Landmark event for seafarers opens, Indian Government announces new support for seafarers
Indian seafarers are set to benefit from a raft of new initiatives to support them in their maritime careers, India’s Director General of Shipping announced at the opening of one of the country’s largest seafarer events, yesterday.
The MILAAP – ITF Seafarers' Expo 2026 – jointly organised by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Indian maritime unions – opened in Mumbai with cultural performances, a marching band led by seafarers, and a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony. Hundreds of seafarers and their families were in attendance, alongside regulators, welfare institutions, and global industry stakeholders, as the three-day event launched at Princess Dock.
The Expo comes a week after the ITF’s release of seafarer abandonment data showed another record-breaking year for abandonment, with Indian seafarers the worst affected of any nationality.
“While we have great aspirations, in the news, our nation is also showcased as the nation with the highest number of abandoned seafarers – I seek to reassure all my seafarer brothers and sisters that the maritime administration is committed to your welfare, your dignity and your safety 24/7,” India’s Director General of Shipping, Shri Shyam Jagannathan, said in a speech to seafarers and attendees.
Jagannathan outlined India’s ambition for its seafarers to make up 25% of the global seafarer workforce – and a raft of new measures to support the rapidly expanding workforce.
These include a new 24/7 grievance redressal support service for seafarers, available via a toll-free phone number, on Whatsapp and email, due to launch in the first week of April.
He also outlined that there will be seafarers’ clubs at every port in India for shore leave, alongside a new insurance support framework with financial assistance for every eligible seafarer, including towards medical insurance, critical illness cover and life insurance.
The new measures to support Indian seafarers
“It’s critical at this moment in the maritime world that we recognise the importance of India – and when we look at the future, we believe that India will be an even bigger part of the maritime world,” said ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton.
Cotton explained that seafarers and the maritime industry in India and around the world faces challenges including scams to profit from taking advantage of seafarers, climate change and the rise of new fuels, and the need for more women in the industry.
“The challenge for us when we celebrate you – Indian seafarers and all those in India in the maritime industry – is how to secure the future,” he said.
“We need more women in maritime, we need more women on the ships, we need more women in the offices, and we need more women in governance – this is critical to our future.”
All three of the ITF’s affiliated maritime unions in India – the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), the Maritime Union of India (MUI), the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) – have co-organised the Expo, which will be open again today before closing at the end of the day, tomorrow.
Expert-led sessions for seafarers at the Expo are covering issues including criminalisation and fair treatment of seafarers, ethical recruitment and rights awareness, abandonment issues, the Maritime Labour Convention, and health and safety at sea.
Speakers at the event’s opening included: Shri Sameer Kumar Khare, Chairman, National Shipping Board; Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping; Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation; Elena Gerasimova, International Labour Organization; Savio Ramos, General Secretary of MUI; Milind Kandalgaonkar, General Secretary of NUSI; Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of FSUI.
