Shipping Ministry opens MMD Patna, holds seafarers welfare meet

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Thursday inaugurated the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) Patna and a Seafarers’ Outreach Centre, while also launching redevelopment work at Nabik Griha Samity and the Marine Club in Kolkata.

The programmes were followed by a day-long symposium on Seafarers’ Recruitment and Welfare at Hotel Raajkutir, Kolkata – IHCL SeleQtions.

Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur attended the event as chief guest. The programme was also attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Director General of Shipping, and the Additional Director General of Shipping.

Officials said the new MMD office in Patna and the outreach centre are expected to strengthen regulatory access and welfare delivery for seafarers across eastern India. The facilities will help seafarers with certification services, documentation support, grievance redressal and other welfare assistance, particularly benefiting those from Bihar and neighbouring regions.

Around 200 participants, including serving seafarers, cadets and representatives from the maritime sector, attended the symposium.

Shipowners’ associations, ship managers, RPSL companies, maritime unions, training institutes and government officials were present.

Two panel discussions formed the core of the programme.

The first session, “Seafarer Casualties: Rights, Relief and Responsibility,” focused on issues such as deaths, missing crew and serious injuries at sea. Speakers discussed compensation frameworks, insurance obligations and ways to ensure timely financial support for affected families.

The second discussion, “Seafarers’ Abandonment and Welfare,” examined safeguards related to wage protection, financial security compliance, repatriation procedures and stronger institutional response systems.

Officials said the symposium aimed to encourage dialogue between regulators, industry representatives, unions, legal experts and welfare organisations.

The discussions also covered recruitment transparency, grievance mechanisms and steps to improve accountability in the maritime sector.
With the launch of the Patna MMD office, the outreach centre and redevelopment initiatives in Kolkata, the Directorate General of Shipping said it intends to strengthen regional maritime services and place greater focus on the rights, dignity and welfare of Indian seafarers.