Some interesting findings of a Research Project on the following subject : " How has criminalization of seafarers impacted the perception of shipping as a career?" --- by Capt Sahil Puri

1. RESEARCH PROJECT
By Capt. Sahil Puri
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2. INTRODUCTION
“ A nice clear night, good visibility, vessel somewhere in the
South China Sea, nearest land 25 nautical miles off, isolated
fishing traffic.
Master comes up on the bridge around 2300 hrs , checks the
chart(s) and the vessel’s position, calculates the track she would
cover during the night and checks for any navigational hazards
and other factors so as to fully appraise himself of the situation
and when fully satisfied puts down WRITTEN orders.
These include strict compliance with master’s & company’s
standing orders, giving all vessels – especially fishing vessels, a
wide berth and to be called in case of any doubt.
Wishing duty officer a good watch, the master goes off to sleep
…...”

3. The above could most certainly be any normal day at sea in
the life of a proficient, experienced and law abiding master
belonging to any nationality, to any company, on any type of
vessel flying the flag of any Maritime State.
“…10 hours later he is incarcerated for involuntary
manslaughter….”
“Even as the shock and disbelief of the charges against him
baffle his senses, little does he know that for the next 18
months he would be living like a criminal in an alien nation
with nothing but a question to haunt him as to what wrong
did he do ! ”

4. UNBELIEVABLE !
AS IT MAY SOUND,
THIS IS THE BITTER TRUTH THAT
EVERY SEAFARER FACES TODAY.

5. “CRIMINALISATION OF
SEAFARERS”
PAWNS IN POLITICAL AND
LEGAL GAMES S
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6. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
"How has the 'Criminalization of Seafarers'
impacted the perception of shipping
(sailing) as a career ? How can a solution
path to this problem be identified? "
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7. HYPOTHESIS
i) The instances/cases of ‘criminalisation of seafarers’ has had
a very negative impact on the way seafarers in general
perceive shipping (sailing) as a career.
ii) This issue has negatively impacted seafarers at different
levels of shipboard organisation viz. Senior officers,
Junior officers and Cadets/Trainees.
iii) This issue has negatively impacted seafarers in both the
deck as well as engine department.
iv) This issue has negatively impacted seafarers serving on
both the tankers as well as dry cargo ships.

8. METHODOLOGY& PROCEDURE
For the purpose of this research a survey was conducted
which had two components:
 Online survey – links posted on various websites.
 Group administered survey – physical interaction with
seafarers at various training institutes, company office etc.
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9. SAMPLE
A total of 306 respondents participated in the survey
An attempt was made to have sufficient number of
seafarers based on each of the following divisions:
Division (i)
 Senior officers
 Junior officers
 Cadets/Trainees
Division (ii)
 Seafarers serving on Tankers
 Seafarers serving on Dry Cargo ships
Division (iii)
 Seafarers from Deck department
 Seafarers from Engine department

10. RESULTS-IMPACT
The first section of the survey consisted of statements
assessing the impact of criminalisation. The respondents
were given multiple choice answers and asked to select
what was closest to what they feel.
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11. Statement: I fear I can become a victim of criminalisation in
spite of following my professional duties judiciously.
Q2. I Fear I can become a victim of criminalization inspite of following my professional
duties judiciously.
96% 4%
50 %
41
40 % 37
% OF RESPONSES
30 %
20 % 18
10 %
3
1 0
0%
ST RONGLY AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE ST RONGLY
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE

12. Statement: The issue of criminalisation has affected my
morale and enthusiasm towards work and my career.
Q3.The issue of criminalisation has affected my morale and enthusiasm towards
work and my career.
79% 21%
50 %
40 %
35
% OF RESPONSES
30 % 28
20 %
16 15
10 %
4
2
0%
STRONGLY AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE

13. Statement: The issue of criminalisation has made my life
more stressful while on board.
Q4.The issue of criminalisation has made my life more stressful while on board.
76% 24%
50 %
40 %
31
% OF RESPONSES
30 %
25
20
20 %
15
10 % 7
2
0%
STRONGLY AGREE AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE DISAGREE

14. Statement: The fear of Criminalization is a considerably
strong factor that may prompt me to look into alternative
career options ashore.
Q5.The fear of Criminalization is a considerably strong factor that may prompt me to
look into alternative career options ashore.
67% 33%
50 %
40 %
% OF RESPONSES
30 %
29
20
20 % 18 18
11
10 %
4
0%
STRONGLY AGREE AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE DISAGREE

15. Statement: With Criminalization in mind I would discourage
my family members or friends from taking up shipping
(sailing) as a career.
Q6.W ith Criminalization in mind I would discourage my family members or friends
from taking up shipping (sailing) as a career.
71% 29%
50 %
40 %
% OF RESPONSES
30 %
25 25
21
20 % 19
10 %
6
4
0%
STRONGLY AGREE AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE DISAGREE

16. Statement: I feel appropriate and timely action is not being
taken by the responsible international bodies and
governments to successfully deal with this problem.
Q7.I feel appropriate and timely action is not being taken by the responsible
international bodies and governments to successfully deal with this problem.
95% 5%
60 % 56
50 %
40 %
% OF RESPONSES
32
30 %
20 %
10 % 8
2 2 1
0%
STRONGLY AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE

17. Statement: I feel this problem is only going to get
aggravated in future.
Q8.I feel this problem is only going to get aggravated in future.
90% 10%
50 %
42
40 % 38
% OF RESPONSES
30 %
20 %
12
10 %
6
3
1
0%
STRONGLY AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE

18. Statement: I do not feel the incentives and perks involved
with shipping (sailing) are at par with the risks involved
particularly with reference to criminalization.
Q9.I do not feel the incentives and perks involved with shipping (sailing) are at par
with the risks involved particularly with reference to criminalization.
88% 12%
50 %
40 % 37
34
% OF RESPONSES
30 %
20 %
16
10 % 7
4
1
0%
STRONGLY AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE

19. Statement: With incidents of Criminalization being widely
highlighted through the media, my family members feel
more insecure sending me out to sea.
Q10.W ith incidents of Criminalization being widely highlighted through the media , my
family members feel more insecure sending me out to sea.
87% 13%
50 %
40 %
36
% OF RESPONSES
30 % 27
23
20 %
10 % 7
5
1
0%
STRONGLY AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE AGREE DISAGREE

20. Statement: I feel the incidents of criminalisation have further
tarnished the image of shipping as a lucrative career option.
Q11.I feel the incidents of criminalisation has further tarnished the image of shipping as
a lucrative career option.
89% 11%
50 %
42
40 %
31
% OF RESPONSES
30 %
Y
20 %
16
10 % 8
2 1
0%
STRONGLY AGREE AGREE SOME WHAT UNDECIDED DISAGREE STRONGLY
AGREE DISAGREE

21. SUMMARY- CONSOLIDATED
52.4% - PRESENT SCENARIO
100% 0 100%
WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO

22. SUMMARY- CATEGORY
SENIOR OFFICERS 64%
CADETS/TRAINEES 36%
100% 100%
JUNIOR OFFICERS 55%
WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO

23. SUMMARY- SHIP TYPE
TANKERS 56%
100% 100%
DRY CARGO 46%
WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO

24. SUMMARY- SHIP DEPT.
DECK OFFICERS 60%
100% 100%
ENG OFFICERS 60%
WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO

25. RESULTS-SOLUTION
In the second section of the survey the respondents were
given five possible solutions to the problem of
criminalisation and were asked to assess these solutions
from their perspective. The options consisted of a scale
from 1 to 10 with ‘1’ indicating ‘Least effective’ and ‘10’
indicating ‘Most effective’.
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26. Statement: In case of any incident there should be no
incarceration of seafarers without charge i.e they are
considered innocent until proven guilty and are rightly
treated so.
Q12.In case of any incident there should be no incarcenation of seafarers without
charge i.e they are considered innocent until proven guilty and are rightly treated so.
70.0
60.0
51.2
% OF RESPONDENTS
50.0
40.0
30.0
19.6
20.0 17.7
10.0
2.9 4.3
1.4 1.0 1.9
0.0 0.0
0.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
EFFECTIVENESS : 1= LEAST EFFECTIVE , 10= MOST EFFECTIVE

27. Statement: Seafarers should be recognized as a special
category of workers and given special protection such as
trial only under a well established international tribunal
rather than under local jurisdiction in case of an incident.
Q13.Seafarers should be recognized as a special category of workers and given special
protection such as trial only under a well established international tribunal rather than
under local jurisdiction in case of an incident.
70.0
60.0 58.4
50.0
% OF RESPONDENTS
40.0
30.0
22.0
20.0
12.9
10.0
1.4 2.4
0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 1.0
0.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
EFFECTIVENESS : 1= LEAST EFFECTIVE , 10= MOST EFFECTIVE

28. Statement: National laws in various countries that
incriminate the seafarers for acts of pollution even if they
are not intentional or resulting from gross negligence must
be suitably amended.
Q14.National laws in various countries that incriminate the seafarers for acts of
pollution even if they are not intentional or resulting from gross negligence must be
suitably amended.
70.0
60.0
49.3
% OF RESPONDENTS
50.0
40.0
30.0
22.5
20.0 16.3
10.0 5.3
1.0 1.0 1.9 2.4
0.5 0.0
0.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
EFFECTIVENESS : 1= LEAST EFFECTIVE , 10= M OST EFFECTIVE

29. Statement: There must not be any custodial detention of
seafarers pending the trial i.e they are allowed to return to
their home country and summoned only when required.
Q15.There must not be any custodial detention of seafarers pending the trial i.e they
are allowed to return to their home country and summoned only when required.
70.0 67.3
60.0
% OF RESPONDENTS
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0 15.9
9.1
10.0
3.8
0.5 0.5 1.9 1.0
0.0 0.0
0.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
EFFECTIVENESS : 1= LEAST EFFECTIVE , 10= M OST EFFECTIVE

30. Statement: The guidelines on the "fair treatment of seafarers"
must be made mandatory.
Q16.The guidelines on the "fair treatment of seafarers" must be made mandatory.
69.9
70.0
60.0
50.0
% OF RESPONDENTS
40.0
30.0
20.0
12.9 13.4
10.0
1.0 1.9
0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
0.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
EFFECTIVENESS : 1= LEAST EFFECTIVE , 10= M OST EFFECTIVE

31. CONCLUSION
“Wake up higher authorities .I am young and energetic and
pretty much optimistic towards my sea service. Kindly
take short notice action on criminalisation. Best regards.”
- One of the respondents, a Pakistani cadet
The above statement in my opinion symbolises the crux
of the problem that this research was aiming to address.
It has shades of despair which reflects the helplessness of
the respondent, much the same feeling shared by majority
of the seafarers that participated in the survey

32. The results clearly reflected that this problem is deep
rooted and no matter what level of shipboard
organisation, what department or what type of ship, the
issue has had a negative impact.
On the contrary the above statement also has shades of
hope and optimism.
Same was apparent in the majority of the respondents
who actively came forward to put across their point of
view and their suggestions on how to deal with this issue.
The wide acceptance that the solutions mentioned in the
questionnaire received, is in itself a sign of optimism that
“Something can be done”

33. The only question however that remains unanswered is
“Will it be done??”
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34. Thank you for your attention
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