Page 160 - January 2022 Issue

through STS operation ensuring uninterrupted even during the lockdown period, to ensure safety
Panna field production. of vessel & crew and in order to maintain the vessel
in operational condition.
The Bulk Carriers have been engaged in importing
and moving coal along the Indian coast playing Where certain goods/services could not be
a pivotal role in ensuring that Coal is available connected during call of the vessel at a certain port
for power generation companies. Some have due to lockdown, immediate arrangements were
been carrying Limestone and Iron Ore for steel made to connect these goods at the next port of
manufacturing units and others are deployed with call, by spot tendering and thus ensured that vessel
the Department of Fertilizer for import of Urea, an operations are unaffected.
essential raw material for the agriculture.
Seafarers’ commendable contribution to operations
SCI through its owned LPG and through operation of the shipping industry
and management of 4 LNG ships in joint venture
have been helping the country meets its LPG and Crew change has been restricted due to lockdown
Natural Gas requirements. restrictions and the seafarers are unable to sign off,
despite their being due for the same; however, their
SCI’s liner services (overseas and coastal) continue to patience and resilience in continuing to serve under
operate through its owned and inchartered vessels grave situations as these considering the nation’s
despite reported turbulences at ports in terms of plight serves as a pointer to their silent contributions
limited availability of labour, delays attributable to the society at large, which remains unnoticed. SCI
to customs and clearance of documents. Close commends their fortitude, courage and continued
liaison and rapport with the agents have addressed diligence in these testing times. SOPs are being drafted
various ordeals in the most seamless manner as is with INSA and DGS for crew change in present
feasible under the circumstances. SCI’s employees COVID situation. Our shore officers are making all
(including the seafarers) known for their diligence, efforts and are in constant touch with ships ensuring
integrity and preparedness to face trials have gone safety of seafarers at sea and advisories are issued
out of the way to mitigate the adversities and deliver. to the vessels for safeguarding the interests of the
seafarers in line with the DG, Shipping.
Ensuring supply chain logistics which was
adversely affected Contribution to the trade fraternity and the
COVID-19 affected
For the safety of entire crew on board our vessels,
SCI has taken decision to ensure that all necessary SCI is sympathetically viewing and approving
items such as PPE, masks, sanitizers, etc related requests for additional free days received from
to protection from the COVID-19 pandemic are consignees and cargo receivers with a view to ease
connected to the vessels. port congestion, a result of the lockdown restrictions
with practically no movement of containers/cargo
SCI team has been in constant touch with all vendors operations at port due to limited transport and labour,
/ suppliers and other authorities so that the spares, in line with the directives received from Directorate
stores, bunkers, etc are connected to all its vessels General of Shipping and Ministry of Shipping.

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