EXPRESS IMPACT: 'Surrender unused passes' ... SCI to seafarers

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on November 03, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/Surrender-unused-passes/329323.html

CHENNAI: Following a report published in these pages on the misuse of security passes issued at the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s installations, the Shipping Corporation of India on Tuesday issued a circular asking all seafarers to deposit the ones that are not in use now.

On Sunday, Express had reported the callous attitude of the SCI in managing details about the security passes issued to hundreds of seafarers.  

These passes enable people to board the offshore support vessels (OSVs) of the ONGC, which are operated between high-security oil rigs and other sensitive installations.

In an email advisory to the authorities concerned, SCI vice president (Fleet Personnel) Capt Philip Mathews said, “Kindly advise all the ratings (seafarers) serving through our manning contractors on board your good vessel, that ONGC pass in their possession must be deposited with the SCI Fleet Personnel officers upon their signing off from the vessels.”

While speaking to Express on Sunday, a top official of the SCI denied the report and claimed to have details about the security passes.

However, the latest circular vindicated the report that highlighted the potential threat to ONGC’s installations if such passes fell into wrong hands.

“In view of the 2008 episode (26/11 Mumbai attacks) and the increasing threat to national assets, it is imperative that the custody of the ONGC (security) passes remain with us (SCI) when the seafarer is not serving on board our vessel, to prevent any misuse,” the circular read. Further, the official also instructed all seafarers serving on board to adhere to the SCI instructions with immediate effect.