Hijacking of the "Stolt Valor" has once again focussed on the negative aspects of the "Indian shipping Industry", portraying the "Owners" as heartless "Non-Resident Sailors" and the "Sailors" as "Mercenaries", disposable people in a fiercly competitive "Hire/Fire Employment Industry".Every Industry has its "Corruption Index" and in the "Shipping Industry" its reasonably high due to various factors , a secret , as closely guarded by some sea-farers as is the "OMERTA " of the infamous "Godfather Movies".
Its only during "V.I.P Disasters" like the recently forgotten "M.V.Rezaak" sinking , or the present "M.V Stolt Valor" hijacking that eyebrows are raised at the Prime Ministerial level in India about the neglect and plight of sea-farers by the Industry Owners and the Government.
"Stolt Valor" is a specialised 5 year old "Chemical Tanker" and its "Captain" and "Chief Engineer"could be in the $'s 8000 +(approx Rs 3,60,000/Month[TAX-FREE]) salaried category, a salary higher than most "Captains of small-scale Industry's" in India,the elite of the shipping profession, hence, the ransom of $'s 2 Million indicating the total "Ship Crew Value" estimated by the "Hijackers".
At the extreme end are ships like "M.V.Rezaak",employing a majority of "Non-C.D.C Crew" kept afloat due to the "OMERTA" laws, only creating news when they either sink or are involved in "Shipping Accidents".
Sea-farers who don't possess the necessary "Directorate General of Indian shipping Documents" or "MEDICAL FITNESS CERTIFICATES"are indirect victims of their own professional handicaps and hence are either "Underpaid" or forced to sail on "Unseaworthy ships" by the "Owners" or "Shipmanagement Companies".
This problem is most prevelant amongst the "CREW" than the "OFFICERS RANKS" , ultimately ,employment being the priority over "Personal safety" or "Shipping wages parity".
The "Shipping Industry" has been the pioneer of introducing the "CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM" in India, hence few "Sailors" in the 21st century ever retire at the normal age of "65 years" or remain loyal to a particular company throughout their "Sailing Career". The Mantra of the average sea-going sailor is to try becoming either a "Lakhpati" or "Crorepati" in the shortest possible "Sailing Tenure", akin to a Cricketeer trying to get the maximum advertisement revenue during his short International cricketing career.
Its time that the average Indian sea-farer is recognised as a professional most involved in "International Trade" as well as "Foreign Exchange Income Earner", a noble profession requiring the toughest "Physical Fitness" as well as "Intellectual competence" rather tan a "Fly-By-Night Mercenary".
I myself come from a family having over 60 years of "SEA-FARING",and the "SOURCE" of our wealth was and is "SHIPPING". Having met, mingled , read and gossiped among various people from the "Shipping Industry" i would suggest reading articles by Capt A.K.Bansal (L.L.B Hons,London,Master Mariner, Bar-At-Law,Fellow, Indian Council of Arbitrators) for a scholastic reason for the problems plaguing the Indian Sea-farer in 2008 as well as its practical solutions.
P.S: I might be on a "HIT-LIST" of "Non-EMPLOYMENT"!?