, a biometric-based seafarer’s identity document will be developed to ensure a foolproof security system to ward off breach of security and possible terror attacks.

“The proposed SID has provisions for bar coding of biometrics-based identity of seafarers and a centralised database maintained in the issuing country, which can be accessed globally through an inter-operable and standard biometric template,” an official statement said.

The SID project is proposed to be taken up in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). SID is proposed to be issued from the three enrolment centres (offices of the Shipping Master at Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai).

Bunker Convention

The Cabinet also approved the Ministry of Shipping’s proposal for India’s accession to International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention) of the International Maritime Organisation.

“The Bunker Convention ensures adequate, prompt, and effective compensation for damage caused by spills of oil, when carried as fuel in ships' bunkers. The territorial jurisdiction for damage compensation extends to territorial sea and exclusive economic zones. It applies to an Indian vessel, wherever it is situated, and to a foreign flag vessel while it is within Indian jurisdiction,” an official statement said.

The registered owner of every vessel has to maintain a compulsory insurance cover which allows claim for compensation for pollution damage to be brought directly against an insurer.

Every ship above one thousand gross tonnage has to carry a certificate onboard to the effect that it maintains insurance or other financial security such as the guarantee of a bank or similar financial institution.

In India, the Directorate General of Shipping shall issue that certificate and in foreign countries their respective maritime authority will issue the certificate. No vessel will be permitted to enter or leave India without such a certificate.

Road projects

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs also approved two road projects worth about ₹ 5,000 crore in Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, as well as Minister for Shipping, added that the Cabinet has also approved a proposal to facilitate seamless road transport between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. The Minister said agreement to the same effect will be signed in Bhutan next month.

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