Business Standard

Shipping companies plan extra charters to bring 20,000 seafarers home

Seafarers typically join merchant vessels or return to India each month as a part of their contracts. But due to Covid-19 lockdowns and travel curbs, the crew change process got delayed

trade, import, export, shipping
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In a statement, IndiGo said it flew 129 seafarers from Doha to Delhi on June 11. SpiceJet is operating charter flights between India and Colombo for shipping companies. Representative image

Aneesh Phadnis Mumbai
Over 20,000 Indian seafarers are set to return home or join duties as shipping companies and maritime bodies plan additional charter flights.

"Between May and July 1 we have facilitated 40 charter flights enabling travel of around 8,000 seafarers. We have received applications for another 10-15 charter flights," said Captain Daniel J Joseph, Deputy Director General of Shipping.

Typically around 20,000 seafarers join merchant vessels or return to India each month as a part of their work contracts. But due to Covid-19 related lockdowns and travel restrictions the crew change process got delayed.

Scheduled international flights from India are still

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