Background

1. Whereas, an alarming pattern has emerged wherein unscrupulous recruitment agents are luring young aspirants, particularly from remote villages, with false promises of lucrative seafaring careers. These agents charge exorbitant fees under the pretext of offering long-duration pre-sea training, but in reality, the candidates are often confined in lodges or temporary accommodations for several months, with no real training imparted. Eventually, they are enrolled only in 15 days courses covering the 5 basic STCW courses, after which a CDC is obtained.

2. Whereas, these seafarers are then either placed on substandard vessels, often flagged under Flags of Convenience (FoC) with poor oversight, or abandoned without deployment, leaving them financially and emotionally devastated. In numerous cases, the agents abscond after collecting large sums, leaving the victims without recourse.

3. Whereas, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) continues to receive a growing number of complaints and queries related to such fraudulent activity, often accompanied by First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged by victims or their families.

4. Therefore, this situation calls for urgent regulatory tightening, awareness drives in vulnerable
regions and swift enforcement actions to dismantle such networks and protect the integrity of
India’s maritime workforce.