India's staffing rules for foreign-listed ships made more stringent

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We all know India likes to make things complicated. And it has done so again – but with the aim of boosting its seafarers. In September, it relaxed its cabotage laws relating to the transhipment of export-import containers at the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal. But now, it has tightened staffing rules for foreign ships operating in its waters. One third of the crew on foreign ships with a 30-90 day licence to operate cabotage voyages in India must be Indian, and for longer licences, at least half the crew must be Indian. The change in regulation is to give Indian seafarers more on-board training.