Govt to allow foreign officers on Indian ships

New Delhi, Mar 1: Faced with an acute shortage of Indian officers for indigenous ships in the country, the government is considering a proposal to allow foreign officers to work on Indian ships, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

''The government is considering a proposal to allow foreign officers to work on Indian ships subject to certain conditions,'' Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu told the House in a written reply.

Mr Baalu said there was unemployment in the category of ratings although the exact number was not readily available.

To increase availability of qualified Indian officers, the government was also considering measures to upgrade training facilities, he added.

Replying to another query, the minister said the Department of Shipping had formulated the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) with the objective of upgrading and modernising the country's maritime infrastructure, keeping in view India's fast growing economy and increasing share in the international trade.

Under the programme, to be taken up for implementation in phases during 2007-12, a total of 387 specific projects have been identified. Total investment involved in the programme is Rs 1,00,339 crore. Out of this, Rs 55,804 crore is for the major ports and the balance is for the shipping and inland water transport sectors.

UNI