Corona negative crew members of MV Chuglam sent to Institutional Quarantine with Sign Off status

Sarthak Kanjilall & Vikramaditya

Port Blair, August 18: Out of 11 crew members in the vessel MV Chuglam, 08 crew members were recently found COVID19 positive but surprisingly for reasons unknown, 10 crew members of the ship were asked to go under institutional quarantine on the sign off status. One crew member, a cook, was left in ship with four other officers (who are also positive).

This came as a great shock for 03 crew members of the ship, who were tested negative.

As per Mr. Dinesh Ram, Secretary, Forward Seamen’s Union of India, it was the master of the ship who issued the sign off letter to the crew members of the ship without even taking the consent of the Directorate of Shipping Services or from the authorities of the Shipping Corporation of India.

Mr. Dinesh Ram urged the concerned departments to intervene and answer that why the entire crews of the aforesaid Cargo vessel were given the sign off status, he also sought answer that why the crew members, who are negative, have been also asked to leave the ship under the sign off status.

“The immediate and biased decision of the Master of the vessel is not justified and there must be an inquiry,” Mr. Ram demanded.

Further talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Dharvinder Ram, President, National Seafarer Union of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands said that the decision of giving the signing off order to all the crew members even to those who are not positive is a biased one. Due to such a decision the crews are going to suffer financially, he said.

“The crew members did not bring the virus from their home, they got affected by the virus while serving, hence, I demand the administration to extend all the financial benefits that they get during their 09 month article to the crews given sign off orders,” Mr. Dharvinder Ram demanded.

There are many who question that if at all institutional quarantine is necessary the crew members, who were tested negative could be sent for institutional quarantine without sign off status, so that they could have received all benefits.