3.10.09
Eleventh in series to the Hon’ble President of India.
Singapore Vessel “Patrolink” chugging along TNCoast & near Kundakulam NPT
Your Excellency,
I wish to bring to the notice of the authorities,furthermore to what I pleaded with JSports below,mainly for Gujrat coast,but,infact the entire west and east coast should be a constant cause of concern.On the east coast, perpetually, from the Chinese presence in the Andamans’ Great Coco and small Coco Islands(gifted to them long ago) and discovered(openly) by the then Defence Minister Sri Goerge Fernandes,but will be enhanced from a host of Fishing trawlers from Malayasia,Thailand,Mynmar,Indonesia and open and porus docks of Singapore,other than the Chinese,themselves around the clock,once the Sethu Samudram sea-passage opens to small shipping,from east coast to west coast and further on to the entire west coast to Jamnagar and Bedi Bunder and still further,making it a tough vigil for the Coast guards.Can only the coast-guards be made responsible for all the security lapse and breaches or would it be necessary to post responsible units,ashore also, comprising of personnel of MHA,Shipping,Defence,Internal Security and top class communication means,all accountable to their own heads and at the same time to a common head of the combined personnel,who inturn may report to the Cabinet Secretariat,ensuring an impregnable and full-proof security of the entire coastline,24hours a day,around the year with war like alertness or to the MHA.?
The attachment.:-
Turned into an open letter to J.S.(Ports & Administration) on 2.10.2009
With a copy to:toieditorial@timesgroup.com
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti,saving Gujrat from terrorist’s attacks.
2.10.09
To
Joint Secretary(Ports),Ministry Of Shipping.
Kind Attn.:Sri Rakesh Srivastava
Consequent to my Email on 24.09.09. Orissa muck-up on 09.09.09.
Sir,
I must have baffled the caller from the ministry at 1121am.,yesterday,as I started babbling incoherently(for him),on hearing of an enquiry abt. My letter to your goodselves,thinking it to be from PRSEC/E/2009/00780 of 4th Aug.’09.After a while Mr.Srinivasan(I think),mentioned of the contents of my mail of 24.09.09-after which I could throw somelight on the queries put forward.and the necessity(even suo-motto) of the Chief Surveyor with the GoI to depute one of his able deputies(highly qualified) on field duty on the Orissa coast,for his own first hand knowledge of his Surveyor had done to have allowed a 32 year old tub to come anywhere near our coast?
2.That has put me to thinking of the control of the entire coast by these Surveyors in line with the activities of the Ministry of Home Affairs and as to why the media has not suggested any such move,in all these months since the happenings on 26/11/08,in Mumbai,as the entire coast dotted wih ten major ports and numerous minor ports is covered by the MMDs under the DGS,for the purpose of trade and commerce,as it is.
3.I may be allowed to request your goodselves,to kindly consider,putting up a Cabinet note for the above purpose in order to co-ordinate the efforts of the two ministries with the Navy and the Coast-guards on the sailing front in order to nail-down inconspicuous and incongruous visitors from across the border,specialy for any purpose other than trade and commerce,which will be unequivocally declared by our ministry,even for providing conclusive proof of the intruders for the whole world to see.,by the Surveyor-in-charge.
4.The Cabinet note may very well,seek permission to declare formation of many more minor ports in elusive and far-off corners of our western coast,specially,which will be the burden upon you and the combine forces of the DGS,POMMDs,already existing MMDs in remote spots on the west coast.This will constitute of Budget provisions from the ministry.
5.A sue-motto cabinet note may not be welcome,but suggestion of an old sea dog can be a good reason,in light of the 09.09.09 Orissa coast mishap,despite the presence of the MMD.
Thanking You.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
At Navi Mumbai
Ph.:022-27745804
Email:singhsp65@yahoo.com
Singh.suresh99@gmail.com
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
MOT exams are back-breaking for old-age parents.
25.09.09
8th in series to the Hon’ble President.
Ref.:PRSEC/E/2009/06453,submitted on 5.09.09
Reg.necessity of bifurcation of Chief Surveyor’s & Chief Examiner’s jobs.
Current Ref.:Mumbai HC ruling of allowing ATKT for 1.5 lakh faled SSC students to be able to apply for admission to class XI.
This is,obviously,to avoid wastage of money and precious years of youth.
My urgent Sumission:The fifth submission of 05.09.09 may have been general in nature,hence a submission with more clarity,below.
a).my son a 80% B.Tech.passed from MERI and sailed for ten months before taking up 3months prepatory course to appear for MEO Class IV MOT exams and passed the oral exam of Motor(General)in March’08,but is failing till date in it’s written exams.An exam, which was conducted till recently,only orally,till somebody’s idiosyncrasy made the first step more stringent,probably with a view to collect thousands and thousands of rupees every month,by failing boys repeatedly(not even 20 pass out of 120).Collection of revenue is a sure shot a good entry in the confidential report of a govt.servant.
b).another reason can be the dictates of the industry to the DGShipping,that the need of class IV certificates was minimal,so the suggestion to CS cum Chief Examiner to fail the boys,by setting out of the way papers,wholesale.Why should the boys suffer on the needs of the Industry?And why should the DGS or the CS abide by the whims of the Industry?
c).In the ensuing bargain,the old-age parents suffer,both mentally and economically.
d).My letter to the Hon’ble Minister of Shipping and JS(ports),yesterday,will illustrate to your Excellency,the creation of many unnecessary posts of examiners in the DGS,as opposed to just one(that of the old ornamental post of the Chief Examiner for the CS) as provided in the Act 44 of 1958(vide secs.76,78 &79),in order to make room for many more surveyors ,permanently in the air-conditioned corridors of power,and do a work,designed originally for the POMMD. A Gazette notification is considered enough for tinkering with the Act of Parliament.
e).The job of a Surveyor is to see that Shipping is safe by itself and for the ports on the extensive coast and not for signing mark-sheets of examinees.This must stop at the earliest and Surveyors should devote fully to the problems of Shipping and show active presence in the field outside their cushy cabins in Mumbai.They are selected as field officers and not babus of the office,to which they have,gloriously,adopted and are adhering to the MPPinto formula to get a good CR.
f).I beg to submit for your gracious suggestion to the Minister or the Administrative Reforms to very kindly take my submissions above and consider constituting a high-powered Committee to mitigate the sufferings of thousands of MOT examinees and the double the no. of their parents,from the cruel and sinister clutches of the present lot of surveyors,armed with a bible created for them by Sri MPPinto,with inputs from one DR.Mishra,a clever surveyor to have gifted his ilk with cushy jobs,out of turn,for which the entire abovementioned lot of humanity,shall be forever,grateful to your Excellency.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
8th in series to the Hon’ble President.
Ref.:PRSEC/E/2009/06453,submitted on 5.09.09
Reg.necessity of bifurcation of Chief Surveyor’s & Chief Examiner’s jobs.
Current Ref.:Mumbai HC ruling of allowing ATKT for 1.5 lakh faled SSC students to be able to apply for admission to class XI.
This is,obviously,to avoid wastage of money and precious years of youth.
My urgent Sumission:The fifth submission of 05.09.09 may have been general in nature,hence a submission with more clarity,below.
a).my son a 80% B.Tech.passed from MERI and sailed for ten months before taking up 3months prepatory course to appear for MEO Class IV MOT exams and passed the oral exam of Motor(General)in March’08,but is failing till date in it’s written exams.An exam, which was conducted till recently,only orally,till somebody’s idiosyncrasy made the first step more stringent,probably with a view to collect thousands and thousands of rupees every month,by failing boys repeatedly(not even 20 pass out of 120).Collection of revenue is a sure shot a good entry in the confidential report of a govt.servant.
b).another reason can be the dictates of the industry to the DGShipping,that the need of class IV certificates was minimal,so the suggestion to CS cum Chief Examiner to fail the boys,by setting out of the way papers,wholesale.Why should the boys suffer on the needs of the Industry?And why should the DGS or the CS abide by the whims of the Industry?
c).In the ensuing bargain,the old-age parents suffer,both mentally and economically.
d).My letter to the Hon’ble Minister of Shipping and JS(ports),yesterday,will illustrate to your Excellency,the creation of many unnecessary posts of examiners in the DGS,as opposed to just one(that of the old ornamental post of the Chief Examiner for the CS) as provided in the Act 44 of 1958(vide secs.76,78 &79),in order to make room for many more surveyors ,permanently in the air-conditioned corridors of power,and do a work,designed originally for the POMMD. A Gazette notification is considered enough for tinkering with the Act of Parliament.
e).The job of a Surveyor is to see that Shipping is safe by itself and for the ports on the extensive coast and not for signing mark-sheets of examinees.This must stop at the earliest and Surveyors should devote fully to the problems of Shipping and show active presence in the field outside their cushy cabins in Mumbai.They are selected as field officers and not babus of the office,to which they have,gloriously,adopted and are adhering to the MPPinto formula to get a good CR.
f).I beg to submit for your gracious suggestion to the Minister or the Administrative Reforms to very kindly take my submissions above and consider constituting a high-powered Committee to mitigate the sufferings of thousands of MOT examinees and the double the no. of their parents,from the cruel and sinister clutches of the present lot of surveyors,armed with a bible created for them by Sri MPPinto,with inputs from one DR.Mishra,a clever surveyor to have gifted his ilk with cushy jobs,out of turn,for which the entire abovementioned lot of humanity,shall be forever,grateful to your Excellency.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Thursday, September 24, 2009
about orissa coastline mess-up on 09.09.09
24.09.09
To,Joint Secretary(ports),Ministry of Shipping,G oI,,New Delhi.
Kind Attention:Sri Rakesh Srivastava.
About Orissa Coastline Mess –up.
Sinking of Mongolian Ship M.V.Black Rose,with 900tons of fuel oil,on 09.09.09.
Why no representative of the Chief Surveyor from the DGShipping sent/gone there,other than the N.A.& POMMD Kolkata,Capt. Panda,both deck-officers?(as reported by TOI.).
On panic stations from Paradip port,the DGS sent the Nautical Advisor but no Engineer Surveyor,to see for himself the lackadaisical attitude of the engineering Surveyor,in charge,locally to have allowed such a rotten ship to come anywhere near the Indian coast for such a mishap to have taken place,endangering flora and fauna and the coastal populace(being extensively covered by the media.).The CS,other than getting his feed -back from the POMMD,Kolkata , should have promptly dispatched one of the senior surveyors or the deputy chiefs to coordinate,assess and supervise the exigency and find-out how come a ship like that was at all allowed on the coast.There is nothing extra ordinary about that,as for last twenty years,any ship attaining fifteen years of age,is just not allowed on the U.K.coast.What is stopping our administration from doing so?The office of the DG Shipping has been created for such requirements to be looked after.And the Office of the Chief Surveyor is to assist the DGS in these matters.But Surveyors and Deputy Chiefs are more interested in examining the engineers,a job we were told in revalidation classes , meant for the MMD under POMMD.Under secs. 76,78 and 79 of the M.S.Act,it is only the CS,who occupies the ornamental post of the Chief Surveyor,since the times of the British.But the rules made vide the Meta Manual have created ample scope of cushy cum bossy jobs in the headquarters of the DG Shipping and the MMD is virtually bereft of it,thanks may be mainly due to Dr. Mishra as I was told by a GM of the SCI. One does’nt know whether this needs a ratification and amendment in the Act.But the rule itself does need a looking- into for its efficacy in the above light of neglect of the problem on the Orissa coast,by the CS,in the aftermath of the tragedy.
2 I recall sailing on Tankers and of the SOPEP drills conducted there,regularly,using primitive devices for containg Oil-spreading technology with large encircling Oil-booms with oil absorbing saw-dust and mats or oil dispersants(which was on the verge of being banned) and eventually the oily water to be sucked-out of sea if a pump could be made available from shore-side with a vessel for collection of the same like in the case of the Orissa muck-up,presently. A report from a deputy chief Surveyor is the call of the day and high alert for the Chief Surveyor and battery of his able Surveyors to stop such ships from entering their territorial –jurisdictions on the long Indian coast of nearly 7500kms-plus.
Thanking you.
Yours Truly
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.09935398306
Email:singhsp65@yahoo.com
Singh.suresh99@gmail.com
To,Joint Secretary(ports),Ministry of Shipping,G oI,,New Delhi.
Kind Attention:Sri Rakesh Srivastava.
About Orissa Coastline Mess –up.
Sinking of Mongolian Ship M.V.Black Rose,with 900tons of fuel oil,on 09.09.09.
Why no representative of the Chief Surveyor from the DGShipping sent/gone there,other than the N.A.& POMMD Kolkata,Capt. Panda,both deck-officers?(as reported by TOI.).
On panic stations from Paradip port,the DGS sent the Nautical Advisor but no Engineer Surveyor,to see for himself the lackadaisical attitude of the engineering Surveyor,in charge,locally to have allowed such a rotten ship to come anywhere near the Indian coast for such a mishap to have taken place,endangering flora and fauna and the coastal populace(being extensively covered by the media.).The CS,other than getting his feed -back from the POMMD,Kolkata , should have promptly dispatched one of the senior surveyors or the deputy chiefs to coordinate,assess and supervise the exigency and find-out how come a ship like that was at all allowed on the coast.There is nothing extra ordinary about that,as for last twenty years,any ship attaining fifteen years of age,is just not allowed on the U.K.coast.What is stopping our administration from doing so?The office of the DG Shipping has been created for such requirements to be looked after.And the Office of the Chief Surveyor is to assist the DGS in these matters.But Surveyors and Deputy Chiefs are more interested in examining the engineers,a job we were told in revalidation classes , meant for the MMD under POMMD.Under secs. 76,78 and 79 of the M.S.Act,it is only the CS,who occupies the ornamental post of the Chief Surveyor,since the times of the British.But the rules made vide the Meta Manual have created ample scope of cushy cum bossy jobs in the headquarters of the DG Shipping and the MMD is virtually bereft of it,thanks may be mainly due to Dr. Mishra as I was told by a GM of the SCI. One does’nt know whether this needs a ratification and amendment in the Act.But the rule itself does need a looking- into for its efficacy in the above light of neglect of the problem on the Orissa coast,by the CS,in the aftermath of the tragedy.
2 I recall sailing on Tankers and of the SOPEP drills conducted there,regularly,using primitive devices for containg Oil-spreading technology with large encircling Oil-booms with oil absorbing saw-dust and mats or oil dispersants(which was on the verge of being banned) and eventually the oily water to be sucked-out of sea if a pump could be made available from shore-side with a vessel for collection of the same like in the case of the Orissa muck-up,presently. A report from a deputy chief Surveyor is the call of the day and high alert for the Chief Surveyor and battery of his able Surveyors to stop such ships from entering their territorial –jurisdictions on the long Indian coast of nearly 7500kms-plus.
Thanking you.
Yours Truly
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.09935398306
Email:singhsp65@yahoo.com
Singh.suresh99@gmail.com
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
impugned circular(044) sent by Dy.CS for easing out.
Dated-20.08.09
To
Sri Pratap Bhosle
At DGShipping,Mumbai-400001
Sub.:Revalidation & upgrading of MEO class certificate Reg.
My dear Sri Bhosleji,
Your letter ENG/EXAM-17(6)/08 dated 10/07/09has been recd.on 19.08.09.
My reply as follows,after being thankful to you for your kind letter and concern.
1.The Circular No.44 dtd.29.07.2002 may have been drawn by a Dy.CS during the days of virtual commotion and administrative turmoil of a major change taking place from STCW ’78 to STCW ’95,and everybody was at a loss to visualize the final picture, when the department was only too willing to dump the STCW ’78,wholesale as the picture was not very clear and seamen were warned to prepare for the change from 1978 onwards,in being made to, forcibly, do the courses like the PSSR(four years in advance) or else.The SCI refused to follow suit and Mr. Ravichandran let it pass.Even till june’2004,Dy.Chief Surveyors actually must have found the STCW ’78 certificates(COCs) as “an old piece of useless paper , worth nothing in the future and/or of any use, even in the near future” in the Directorate and the MMD , so in fact,he must have drafted the said impugned circular as his personalized effort to some how, perhaps, help the old foggies,rendered out of job.
So ,one has to take such circulars with a pinch of salt.It may have served the purpose of doling-out a favour, to those whose COC was to be revalidated and upgraded,without the person having to go to sea.I have given one such example in my various representations.
2.What we were told and taught in our early careers of marine engineering,about the COCs of the G.o.I. is the fact as “Whereas it has been duly reported that you have been found qualified to fulfill the duties of First Class Engineer of a steamship(or a Motor Ship) in the Merchant service ,the President of India does hereby,in pursuance of the Act grant you this Certificate of Competency.”
And that
“This Certificate is liable to be cancelled or suspended by the appropriate Court or Tribunal or by the Central Govt.”
It would show,therefore,and amply clearly that the circular in question(044) has taken too much onus upon itself so as to carry-out an imaginary onerous task and that without any authorization or any specific order to that effect,from the Central Govt.(on behalf of the President of India), so as to impose it’s suggestion and will of wanting to “REEXAMINE A COC HOLDER OF THE PAST GENERATION WITH THE DATED CODING OF THOSE DAYS’
Rules can be made and implemented so as to meet the requirements of the progress and I proceeded to sea,on being told and only orally, at that, by the Chief,without a murmur,as it was only proper to remove the rustiness of twenty years,and in preparation to sail again as a Chief Engineer.on the high seas with confidence and ease.
Quite ingeniously,the then Dy.CS has not used the word “examination” with viva or with orals.It was to be a viva and an oral chit chat.
But one can not challenge the fundamental rights of someone in this country,now a days,after the brits have gone.Something amounting to that is supercilious and obnoxious and pray it would not persist.
3. The said circular has provided some insight to me in my unfortunate case.Where as you had ordered me on the 2nd & 3rd of Feb.’09 that I should proceed on a coastal vessel of propulsion power”more than 3000Kws for a period of..etc.,etc..But this phrase of more than 3000Kw is not to be located in the circular sent by you.
Do you know as to why so? You may recall that I went to all the places mentioned by you and no where I could find a coastal vessel sailing with engines with 3000 or above Kw power,and I requested that if you allowed me to sail away from the coast I could request HMS etc. to take me on as a second engineer for couple of months.I wanted only some money for retirement and I would be satisfied with those wages for a few months.But you said you wanted to keep an eye on me(as if I would run away,leaving my wife and children,as your responsibility)You are thirteen years my junior in the shipping industry and you want to keep an eye on me. So very kind of you and thank you ,indeed.
4.Even in the Meta Manual Vol.I,from pages 25 to 28 it always speaks of “750 Kw to 3000Kw propulsion power operating in near coastal voyages.So they already know,what took me two months,on your insistence,to find out that on a near coastal voyage the vessels operating would be in the range of 750 to 3000 Kw in power for propulsion,but rarely in excess of 3000Kws.So I was on a wild goose chase for two months of my precious sailing days remaining at my disposal.
5.I have faced only aggressive and uncooperative civil servants,apart from some special ones,who are even harsh,derogatory and demeaning,plus full of vengeance and spite and ready to ruin a career full of hope of a very senior marine engineer>Sometimes it is the ex-DMET vs. the non DMET feeling taking the upper hand of even a mature officer ‘s mind.I am proud that Sri D. Mehrotra made rule only for myself ,thereby cutting the life of my COC by half,while yours (and mine also),batchmate Mr.Mankoo and one Mr. Kulkarni have flouted it in my knowledge and have proceeded to sea after the culmination of revalidation course on 26.02.09,instead of upgrading their COCs,meaning that they had no such restriction as was placed on mine.How unfair,on the part of not only Mr. Mehrotra,but on the entire department?
6. I am not sure,whether you are trying to help me or trying to block me?Notwithstanding that let me feel happy on the spirit of comraderie amongst the fellow marine engineers,in the Directorate of Shipping.Jolly good luck to you all.
Yours sincerely
Suresh Pratap Singh
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.:09935398306
Email:singhsp65@yahoo.com
Singh.suresh99@gmail.com
To
Sri Pratap Bhosle
At DGShipping,Mumbai-400001
Sub.:Revalidation & upgrading of MEO class certificate Reg.
My dear Sri Bhosleji,
Your letter ENG/EXAM-17(6)/08 dated 10/07/09has been recd.on 19.08.09.
My reply as follows,after being thankful to you for your kind letter and concern.
1.The Circular No.44 dtd.29.07.2002 may have been drawn by a Dy.CS during the days of virtual commotion and administrative turmoil of a major change taking place from STCW ’78 to STCW ’95,and everybody was at a loss to visualize the final picture, when the department was only too willing to dump the STCW ’78,wholesale as the picture was not very clear and seamen were warned to prepare for the change from 1978 onwards,in being made to, forcibly, do the courses like the PSSR(four years in advance) or else.The SCI refused to follow suit and Mr. Ravichandran let it pass.Even till june’2004,Dy.Chief Surveyors actually must have found the STCW ’78 certificates(COCs) as “an old piece of useless paper , worth nothing in the future and/or of any use, even in the near future” in the Directorate and the MMD , so in fact,he must have drafted the said impugned circular as his personalized effort to some how, perhaps, help the old foggies,rendered out of job.
So ,one has to take such circulars with a pinch of salt.It may have served the purpose of doling-out a favour, to those whose COC was to be revalidated and upgraded,without the person having to go to sea.I have given one such example in my various representations.
2.What we were told and taught in our early careers of marine engineering,about the COCs of the G.o.I. is the fact as “Whereas it has been duly reported that you have been found qualified to fulfill the duties of First Class Engineer of a steamship(or a Motor Ship) in the Merchant service ,the President of India does hereby,in pursuance of the Act grant you this Certificate of Competency.”
And that
“This Certificate is liable to be cancelled or suspended by the appropriate Court or Tribunal or by the Central Govt.”
It would show,therefore,and amply clearly that the circular in question(044) has taken too much onus upon itself so as to carry-out an imaginary onerous task and that without any authorization or any specific order to that effect,from the Central Govt.(on behalf of the President of India), so as to impose it’s suggestion and will of wanting to “REEXAMINE A COC HOLDER OF THE PAST GENERATION WITH THE DATED CODING OF THOSE DAYS’
Rules can be made and implemented so as to meet the requirements of the progress and I proceeded to sea,on being told and only orally, at that, by the Chief,without a murmur,as it was only proper to remove the rustiness of twenty years,and in preparation to sail again as a Chief Engineer.on the high seas with confidence and ease.
Quite ingeniously,the then Dy.CS has not used the word “examination” with viva or with orals.It was to be a viva and an oral chit chat.
But one can not challenge the fundamental rights of someone in this country,now a days,after the brits have gone.Something amounting to that is supercilious and obnoxious and pray it would not persist.
3. The said circular has provided some insight to me in my unfortunate case.Where as you had ordered me on the 2nd & 3rd of Feb.’09 that I should proceed on a coastal vessel of propulsion power”more than 3000Kws for a period of..etc.,etc..But this phrase of more than 3000Kw is not to be located in the circular sent by you.
Do you know as to why so? You may recall that I went to all the places mentioned by you and no where I could find a coastal vessel sailing with engines with 3000 or above Kw power,and I requested that if you allowed me to sail away from the coast I could request HMS etc. to take me on as a second engineer for couple of months.I wanted only some money for retirement and I would be satisfied with those wages for a few months.But you said you wanted to keep an eye on me(as if I would run away,leaving my wife and children,as your responsibility)You are thirteen years my junior in the shipping industry and you want to keep an eye on me. So very kind of you and thank you ,indeed.
4.Even in the Meta Manual Vol.I,from pages 25 to 28 it always speaks of “750 Kw to 3000Kw propulsion power operating in near coastal voyages.So they already know,what took me two months,on your insistence,to find out that on a near coastal voyage the vessels operating would be in the range of 750 to 3000 Kw in power for propulsion,but rarely in excess of 3000Kws.So I was on a wild goose chase for two months of my precious sailing days remaining at my disposal.
5.I have faced only aggressive and uncooperative civil servants,apart from some special ones,who are even harsh,derogatory and demeaning,plus full of vengeance and spite and ready to ruin a career full of hope of a very senior marine engineer>Sometimes it is the ex-DMET vs. the non DMET feeling taking the upper hand of even a mature officer ‘s mind.I am proud that Sri D. Mehrotra made rule only for myself ,thereby cutting the life of my COC by half,while yours (and mine also),batchmate Mr.Mankoo and one Mr. Kulkarni have flouted it in my knowledge and have proceeded to sea after the culmination of revalidation course on 26.02.09,instead of upgrading their COCs,meaning that they had no such restriction as was placed on mine.How unfair,on the part of not only Mr. Mehrotra,but on the entire department?
6. I am not sure,whether you are trying to help me or trying to block me?Notwithstanding that let me feel happy on the spirit of comraderie amongst the fellow marine engineers,in the Directorate of Shipping.Jolly good luck to you all.
Yours sincerely
Suresh Pratap Singh
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.:09935398306
Email:singhsp65@yahoo.com
Singh.suresh99@gmail.com
wrong direction from Dy.CS for a 3000Kw powered Ship on the coast
Thank you Sir, for your consideration of acknowledging my pleadings.I am doing exactly as per your instructions and orders and am running from post to pillar from 4th of February onwards seeking to sail in the next lower rank as a second engineer for three months on a 3000 Kwhr vessel around the coastal belt .Many owners are apprehensive about the delay and rigmarole of obtaining not only one but two dispensations from the DGS.Some even do not like to pay the fat fee involved. I have also registered with Jobship.com and have replied to some offers.But they are reluctant in taking a 69 year old man as a second engineer and on the net my good health is not reflected to them,clearly.May I humbly suggest some practicable solution to the writ of Meta Manual,in this aspect?
2.Sir,who am I to play tricks? I am,but a lowly seaman and you are all Gods incarnate. There was a time when a seaman could be debarred from sailing for all his life by the Master of the Vessel and the brits ashore as Govt. servants upheld the Sea-out of the seaman thus penalized. Now it’s more sophisticated. In my case truth to tell I am tricked good and proper into supplication, humiliation, repeated demotions resulting in abject penury of late. All this is done by playing with the life -line of my COC. It has been tampered, meddled and sabotaged in advance, by a rule to be framed seven months later. And uptodate the said rule vide Circular 105 0f 29th January,2007 is not enforced as I have reported of two cases, to your goodselves involving two chief engineers doing their revalidation on 26.02.2009,said that their COC was in no immediate need of revalidation, after the revalidation course. One COC was valid till July of this year and another till August. May I at least wonder to myself why did only mine expire with the expiry of the revalidation course on 26.02.09,enjoying only a little more than two and a half years of life-line or validity, revalidated when the new rule was no where in sight ./
3.May I dare say that I do know the reason? Yes it was a back-lash over trivials of rejuvenating the teaching of Steam-engineering in the LBS CAMSAR and some other small talk about roti-dal provided for trainees of AIIMT in one lakh for six months to be raised to nine months and my ’78 STCW COC being good for nothing piece of paper, etc.May I add it was a malafide intention and pre-meditated action.So how can it be held as tricks?It should be resolved gracefully, amicably and judiciously for God’s sake.
Yours truly and obediently.
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
Seeking redressal in shortened validation of
COC No.:95W-5067(1st class combine)
14.04.09 at Navi-Mumbai-410210
2.Sir,who am I to play tricks? I am,but a lowly seaman and you are all Gods incarnate. There was a time when a seaman could be debarred from sailing for all his life by the Master of the Vessel and the brits ashore as Govt. servants upheld the Sea-out of the seaman thus penalized. Now it’s more sophisticated. In my case truth to tell I am tricked good and proper into supplication, humiliation, repeated demotions resulting in abject penury of late. All this is done by playing with the life -line of my COC. It has been tampered, meddled and sabotaged in advance, by a rule to be framed seven months later. And uptodate the said rule vide Circular 105 0f 29th January,2007 is not enforced as I have reported of two cases, to your goodselves involving two chief engineers doing their revalidation on 26.02.2009,said that their COC was in no immediate need of revalidation, after the revalidation course. One COC was valid till July of this year and another till August. May I at least wonder to myself why did only mine expire with the expiry of the revalidation course on 26.02.09,enjoying only a little more than two and a half years of life-line or validity, revalidated when the new rule was no where in sight ./
3.May I dare say that I do know the reason? Yes it was a back-lash over trivials of rejuvenating the teaching of Steam-engineering in the LBS CAMSAR and some other small talk about roti-dal provided for trainees of AIIMT in one lakh for six months to be raised to nine months and my ’78 STCW COC being good for nothing piece of paper, etc.May I add it was a malafide intention and pre-meditated action.So how can it be held as tricks?It should be resolved gracefully, amicably and judiciously for God’s sake.
Yours truly and obediently.
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
Seeking redressal in shortened validation of
COC No.:95W-5067(1st class combine)
14.04.09 at Navi-Mumbai-410210
Friday, June 19, 2009
a request to Hon'ble Shipping Minister for an appointment
Dated:17th of june,2009
Respected Minister,Sir,
Re.:Seeking an appointment to represent case of harassment.
Between the 29th of june and before Parliament’s session,in july.
I have submitted my representation,in the above matter,after failing with the top bureaucrats of the ministry,for last six months,which has crippled me from earning,before retiring in six months time,to your goodselves on the 31st of May,while welcoming your appointment,on the internet and later by registered post on the 12th of june,from Mumbai.
2.However,I feel I am not able to express myself well in writing,to be so overwhelmingly ignored by so many officials,during the last six months,that I should try to speak-out of my woes,in person,before your goodselves.Hence my request to see you,personally.
3.I hope your good office will kindly permit me to see you,on one of the four working days,before the session of the Parliament or even on the 6th of july,when I plan to return to Mumbai ,for which I shall be much grateful to them.
Thanking You.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Charterd Engineer(London)
Marine Chief Engineer,1st class,combine.
At E-4,6/23,Spaghetti,Sector-15
Kharghar,New-Mumbai-410210
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.:09935398306
Email:singh.suresh99@gmail.com
Singhsp65@yahoo.com
Attached:a copy of the representation.
Respected Minister,Sir,
Re.:Seeking an appointment to represent case of harassment.
Between the 29th of june and before Parliament’s session,in july.
I have submitted my representation,in the above matter,after failing with the top bureaucrats of the ministry,for last six months,which has crippled me from earning,before retiring in six months time,to your goodselves on the 31st of May,while welcoming your appointment,on the internet and later by registered post on the 12th of june,from Mumbai.
2.However,I feel I am not able to express myself well in writing,to be so overwhelmingly ignored by so many officials,during the last six months,that I should try to speak-out of my woes,in person,before your goodselves.Hence my request to see you,personally.
3.I hope your good office will kindly permit me to see you,on one of the four working days,before the session of the Parliament or even on the 6th of july,when I plan to return to Mumbai ,for which I shall be much grateful to them.
Thanking You.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Charterd Engineer(London)
Marine Chief Engineer,1st class,combine.
At E-4,6/23,Spaghetti,Sector-15
Kharghar,New-Mumbai-410210
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.:09935398306
Email:singh.suresh99@gmail.com
Singhsp65@yahoo.com
Attached:a copy of the representation.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
the ways of Executive Ship Mgmt.in paying seamen or not paying at all.
Dated:10th of june,2009.
To
The Shipping Master,
Govt. Shipping Office,Mumbai.
Kind Attn.:Sri Mukul Dutta
Deputy Shipping Master
Sir,
On seeing the reply of M/S. Executive Ship Management’s reply to your reminder of 22nd April’09,in my case,only briefly,it looked like a bundle of lies to me,for the following reasons of non-confirmation of any of their assertions,there-in.
1.That as I have been persuing,assiduously,for the realization of my due wages from them.since,1999 and have been reporting to you,to the DG,to the Govt.,and afterwards the Police and the Home Secy. GOI,the IMO and the ITF,upto replying their defamation notice on me for five crores in the Bombay High Court,right till 2006.Only when I was too busy in my second daughters marriage in 2007,that I was unable to be after them.
(b) may be they have shifted their file on me to their Advocate in the High Court,Sri Dharmendra Rohra and can have it back from him.
2. That their statement that the money was returned to the principles is a blatant lie is demonstrated by the Xerox I am submitting showing a transfer of US$14661.50 to them towards the wages of te four Chief Engineers,including myself.That is a different matter that they misused it,individually or as a company on bad habits ex-seamen are accustomed to or on bribing for some people to keep their mouths shut,like the police of Cuff Parade police station.
3. Removing me from Meridian Mira became necessary as they could not obtain a work Permit from the Director General,beyond 25th of December,1998.Xerox enclosed.
4. As regards my misdemeanour, please see their Executive Chairman Dato Halim’s Fax(enclosed)as he says that I was only interested in phoning my wife and opening a marine academy(indeed I was permitted to do so on 13.10 1998 copy enclosed).Dato calls me a retired C/E at 59 and here I am begging the CS & the DGS to allow me to sail at 69,by kindly refurbishing my mislaid COC.
5. My clash with a tyrannical master Ashraf Kader was only natural as he had become extra ruthless and ill-mannered,in order to placate his former bosses in Prima Shipping Co.,from where he was removed.He sent away the Electrician from the Ship and would want me personally to change the fused bulb from his toilet,and keep playing deliberate tricks on the Bridge with electrical switches and put the blame on me,to humiliate me in order to bring me under his thumb.
(b)worst he would never permit me to go down to the engine room,to hear the bsound of machinery(I had to be extra cautious as their two ships crank-shafts had cracked).He would have me manoeuvring on the Bridge,instead,to which I was not used to.
(c)He would’nt allow me to go ashore(see my protest note of 17th Dec.1998)saying Indians are not allowed to go ashore.I have Complained to the ITF &IMO under ISPS and ChapterXI(enclosed).
6. That I may kindly add that their Contract on which I have signed(enclosed) has no Clause 13,as mentioned by Devare inhis letters of 22nd May’1999 and in his letter of 11.07.2000(enclosed for your reminder).
PRAYER
It was for this reason that the In/charge Shipping Master,very kindly, issued the letter of 5th Nov.2001,and gave me a copy.But ever so busy in my activities in the Farm and in the town of Varanasi,I could not persue it to it’s logical conclusion at your office and I gave much credence to police action,specially after being told that the company is in cahoots with terrorists organization and I should rather forgo the money than risk their ire,It was on the 5th of Nov.(2001),it self,that I was warned.
However,it was an unfound fear and I left visiting the Shipping Office.
Now if there is anyway of realizing the long forgotten US$2861.00 as my dues for 35 days service on Meridian Mira,it may kindly be resorted to and oblige the undersigned
Thanking You.
Yours Obediently.
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
COC No.:95W-5067
1st Class Combine Chief
At E-4,6/23,Spaghetti
Sector-15,Kharghar node
Navi Mumbai-410210
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.:09935398306
To
The Shipping Master,
Govt. Shipping Office,Mumbai.
Kind Attn.:Sri Mukul Dutta
Deputy Shipping Master
Sir,
On seeing the reply of M/S. Executive Ship Management’s reply to your reminder of 22nd April’09,in my case,only briefly,it looked like a bundle of lies to me,for the following reasons of non-confirmation of any of their assertions,there-in.
1.That as I have been persuing,assiduously,for the realization of my due wages from them.since,1999 and have been reporting to you,to the DG,to the Govt.,and afterwards the Police and the Home Secy. GOI,the IMO and the ITF,upto replying their defamation notice on me for five crores in the Bombay High Court,right till 2006.Only when I was too busy in my second daughters marriage in 2007,that I was unable to be after them.
(b) may be they have shifted their file on me to their Advocate in the High Court,Sri Dharmendra Rohra and can have it back from him.
2. That their statement that the money was returned to the principles is a blatant lie is demonstrated by the Xerox I am submitting showing a transfer of US$14661.50 to them towards the wages of te four Chief Engineers,including myself.That is a different matter that they misused it,individually or as a company on bad habits ex-seamen are accustomed to or on bribing for some people to keep their mouths shut,like the police of Cuff Parade police station.
3. Removing me from Meridian Mira became necessary as they could not obtain a work Permit from the Director General,beyond 25th of December,1998.Xerox enclosed.
4. As regards my misdemeanour, please see their Executive Chairman Dato Halim’s Fax(enclosed)as he says that I was only interested in phoning my wife and opening a marine academy(indeed I was permitted to do so on 13.10 1998 copy enclosed).Dato calls me a retired C/E at 59 and here I am begging the CS & the DGS to allow me to sail at 69,by kindly refurbishing my mislaid COC.
5. My clash with a tyrannical master Ashraf Kader was only natural as he had become extra ruthless and ill-mannered,in order to placate his former bosses in Prima Shipping Co.,from where he was removed.He sent away the Electrician from the Ship and would want me personally to change the fused bulb from his toilet,and keep playing deliberate tricks on the Bridge with electrical switches and put the blame on me,to humiliate me in order to bring me under his thumb.
(b)worst he would never permit me to go down to the engine room,to hear the bsound of machinery(I had to be extra cautious as their two ships crank-shafts had cracked).He would have me manoeuvring on the Bridge,instead,to which I was not used to.
(c)He would’nt allow me to go ashore(see my protest note of 17th Dec.1998)saying Indians are not allowed to go ashore.I have Complained to the ITF &IMO under ISPS and ChapterXI(enclosed).
6. That I may kindly add that their Contract on which I have signed(enclosed) has no Clause 13,as mentioned by Devare inhis letters of 22nd May’1999 and in his letter of 11.07.2000(enclosed for your reminder).
PRAYER
It was for this reason that the In/charge Shipping Master,very kindly, issued the letter of 5th Nov.2001,and gave me a copy.But ever so busy in my activities in the Farm and in the town of Varanasi,I could not persue it to it’s logical conclusion at your office and I gave much credence to police action,specially after being told that the company is in cahoots with terrorists organization and I should rather forgo the money than risk their ire,It was on the 5th of Nov.(2001),it self,that I was warned.
However,it was an unfound fear and I left visiting the Shipping Office.
Now if there is anyway of realizing the long forgotten US$2861.00 as my dues for 35 days service on Meridian Mira,it may kindly be resorted to and oblige the undersigned
Thanking You.
Yours Obediently.
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
COC No.:95W-5067
1st Class Combine Chief
At E-4,6/23,Spaghetti
Sector-15,Kharghar node
Navi Mumbai-410210
Ph.:022-27745804
Mob.:09935398306
Saturday, June 6, 2009
DGShipping should examine DGCA's action,below.
Dated:6th of june,2009.Mumbai.
Super marine engineers Vs. lowly marine engineers.
Reference today’s TOI,page 10, which says, “ DGCA clips wings of ace pilots””Fixes 5-yr.stint for Examiners, after which they will be demoted as ordinary officials .The DGCA move to strip the examiners ,instructors and check pilots of their prestigious posts---the top body says this is to accommodate a flood of applicants. The revised rule in the CAR says” The examiners/instructors/check pilots shall remain valid for a period of five years from the date of issue of approval---they shall be required to undergo assessment of their continued proficiency---which will be carried-out by the chief flight operations Inspector, once in two years”. The examiner after five years says DGCA” will become line pilots(ordinary pilots not holding management position) When in reality they “become examiners after grueling process” .So the pilot examiner could become an examinee, one day, of the same pilot he had examined, earlier.. This is being proposed after the basic requirement for examiners being 4000 flying hours with commandership of 1750 hours and 50 hours as instructor.
Here, in the DG Shipping a second engineer with one year experience could be examining a candidate for chief engineership and the lowly experienced examiner has the gumption of demoting the said chief engineer several times, over-ruling the orders of the chief examiner ,in order to send the fellow further more on punishment sailing, over and above what he has already just finished. That is because, now ,he has the confidence of a super marine engineer.
What has not come-out in print is the examiners supercilious and haughty attitude towards the examinee and what the DGCA means to curtail is the feeling of security of continuity of their power. There must have been reports from within the department.
This is well said that there are no super-duper pilots and the status of examiner has been achieved through the proficiency certificate and the same should not be maligned by the senior people and others certificates should not be called as “good for nothing piece of paper”(for instance like mine)because their position is achieved through “that” piece of paper only. The DGCA has emphasized just that ,to the super bosses of the pilots fraternity.
Our own DG(Shipping) should also consider sending everyone of the Surveyor and examiner back to the ship every five years, if not every two(unless the person is terribly prone to sea sickness or has a daughter to be married off).The last chief Surveyor had revalidated one Nakschatra Singh’s COC, while the person is forever sitting in same one seat, and told me about it, personally. Whereas take my case, having done over a year of public sectors project managership(the DCI Ltd.),having taught three batches of marine engineering in an institute and sailed for nearly ten months in last five years ,is not found fit for renewal of my 1st class combine COC and I am languishing in Mumbai for last six months, in order to think of ways and means to be able to resolve my predicament .I am told in no uncertain terms that I must sail around the Indian coast in a vessel of 3000Kwh,before they would revalidate my COC. This is pure bully and they want to crack a hard nut in me ,without ever saying a word in writing and or else ,they advise ,I should seek remedy in the court of law. But they themselves are above law. However, when they themselves happen to go to sea , they scoot in fifteen days(ex POMMD of Mumbai ,in Dec.2006,from Hazira ,reported to CS in writing)leaving a sinking ship at God’s mercy and my machinations, after taking over
Take the instance of our own instructors, e.g. Mr.R.D.Raje, extra 1st class combine chief ,had not even seen a turbine ship He used to joke that all he can tell his students is about the Baeur Wach turbines, used for extraction of condensate from the feed tank after the third stage(LP) in a reciprocating steam ship, of those days in the Scindias. How many years does it take for an engineer to become dated(I mean outdated, of course)-five years or ten. Okay, five for those regularly going for sailing and revalidation in the LBS CAMSAR .But those who have really become real super marine engineers and are now hot-shot examiners, may be given ten years of supermanship before asked to proceed to sea,in the next lower rank for three months or six, depending on the horse-power. The chief surveyor can himself formulate the criteria and present it to the DG for approval,rather than wait for the rigmarole of routing it through the ministry and the ministry inviting a note from the DGCA,comparing all and inviting objections from all and sundry(some hoping they would retire before such disaster).Or enough time given to them to go to the High Court for redressal oft heir grievance against such a horrific order, against the so-called super marine engineers,taught to us(by Mr.Kasturi,our 1st D.D.) to be the only saviour of seamen, between God and the sea.
Jokes apart,it will be in the best interest of the shipping industry,of marine engineers,of examiners and examinees.In the SCI,Mr.Srivastava,the then CMD tried to persuade his superintendents to go to sea for a stint,but the sloth on their bodies and souls was so perennial that they would rather disobey their CMD.In the Govt. if a decision is taken,it would surely be carried-out.I hope the DG Shipping reads my blog and takes such a decision of far reaching and a beneficial consequence.
Without any hard feelings,despite what has been done to me and to my COC.
Of Yours very own fraternity
Suresh Pratap Singh
COC No.:95W-5067(1st Class Combine).
Super marine engineers Vs. lowly marine engineers.
Reference today’s TOI,page 10, which says, “ DGCA clips wings of ace pilots””Fixes 5-yr.stint for Examiners, after which they will be demoted as ordinary officials .The DGCA move to strip the examiners ,instructors and check pilots of their prestigious posts---the top body says this is to accommodate a flood of applicants. The revised rule in the CAR says” The examiners/instructors/check pilots shall remain valid for a period of five years from the date of issue of approval---they shall be required to undergo assessment of their continued proficiency---which will be carried-out by the chief flight operations Inspector, once in two years”. The examiner after five years says DGCA” will become line pilots(ordinary pilots not holding management position) When in reality they “become examiners after grueling process” .So the pilot examiner could become an examinee, one day, of the same pilot he had examined, earlier.. This is being proposed after the basic requirement for examiners being 4000 flying hours with commandership of 1750 hours and 50 hours as instructor.
Here, in the DG Shipping a second engineer with one year experience could be examining a candidate for chief engineership and the lowly experienced examiner has the gumption of demoting the said chief engineer several times, over-ruling the orders of the chief examiner ,in order to send the fellow further more on punishment sailing, over and above what he has already just finished. That is because, now ,he has the confidence of a super marine engineer.
What has not come-out in print is the examiners supercilious and haughty attitude towards the examinee and what the DGCA means to curtail is the feeling of security of continuity of their power. There must have been reports from within the department.
This is well said that there are no super-duper pilots and the status of examiner has been achieved through the proficiency certificate and the same should not be maligned by the senior people and others certificates should not be called as “good for nothing piece of paper”(for instance like mine)because their position is achieved through “that” piece of paper only. The DGCA has emphasized just that ,to the super bosses of the pilots fraternity.
Our own DG(Shipping) should also consider sending everyone of the Surveyor and examiner back to the ship every five years, if not every two(unless the person is terribly prone to sea sickness or has a daughter to be married off).The last chief Surveyor had revalidated one Nakschatra Singh’s COC, while the person is forever sitting in same one seat, and told me about it, personally. Whereas take my case, having done over a year of public sectors project managership(the DCI Ltd.),having taught three batches of marine engineering in an institute and sailed for nearly ten months in last five years ,is not found fit for renewal of my 1st class combine COC and I am languishing in Mumbai for last six months, in order to think of ways and means to be able to resolve my predicament .I am told in no uncertain terms that I must sail around the Indian coast in a vessel of 3000Kwh,before they would revalidate my COC. This is pure bully and they want to crack a hard nut in me ,without ever saying a word in writing and or else ,they advise ,I should seek remedy in the court of law. But they themselves are above law. However, when they themselves happen to go to sea , they scoot in fifteen days(ex POMMD of Mumbai ,in Dec.2006,from Hazira ,reported to CS in writing)leaving a sinking ship at God’s mercy and my machinations, after taking over
Take the instance of our own instructors, e.g. Mr.R.D.Raje, extra 1st class combine chief ,had not even seen a turbine ship He used to joke that all he can tell his students is about the Baeur Wach turbines, used for extraction of condensate from the feed tank after the third stage(LP) in a reciprocating steam ship, of those days in the Scindias. How many years does it take for an engineer to become dated(I mean outdated, of course)-five years or ten. Okay, five for those regularly going for sailing and revalidation in the LBS CAMSAR .But those who have really become real super marine engineers and are now hot-shot examiners, may be given ten years of supermanship before asked to proceed to sea,in the next lower rank for three months or six, depending on the horse-power. The chief surveyor can himself formulate the criteria and present it to the DG for approval,rather than wait for the rigmarole of routing it through the ministry and the ministry inviting a note from the DGCA,comparing all and inviting objections from all and sundry(some hoping they would retire before such disaster).Or enough time given to them to go to the High Court for redressal oft heir grievance against such a horrific order, against the so-called super marine engineers,taught to us(by Mr.Kasturi,our 1st D.D.) to be the only saviour of seamen, between God and the sea.
Jokes apart,it will be in the best interest of the shipping industry,of marine engineers,of examiners and examinees.In the SCI,Mr.Srivastava,the then CMD tried to persuade his superintendents to go to sea for a stint,but the sloth on their bodies and souls was so perennial that they would rather disobey their CMD.In the Govt. if a decision is taken,it would surely be carried-out.I hope the DG Shipping reads my blog and takes such a decision of far reaching and a beneficial consequence.
Without any hard feelings,despite what has been done to me and to my COC.
Of Yours very own fraternity
Suresh Pratap Singh
COC No.:95W-5067(1st Class Combine).
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Two books,Dredging of Ganga & the Shipping Scene,today.
2.Dredging of the Ganga as a panacea against recurring floods,shifting streams and navigational –difficulties.
The author has worked for several years with the”Dredging Corporation of India” and wrote a paper for formulating a Bill in the Parliament,which was moved by Sri Rajesh Pilot and passed by the House, and eventually the “Inland Waterways Authority of India” was formed. Even when he was in the DCI, he suggested, on the basis of work being done by him for the Corporation, to Sri Rajiv Gandhi ways and means to control the fury of floods, specially of the Ganga(as declared by the Parliament as No.1 waterway project to be undertaken by the newly formed Authority and particularly the means of controlling the massive amount of silt coming down stream all the way from the Himalayas.
However, the author was able to convince Sri Rajnath Singh a local man become the Shipping Minister ,of starting the work of Dredging on the Ganga ,in a meeting with him in February 2000. And by May the same year the dredging work commenced in Kaithi, inaugurated by the Minister, himself.
Then came about the hurdles, administrative hurdles, regional hurdles and many other types of hurdles, which resulted in shutting- down the work of dredging in Kaithi and on the Ganga as Mr. Nair declared that Ganga was a dead river. The next minister said(as tutored by the officials of the Authority) that there was no water in the Ganga west of Patna and sent me rushing down to the Planning Commission to see Sri K.C.Pant,in order to call the bluff Good news is the effect of my missives on Sri Bagga and Akhand Pratap that they undertook the dredging of the Gomti in Lucknow and used the muck and the silt for building up the two banks height,without bringing earth-work from elsewhere and paying for it.
3.Shipping Scene,today.
There is a blog running and if I am stuck in Mumbai a little longer, the material may eventually come out on the blog itself for compiling it into a book. The whole thing is quite revolutionary, specially as owing to my first association with Shipping, five decades ago and the new trend of quick buck, everywhere, today and the gaping difference in the attitude and outlook about earning an honest buck and living in style and peacefully as against the rat-race of the present days and it stirs me to speak-out of the pain of the seamen, inflicted on him by both the ship-owner and the government in nexus with the shipping Cos. agents It seems the office of the D.G. Shipping is made to support the immoral acts of the ship-owner against the seaman and surely in the long run agaist the ex-chequer . Only an investigating journalist can show it to the media and the public, that aspect of corruption. However, I am not concerning that as my business as I am not trained to be investigative work. I can only speak boldly and frankly of the maladies of the quick buck theory against all morality, which has harmed me and scores of suffering seamen on the world-trade, with documents to prove my points.
How would it sound that the owners plan to sink their ships to earn from the insurance of dead seamen and other items to enhance their property by buying a newer ship with bigger tonnage and higher earning capacity?
How would it sound that when faced by the need to shell-out dollars in wages, they stoop-down to having the seaman arrested by the local police and in European atmosphere, the Owner’s representative himself gets arrested ,if the agent is an honest bloke. They pay only if you are able to extract the wages before leaving the ship, but never after you have left the ship. Then it is distributed among the officals and clerks of the DG and the Shipping Master’s office. That is indicated by the fact that even IAS level officers get involved as shown by the RTI reports. And some RTIs don’t ever come the Shipping Master sending reminders after reminders to the Shipping Company, to the questions that they themselves ought to reply.
The seaman is on the receiving end all the time and from every quarter. The latest addition are the “next to God for a seaman-the Govt. Ship and Engine Surveyors ”They are racking their brains in trying their best to be equal to administrative officer of the Govt. of India, e.g. ;additional secretaries, joint secretaries and deputy secretaries to the Govt. of India and are behaving like big shots, while the scene is turning murkier as they are becoming haughty,arrogant,misbehaved, day by day.otherwise even vindictive,if their sense of one-upmanship is hurt Anyway,they go all out for the kill regardless of any morality and human decency,let alone the officer-like qualities for which they must have been allotted marks in their respective training institutions.I am still trying not to expose them, but it is not only a question of dignity but also a question of survival of the fittest and also a matter of the need to nip their attitude of arrogance and child-like behaviour of one-upmanship in the bud .The Shipping ministry thinks the DG is enough to take care of the matter, but DG never takes any interest as they think they are in Mumbai to inculcate good relations with the ship-owners and not for the redressal of sea-farers grievances..
Even if I am satisfied with the action of the ministry and the DG,in their conduct of dealing with the seaman in a proper manner, the stories of the degradation of the ship-owners is worth relating,in which the DG ‘s underlings are again involved So what to do. Wait for a supari and ask for protection from Sri Chidambaram.of Sri Hukum Deo Narain.I wrote to the PM and thank God Sri Yadav was shifted to agriculture.
There is a lot of correspondence and assurances from chief secretaries, but nothing ever materialized .There were always queries from the central minister Sri Murli Manohar Joshi to extend
the navigational facility upto Allahabad,as per the Bill of the Parliament, but soon enough the Authority closed down their office in Allahabad once BJP was out of office at the Centre.
Joining the rivers of the south and the north is a dream of Capt.Dastur and it involves such large sums of resources, without matching returns that it will always remain a pipe-dream. Where as in Rajasthan people in the villages have done indigenous dredging and building check-dams to store water for bathing, drinking and small cultivation and the local collectors have exhorted them and offered official help too. There is the community of the mallahs who are experts in bandalling , channelising and silt control. The Authority has become too authoritative and can approach the ministers to dictate their terms for their convenient location for the project-people,which automatically excludes the Ganga. Even bureaucrats wield pressure on the minister on behalf of technocrats who are operating on regionalism as their priority and till yesterday wanted to stay south.
This has to be straightened-out and the flood’s fury of the Ganga has to be tamed and the river made navigable,year-round,even when Mr.Joshi and myself are not around.
The author has worked for several years with the”Dredging Corporation of India” and wrote a paper for formulating a Bill in the Parliament,which was moved by Sri Rajesh Pilot and passed by the House, and eventually the “Inland Waterways Authority of India” was formed. Even when he was in the DCI, he suggested, on the basis of work being done by him for the Corporation, to Sri Rajiv Gandhi ways and means to control the fury of floods, specially of the Ganga(as declared by the Parliament as No.1 waterway project to be undertaken by the newly formed Authority and particularly the means of controlling the massive amount of silt coming down stream all the way from the Himalayas.
However, the author was able to convince Sri Rajnath Singh a local man become the Shipping Minister ,of starting the work of Dredging on the Ganga ,in a meeting with him in February 2000. And by May the same year the dredging work commenced in Kaithi, inaugurated by the Minister, himself.
Then came about the hurdles, administrative hurdles, regional hurdles and many other types of hurdles, which resulted in shutting- down the work of dredging in Kaithi and on the Ganga as Mr. Nair declared that Ganga was a dead river. The next minister said(as tutored by the officials of the Authority) that there was no water in the Ganga west of Patna and sent me rushing down to the Planning Commission to see Sri K.C.Pant,in order to call the bluff Good news is the effect of my missives on Sri Bagga and Akhand Pratap that they undertook the dredging of the Gomti in Lucknow and used the muck and the silt for building up the two banks height,without bringing earth-work from elsewhere and paying for it.
3.Shipping Scene,today.
There is a blog running and if I am stuck in Mumbai a little longer, the material may eventually come out on the blog itself for compiling it into a book. The whole thing is quite revolutionary, specially as owing to my first association with Shipping, five decades ago and the new trend of quick buck, everywhere, today and the gaping difference in the attitude and outlook about earning an honest buck and living in style and peacefully as against the rat-race of the present days and it stirs me to speak-out of the pain of the seamen, inflicted on him by both the ship-owner and the government in nexus with the shipping Cos. agents It seems the office of the D.G. Shipping is made to support the immoral acts of the ship-owner against the seaman and surely in the long run agaist the ex-chequer . Only an investigating journalist can show it to the media and the public, that aspect of corruption. However, I am not concerning that as my business as I am not trained to be investigative work. I can only speak boldly and frankly of the maladies of the quick buck theory against all morality, which has harmed me and scores of suffering seamen on the world-trade, with documents to prove my points.
How would it sound that the owners plan to sink their ships to earn from the insurance of dead seamen and other items to enhance their property by buying a newer ship with bigger tonnage and higher earning capacity?
How would it sound that when faced by the need to shell-out dollars in wages, they stoop-down to having the seaman arrested by the local police and in European atmosphere, the Owner’s representative himself gets arrested ,if the agent is an honest bloke. They pay only if you are able to extract the wages before leaving the ship, but never after you have left the ship. Then it is distributed among the officals and clerks of the DG and the Shipping Master’s office. That is indicated by the fact that even IAS level officers get involved as shown by the RTI reports. And some RTIs don’t ever come the Shipping Master sending reminders after reminders to the Shipping Company, to the questions that they themselves ought to reply.
The seaman is on the receiving end all the time and from every quarter. The latest addition are the “next to God for a seaman-the Govt. Ship and Engine Surveyors ”They are racking their brains in trying their best to be equal to administrative officer of the Govt. of India, e.g. ;additional secretaries, joint secretaries and deputy secretaries to the Govt. of India and are behaving like big shots, while the scene is turning murkier as they are becoming haughty,arrogant,misbehaved, day by day.otherwise even vindictive,if their sense of one-upmanship is hurt Anyway,they go all out for the kill regardless of any morality and human decency,let alone the officer-like qualities for which they must have been allotted marks in their respective training institutions.I am still trying not to expose them, but it is not only a question of dignity but also a question of survival of the fittest and also a matter of the need to nip their attitude of arrogance and child-like behaviour of one-upmanship in the bud .The Shipping ministry thinks the DG is enough to take care of the matter, but DG never takes any interest as they think they are in Mumbai to inculcate good relations with the ship-owners and not for the redressal of sea-farers grievances..
Even if I am satisfied with the action of the ministry and the DG,in their conduct of dealing with the seaman in a proper manner, the stories of the degradation of the ship-owners is worth relating,in which the DG ‘s underlings are again involved So what to do. Wait for a supari and ask for protection from Sri Chidambaram.of Sri Hukum Deo Narain.I wrote to the PM and thank God Sri Yadav was shifted to agriculture.
There is a lot of correspondence and assurances from chief secretaries, but nothing ever materialized .There were always queries from the central minister Sri Murli Manohar Joshi to extend
the navigational facility upto Allahabad,as per the Bill of the Parliament, but soon enough the Authority closed down their office in Allahabad once BJP was out of office at the Centre.
Joining the rivers of the south and the north is a dream of Capt.Dastur and it involves such large sums of resources, without matching returns that it will always remain a pipe-dream. Where as in Rajasthan people in the villages have done indigenous dredging and building check-dams to store water for bathing, drinking and small cultivation and the local collectors have exhorted them and offered official help too. There is the community of the mallahs who are experts in bandalling , channelising and silt control. The Authority has become too authoritative and can approach the ministers to dictate their terms for their convenient location for the project-people,which automatically excludes the Ganga. Even bureaucrats wield pressure on the minister on behalf of technocrats who are operating on regionalism as their priority and till yesterday wanted to stay south.
This has to be straightened-out and the flood’s fury of the Ganga has to be tamed and the river made navigable,year-round,even when Mr.Joshi and myself are not around.
Monday, May 18, 2009
My Bio data and opposition at every step from DGS
Dear Sir,
I am applying for the opening, as presently shut-out for combine chief’s jobs owing to some mischief at DG Shipping by curtailing the life-line of my Certificate of Competency awarded by the Govt. of India, Ministry of Transport, duly ratified by the act of Parliament, and against which deliberate act of mischief , I have duly represented. Meanwhile , I am keeping myself busy in completing of the DTP work of my book “the plebeians who would be kings’
I can trace my career as follows, for presenting to you
.
1.July 1958:Joined the DMET for three years of marine engineering course at Mumbai, simultaneously three years practical training at M/S.Scindia Workshop Pvt. Ltd.
2.Fourth year at Marine Engineering College at Calcutta.
3.Passed-out from there, as the Best Cadet Captain in July 1962.
4 .Joined M/S. India Steamship Company Pvt. Ltd. in Howaldt’s werke Deutschwerft built turbines as well as on American’s Westinghouse and General Electric Turbine Ships, thereby achieving Ministry of Transport’s 1st Class certificate of competency at the age of thirty years .Also sailed on Motor ship to fill motor time for a combine certificate later-on.
5June,1971 :Resigned and shifted to 22-generations old village home to bring order to doldrums prevailing there ,after the death of my father in June,1952.
6. Very nearly contested 1973 U.P. Assembly Elections as a candidate of Socialist Party.
7.September 1976:Appointed “Executive Secretary” of the Janata Party ,by Chaudhary Charan Singhji and stayed at VP House with the General Secretary ,Sri B.P.Singhji.
8.1979-80:Ticket for Parliament from Janata(S) to contest from Ghazipur(50) denied after Sri Madhu Limaye retuning from Soviet Russia and my Ticket was given to CPI leader Sri Saryu Pandey.
9.7.09.1980: a major catastrophe took place in the place of birth, that of 626.04acres of alluvial land on the confluence of rivers Gomti and Ganges, went on the other side of the river Gomti at one stroke by the shifting of the course of river Gomti. The district Collector of the district on the other side of the river started to claim this as a property of his district and a long battle ensued and my time was passed in the State Secretariat ,the Board of Revenue and the High Court of Allahabad ,trying to gain back our lost property without having to file a suit on our own.
10.In between ,I was involved with the ICHR ,reading four papers and conducting research on the migration of Raghuvanshies from Ayodhya to Varanasi in 1194AD.
11.Joined Dredging Corporation of India as a Project Manager in Goa and Karwar,May 1982 till August 1983.
12.Nearly three years taken in two High Courts and the Supreme Court of India, sorting out service matter with the DCI Ltd. As a party in person ,but successfully,so.
13Continued helping retired uncle and an authority on revenue matters in the village matter, under Bengal Alluvial Regulation and UP ZA & LR Acts ,at the same time.
And by October 1984,cultivation started once more in the riverine belt of Kaithi.
14. Left the DCI Ltd. And started to sail in foreign going ships from August 1989 for another ten years.
15.Then another break of ten years from sailing, for building a Marine Academy in Varanasi and Mumbai, but eventually settled in teaching engineering in pre-sea training Institution in Varanasi for three years.
16.Returned to Shipping Corporation of India to sail again for refreshing ,updating and revalidating the MOT Certificate of Competency ,under new rules framed at random.
Name of the Candidate :Suresh Pratap Singh
Age : 68 years
C.O.C .No. of MOT :95 W-5067( 1st Class Combine(Steam and Motor)
Passport No. :A0 140281(valid till 26.03.2017)
CDC No . :A57776(valid till 18.08.2014)
Spl.Medical(abv.65yrs) :Fr.St.Georges,Mumbai,Sr.No.126(valid till ,3.12.2009)
Medical 1st Aid Cert. :No.:BPMA/M/153/2004
Passenger Ship course,
& Crisis Management :No.APS/B 39/03 (issued 31st Dec.2004)
Varanasi Address : R.M.House
N16/132 B,Vinayaka, Kamachha
Varanasi-221010(UP)
Phone:0542-2361159
Mobile. :Smt. Savitri Raghuvanshy:09793280405
Home Address :Sees Chand Mansion
Village & Post:Kaithi(Markandey)
P.S.:Chaubeypur
Distt. Varanasi-221116
Family Status :Spouse :Savitri Singh
:Son : Sunny Sees Chand ; marine engineer with Harold Marine Serv.
Daughters: Two: both married
Thanking you for your kind patience.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Chartered Engineer(London)
Marine Chief Engineer
E-4,6/23 Spaghetti
Sector-15,,Kharghar
Navi –Mumbai -410210
Ph.: 022-27745804
Email:spsinghesq @ rediffmail.com
spsinghnavy@hotmail.com
singhsp65@yahoo.com
singh.suresh99@gmail.com
I am applying for the opening, as presently shut-out for combine chief’s jobs owing to some mischief at DG Shipping by curtailing the life-line of my Certificate of Competency awarded by the Govt. of India, Ministry of Transport, duly ratified by the act of Parliament, and against which deliberate act of mischief , I have duly represented. Meanwhile , I am keeping myself busy in completing of the DTP work of my book “the plebeians who would be kings’
I can trace my career as follows, for presenting to you
.
1.July 1958:Joined the DMET for three years of marine engineering course at Mumbai, simultaneously three years practical training at M/S.Scindia Workshop Pvt. Ltd.
2.Fourth year at Marine Engineering College at Calcutta.
3.Passed-out from there, as the Best Cadet Captain in July 1962.
4 .Joined M/S. India Steamship Company Pvt. Ltd. in Howaldt’s werke Deutschwerft built turbines as well as on American’s Westinghouse and General Electric Turbine Ships, thereby achieving Ministry of Transport’s 1st Class certificate of competency at the age of thirty years .Also sailed on Motor ship to fill motor time for a combine certificate later-on.
5June,1971 :Resigned and shifted to 22-generations old village home to bring order to doldrums prevailing there ,after the death of my father in June,1952.
6. Very nearly contested 1973 U.P. Assembly Elections as a candidate of Socialist Party.
7.September 1976:Appointed “Executive Secretary” of the Janata Party ,by Chaudhary Charan Singhji and stayed at VP House with the General Secretary ,Sri B.P.Singhji.
8.1979-80:Ticket for Parliament from Janata(S) to contest from Ghazipur(50) denied after Sri Madhu Limaye retuning from Soviet Russia and my Ticket was given to CPI leader Sri Saryu Pandey.
9.7.09.1980: a major catastrophe took place in the place of birth, that of 626.04acres of alluvial land on the confluence of rivers Gomti and Ganges, went on the other side of the river Gomti at one stroke by the shifting of the course of river Gomti. The district Collector of the district on the other side of the river started to claim this as a property of his district and a long battle ensued and my time was passed in the State Secretariat ,the Board of Revenue and the High Court of Allahabad ,trying to gain back our lost property without having to file a suit on our own.
10.In between ,I was involved with the ICHR ,reading four papers and conducting research on the migration of Raghuvanshies from Ayodhya to Varanasi in 1194AD.
11.Joined Dredging Corporation of India as a Project Manager in Goa and Karwar,May 1982 till August 1983.
12.Nearly three years taken in two High Courts and the Supreme Court of India, sorting out service matter with the DCI Ltd. As a party in person ,but successfully,so.
13Continued helping retired uncle and an authority on revenue matters in the village matter, under Bengal Alluvial Regulation and UP ZA & LR Acts ,at the same time.
And by October 1984,cultivation started once more in the riverine belt of Kaithi.
14. Left the DCI Ltd. And started to sail in foreign going ships from August 1989 for another ten years.
15.Then another break of ten years from sailing, for building a Marine Academy in Varanasi and Mumbai, but eventually settled in teaching engineering in pre-sea training Institution in Varanasi for three years.
16.Returned to Shipping Corporation of India to sail again for refreshing ,updating and revalidating the MOT Certificate of Competency ,under new rules framed at random.
Name of the Candidate :Suresh Pratap Singh
Age : 68 years
C.O.C .No. of MOT :95 W-5067( 1st Class Combine(Steam and Motor)
Passport No. :A0 140281(valid till 26.03.2017)
CDC No . :A57776(valid till 18.08.2014)
Spl.Medical(abv.65yrs) :Fr.St.Georges,Mumbai,Sr.No.126(valid till ,3.12.2009)
Medical 1st Aid Cert. :No.:BPMA/M/153/2004
Passenger Ship course,
& Crisis Management :No.APS/B 39/03 (issued 31st Dec.2004)
Varanasi Address : R.M.House
N16/132 B,Vinayaka, Kamachha
Varanasi-221010(UP)
Phone:0542-2361159
Mobile. :Smt. Savitri Raghuvanshy:09793280405
Home Address :Sees Chand Mansion
Village & Post:Kaithi(Markandey)
P.S.:Chaubeypur
Distt. Varanasi-221116
Family Status :Spouse :Savitri Singh
:Son : Sunny Sees Chand ; marine engineer with Harold Marine Serv.
Daughters: Two: both married
Thanking you for your kind patience.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Chartered Engineer(London)
Marine Chief Engineer
E-4,6/23 Spaghetti
Sector-15,,Kharghar
Navi –Mumbai -410210
Ph.: 022-27745804
Email:spsinghesq @ rediffmail.com
spsinghnavy@hotmail.com
singhsp65@yahoo.com
singh.suresh99@gmail.com
Monday, May 11, 2009
grievance redressal in the matter of COC 1st Class
Dated-11/05/2009
Kind Attention: Joint Secy.(Shipping),after waiting for a call from the Chief Surveyor,for redressal of hurtful to my earning possibilities grievances,one way or the other,so that I can proceed further for alleviation of my woes.Today one month has lapsed since my appeal, hence my appeal to your goodselves.
Dated-11/04/09
Subject: tampering with the life of my COC, thereby meddling with my earning potentials and also committing a gross violation of article 22 of the Constitution of India, joyfully kicking at my own and my dependant’s stomach in the right royal traditional Indian style, in these days of recession all round, including in the Shipping trade.
Dear Sir,
It all began when Capt. Sagar inspecting AIIMT at Babatpur, Varanasi advised me to update my certificate with STCW’95-convention as it would go a long way in helping myself and the students of the institute ,whom I would be teaching.
A letter was made by the Institute and Sri RPB Nair replied, regarding the need of the revalidation course, which I completed on 26.02.2004 at the LBS. But the MMD was not satisfied with myself being a member of the faculty. The then Chief Surveyor asked me to proceed to Sea for three months in the next lower rank. I sailed for four months in the SCI. Thereafter, I proceeded to teach in the AIIMT.I came back to Mumbai to upgrade my COC to ’95-convention and paid the fee, as directed. After having paid the fee I was accosted by a MMD Surveyor, who immediately declared that I have to go back to sea and complete six months of sailing before conversion of the COC.
I made a few representations and went back to teach.
Much afterwards, I realized that certification is the responsibility of the MMD and I sent a copy of my grievances and representation to POMMD. Soon enough there was a call from an angel in the form of a Surveyor, on my BSNL no ,who pacified my ruffled feathers and soon enough there was another call on my mobile to rush to MMD Mumbai, before 22nd of April, to revalidate my COC. There was a confirming letter also to that effect. And all the formalities were completed in a jiffy. However the sight of the COC evaded me for long as the SCI had to be issued a post-facto permission for dispensation for my sailing.
The COC was issued on 20.04.2006 and I received it on 16.05.2006.
Through utter callousness on part of the dealing clerk (Sri Parab ) the validity of the COC was only till 26.02.2009 and I was immediately proceeding to take classes at AIIMT,I thought the mistake can be corrected, once I would take it to a senior Surveyor and I got busy in manifold responsibilities of my farm and city dwellings, including my second daughter’s impending betrothal, which consumed very nearly two years of my life, and soon it was time to revalidate the Revalidation Course.
I tried my utter best for a few months exemption under para 46,so that I could earn enough to pay-off my loans and say good-bye to sea. But no one cared a bit.
Then on the basis of my many letters, Sri Mehrotra forwarded my letter to Sri Pratap Bhosle to deal with the same. It took me three and a half hours and a cup of tea to convince him that my stand was just and right but unfortunately he expressed his inability to change the validity of my COC to 19.04.2011,(for a period of five years, as it should be),from the present date of 26.02.2009 ,speaking of many problems that would arise in the days of the RTI.
The file notings and issue of Circular No.105 0f 29th January etc. gave me an insight as to who else other than Sri Parab was responsible for the deliberate and premeditated sabotage on my COC. There was no Circulars in existence about co-relating the life of a COC with the expiry of the Revalidation course and the act of shortening the life of COC has resulted from my last representation about the malafides of a section in the Directorate. The same had sprung to life again and extinguished the life of my COC, half way through .It does not hold good by the virtue of a circular framed seven months afterwards, which would seem to have been framed for covering up the tampering and meddling done on my COC(seven odd months earlier, at the express orders and behest of someone not happy with me and peeved with for some stupidity and strong-headed ness of mine).Luckily the said circular has left the option alone of the retrospective effect(say for instance since the 1st of April 2006).That gives me a chance to have it corrected, by your goodselves, including from the person responsible for the tampering in the first place.
I have written twice about two batch-mates of mine at the LBS, in February ’09, who did not have to worry about the revalidation of their COCs after the revalidation course as Mr. M’s COC, he said expires in July’09 and he was flying to US to join a ship and Mr.K whose COC expires in August’09 and he was proceeding locally, in his old company to join a vessel. So what purpose are the Circular nos. 105 ,including supersession of circular no 64 © serving accept for having damaged the life-line of my COC.
No doubt it is a fit case to go to the Court of Law. But the bench always queries as to whether all the avenues of redressal have been explored before coming before their Lordships/lordship? In this case I don’t think so. Mr. Bhosle promised to take it before your goodselves, but as you were holding two charges, you were unlikely to find time to go into it personally.
Now that Mr. Mehrotra must have returned from London, he can spare a few moment and undo the wrong done to me, deliberately or otherwise(I hope without any further complications).How do I go against the DGS, who are created to look-after the welfare of seamen? Inadvertently or deliberately some harm is done and like late Justice Guman mal Lodha used to say there is no wrong that can not be corrected. And as I have pleaded already it can be corrected in the engineering department itself and no one ought to know anything about it.
So this is my final pleading to the Chief Surveyor to the Govt. of India with all the humility at my disposal, with folded hands that I pray and beg of you to very kindly undo the injustice done to me and allow me to breath again and thereby permit me to sail and stop the violation of article 22 of the constitution and my right to livelihood for myself and my family. I want no undue favour as I am entitled to enjoy full five years of my COC’s life for being in a position to earn and pay-off my loans. I have tried for 2/E.O.’s job, but to no avail. So I am further resolved to seek justice for myself and my COC.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
COC No.:95W-5067
singh.suresh99@gmail.com
Kind Attention: Joint Secy.(Shipping),after waiting for a call from the Chief Surveyor,for redressal of hurtful to my earning possibilities grievances,one way or the other,so that I can proceed further for alleviation of my woes.Today one month has lapsed since my appeal, hence my appeal to your goodselves.
Dated-11/04/09
Subject: tampering with the life of my COC, thereby meddling with my earning potentials and also committing a gross violation of article 22 of the Constitution of India, joyfully kicking at my own and my dependant’s stomach in the right royal traditional Indian style, in these days of recession all round, including in the Shipping trade.
Dear Sir,
It all began when Capt. Sagar inspecting AIIMT at Babatpur, Varanasi advised me to update my certificate with STCW’95-convention as it would go a long way in helping myself and the students of the institute ,whom I would be teaching.
A letter was made by the Institute and Sri RPB Nair replied, regarding the need of the revalidation course, which I completed on 26.02.2004 at the LBS. But the MMD was not satisfied with myself being a member of the faculty. The then Chief Surveyor asked me to proceed to Sea for three months in the next lower rank. I sailed for four months in the SCI. Thereafter, I proceeded to teach in the AIIMT.I came back to Mumbai to upgrade my COC to ’95-convention and paid the fee, as directed. After having paid the fee I was accosted by a MMD Surveyor, who immediately declared that I have to go back to sea and complete six months of sailing before conversion of the COC.
I made a few representations and went back to teach.
Much afterwards, I realized that certification is the responsibility of the MMD and I sent a copy of my grievances and representation to POMMD. Soon enough there was a call from an angel in the form of a Surveyor, on my BSNL no ,who pacified my ruffled feathers and soon enough there was another call on my mobile to rush to MMD Mumbai, before 22nd of April, to revalidate my COC. There was a confirming letter also to that effect. And all the formalities were completed in a jiffy. However the sight of the COC evaded me for long as the SCI had to be issued a post-facto permission for dispensation for my sailing.
The COC was issued on 20.04.2006 and I received it on 16.05.2006.
Through utter callousness on part of the dealing clerk (Sri Parab ) the validity of the COC was only till 26.02.2009 and I was immediately proceeding to take classes at AIIMT,I thought the mistake can be corrected, once I would take it to a senior Surveyor and I got busy in manifold responsibilities of my farm and city dwellings, including my second daughter’s impending betrothal, which consumed very nearly two years of my life, and soon it was time to revalidate the Revalidation Course.
I tried my utter best for a few months exemption under para 46,so that I could earn enough to pay-off my loans and say good-bye to sea. But no one cared a bit.
Then on the basis of my many letters, Sri Mehrotra forwarded my letter to Sri Pratap Bhosle to deal with the same. It took me three and a half hours and a cup of tea to convince him that my stand was just and right but unfortunately he expressed his inability to change the validity of my COC to 19.04.2011,(for a period of five years, as it should be),from the present date of 26.02.2009 ,speaking of many problems that would arise in the days of the RTI.
The file notings and issue of Circular No.105 0f 29th January etc. gave me an insight as to who else other than Sri Parab was responsible for the deliberate and premeditated sabotage on my COC. There was no Circulars in existence about co-relating the life of a COC with the expiry of the Revalidation course and the act of shortening the life of COC has resulted from my last representation about the malafides of a section in the Directorate. The same had sprung to life again and extinguished the life of my COC, half way through .It does not hold good by the virtue of a circular framed seven months afterwards, which would seem to have been framed for covering up the tampering and meddling done on my COC(seven odd months earlier, at the express orders and behest of someone not happy with me and peeved with for some stupidity and strong-headed ness of mine).Luckily the said circular has left the option alone of the retrospective effect(say for instance since the 1st of April 2006).That gives me a chance to have it corrected, by your goodselves, including from the person responsible for the tampering in the first place.
I have written twice about two batch-mates of mine at the LBS, in February ’09, who did not have to worry about the revalidation of their COCs after the revalidation course as Mr. M’s COC, he said expires in July’09 and he was flying to US to join a ship and Mr.K whose COC expires in August’09 and he was proceeding locally, in his old company to join a vessel. So what purpose are the Circular nos. 105 ,including supersession of circular no 64 © serving accept for having damaged the life-line of my COC.
No doubt it is a fit case to go to the Court of Law. But the bench always queries as to whether all the avenues of redressal have been explored before coming before their Lordships/lordship? In this case I don’t think so. Mr. Bhosle promised to take it before your goodselves, but as you were holding two charges, you were unlikely to find time to go into it personally.
Now that Mr. Mehrotra must have returned from London, he can spare a few moment and undo the wrong done to me, deliberately or otherwise(I hope without any further complications).How do I go against the DGS, who are created to look-after the welfare of seamen? Inadvertently or deliberately some harm is done and like late Justice Guman mal Lodha used to say there is no wrong that can not be corrected. And as I have pleaded already it can be corrected in the engineering department itself and no one ought to know anything about it.
So this is my final pleading to the Chief Surveyor to the Govt. of India with all the humility at my disposal, with folded hands that I pray and beg of you to very kindly undo the injustice done to me and allow me to breath again and thereby permit me to sail and stop the violation of article 22 of the constitution and my right to livelihood for myself and my family. I want no undue favour as I am entitled to enjoy full five years of my COC’s life for being in a position to earn and pay-off my loans. I have tried for 2/E.O.’s job, but to no avail. So I am further resolved to seek justice for myself and my COC.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
COC No.:95W-5067
singh.suresh99@gmail.com
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Letter rogatory to the DGShipping & union Govt.for elimination of the acts of obliteration of the sanctity of the articles of agreement
obliteration of sanctity of "articles of agreement for employment of seafarers"
Tuesday, 21 April, 2009 6:02 PM
From:
"Sp Singh"Add sender to Contacts
To:
dgship@dgshipping.com
Cc:
shippingmastermumbai@dgshipping.com, s_swaminathan@ispatind.com
Dated -21/04/2009
To
The Director General of Shipping
Jahaz Bhavan, Mumbai-400001
Re.Obliteration of the “Articles of Agreement for the employment of Seafarers by Capt.D.R.K. Sahgal of Steamships Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. And a need of remedy for such unpardonable sins of the Ship-owners and managers.
Thank you for your kind communication No.39(19)CR/98,dtd.30.03.2009,received by me today, which leaves the necessary action of realizing the wages at my end.
i.e.,a) that I could proceed to the courts for my due wages as per secs.143 and 138 of the M.S. Act etc.
b) and initiate a defamation suit against Capt.DRK Sahgal for labeling me an extortionist.
Where as ,on the contrary, I am unashamedly found begging for reconciliation with him and asking for a chance to be employed by him as a second engineer, as I am ever so cruelly instructed to sail, for three months( of course only orally) as a second-engineer(i.e. the next lower rank as per the DGS bible the Meta manual) for again activating my 1st class COC, as I could not complete one years sailing due to the designs of Capt. Sahgal on the 8th of December,2008.
How sad the administration chooses to remain blind to the avowed disrespect and destruction of the “sacred document” of the sea-going fraternity, by the Ship’s Managers like of Capt. Sahgal, when the signing-on seaman asks for a copy of the Contract of his service conditions (viz. myself asking Sahgal) on the 8th of Dec.’08,after having signed-on on the 6th of Dec.,2008,in his Belapur office?
This would, clearly imply that Sahgal, sensing my helplessness .had no intention of paying me after the end of my three months contract. Yes, indeed they pay just once when the seaman is leaving the ship, or do not pay at all (so one has to make sure that the payment is done in the office, before you sign-off on board, elsewhere).He had to do no smart bit of thinking on his own, I had provided him all the clue, by sending two e-mails on the 28th of October’08 and again on the 6th of Nov.’08,which he can hardly deny.
The Ship-owners are no better. Take the case of Sri S.Swaminathan, Vice-President, Shipping for Ispat Industries, whom I kept posted of all the game Sahgal was upto, starting on the 10th of December’08,when I first informed your goodselves by registered mail and called upon him on the 5th of March’09,before leaving town for a fortnight, when he reassured me that Sahgal will not be allowed to get the better of me and he will send my representation to his own legal-cell and called me when I return to Mumbai. I have e-mailed him twice (enclosed), but without any response uptodate. What does Ispat Industry gain from the gain to Sahgal ? Nothing more than a bad name and censor from your goodselves.
God willing, if I am still not able to secure an “inhumanized” job of a second-engineer at the age of sixty-nine, for some time more, I will take the cue from your communication and proceed like-wise, against the wrong-doers.
PRAYER
And yet, notwithstanding my actions against the Company, I would plead with your goodselves. and with the GOI to make an official move ,in order to ensure the clarity of the age-old sanctity(since Fletcher Christian’s trial in absentia by the Admiralty for throwing out Capt. Bligh from the “Bounty” and make away to Pitcairren Islands and the Admiralty formulating the modes of the “Articles of Agreement for the employment of Seafarers) of the most important document for the security of seamen from the Ship-owners and their managers, likes of Capt.DRK Sahgal of the Steamships Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. Of Belapur, Navi-Mumbai ,for which the entire shipping community shall be forever grateful to you. It is the question of an undertaking on oath that they shall not obliterate the “articles of agreement” under any circumstances and shall e-mail the scanned copy of the “articles” signed by the seamen, within five minutes of his signing-on the same and issue a copy of the e-mail sent to the Shipping Master, to the said seaman or seamen, immediately, so that any outside chance of any hanky-panky with the “articles of agreement” by the owners or managers do not exist. This order can be studied in a day and be passed the next day by your goodselves and a general notification to all concerned be issued in bold letters, with urgency.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Chartered Engineer ( London )
Marine Chief Engineer
COC No.:95W-5067
e-mail:singh.suresh99@gmail.com
singhsp65@yahoo.com
Tuesday, 21 April, 2009 6:02 PM
From:
"Sp Singh"
To:
dgship@dgshipping.com
Cc:
shippingmastermumbai@dgshipping.com, s_swaminathan@ispatind.com
Dated -21/04/2009
To
The Director General of Shipping
Jahaz Bhavan, Mumbai-400001
Re.Obliteration of the “Articles of Agreement for the employment of Seafarers by Capt.D.R.K. Sahgal of Steamships Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. And a need of remedy for such unpardonable sins of the Ship-owners and managers.
Thank you for your kind communication No.39(19)CR/98,dtd.30.03.2009,received by me today, which leaves the necessary action of realizing the wages at my end.
i.e.,a) that I could proceed to the courts for my due wages as per secs.143 and 138 of the M.S. Act etc.
b) and initiate a defamation suit against Capt.DRK Sahgal for labeling me an extortionist.
Where as ,on the contrary, I am unashamedly found begging for reconciliation with him and asking for a chance to be employed by him as a second engineer, as I am ever so cruelly instructed to sail, for three months( of course only orally) as a second-engineer(i.e. the next lower rank as per the DGS bible the Meta manual) for again activating my 1st class COC, as I could not complete one years sailing due to the designs of Capt. Sahgal on the 8th of December,2008.
How sad the administration chooses to remain blind to the avowed disrespect and destruction of the “sacred document” of the sea-going fraternity, by the Ship’s Managers like of Capt. Sahgal, when the signing-on seaman asks for a copy of the Contract of his service conditions (viz. myself asking Sahgal) on the 8th of Dec.’08,after having signed-on on the 6th of Dec.,2008,in his Belapur office?
This would, clearly imply that Sahgal, sensing my helplessness .had no intention of paying me after the end of my three months contract. Yes, indeed they pay just once when the seaman is leaving the ship, or do not pay at all (so one has to make sure that the payment is done in the office, before you sign-off on board, elsewhere).He had to do no smart bit of thinking on his own, I had provided him all the clue, by sending two e-mails on the 28th of October’08 and again on the 6th of Nov.’08,which he can hardly deny.
The Ship-owners are no better. Take the case of Sri S.Swaminathan, Vice-President, Shipping for Ispat Industries, whom I kept posted of all the game Sahgal was upto, starting on the 10th of December’08,when I first informed your goodselves by registered mail and called upon him on the 5th of March’09,before leaving town for a fortnight, when he reassured me that Sahgal will not be allowed to get the better of me and he will send my representation to his own legal-cell and called me when I return to Mumbai. I have e-mailed him twice (enclosed), but without any response uptodate. What does Ispat Industry gain from the gain to Sahgal ? Nothing more than a bad name and censor from your goodselves.
God willing, if I am still not able to secure an “inhumanized” job of a second-engineer at the age of sixty-nine, for some time more, I will take the cue from your communication and proceed like-wise, against the wrong-doers.
PRAYER
And yet, notwithstanding my actions against the Company, I would plead with your goodselves. and with the GOI to make an official move ,in order to ensure the clarity of the age-old sanctity(since Fletcher Christian’s trial in absentia by the Admiralty for throwing out Capt. Bligh from the “Bounty” and make away to Pitcairren Islands and the Admiralty formulating the modes of the “Articles of Agreement for the employment of Seafarers) of the most important document for the security of seamen from the Ship-owners and their managers, likes of Capt.DRK Sahgal of the Steamships Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. Of Belapur, Navi-Mumbai ,for which the entire shipping community shall be forever grateful to you. It is the question of an undertaking on oath that they shall not obliterate the “articles of agreement” under any circumstances and shall e-mail the scanned copy of the “articles” signed by the seamen, within five minutes of his signing-on the same and issue a copy of the e-mail sent to the Shipping Master, to the said seaman or seamen, immediately, so that any outside chance of any hanky-panky with the “articles of agreement” by the owners or managers do not exist. This order can be studied in a day and be passed the next day by your goodselves and a general notification to all concerned be issued in bold letters, with urgency.
Yours Obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Chartered Engineer ( London )
Marine Chief Engineer
COC No.:95W-5067
e-mail:singh.suresh99@gmail.com
singhsp65@yahoo.com
refer my last letter(e-mail),around 18th Jan'08,relating to your benevolence with me
dear Mr.Teeka,
I had hoped for a responce from you.I had been busy with RTI and now I have facts of the goings-on in the Government and how the big and small helped you in dealing with me.Being related to a government servant for 54 years of my life I do beg you to think of those poor souls who went out of their way to help you in hoodwinking me and do away with my wages for 35 days on MT Meridian Mira.How their careers and promotional chances will be affected on my report to the authorities , if I do so,without any care for my money(which I should do anyway for the sake of other seamen getting similar dealing). I would request you not to let down all the officers and clerks who helped you in the GDShippings and Shiping office,right down from Mr.Bodhe to some Deputy DGs for merely a sum of USdollars.2861.00 or afew dollars here or there.This time I don't have to run back to Varanasi,giving you a breathing space to do manipulations through late Capt.Devare or Capt.Verma.Pl. don't make it a prestige issue as not you but your good friends shall be the sufferersI can go on urging upon you to be fair to those who helped you in the past as you will always need their help so long you are in the Shipping business.So pl. use your long range commercial-sense and common sense to come to a decision about paying me off and get rid of a life-long hassel,involving you don't know how many more,who helped you,for whatever their reasons,one of them being the fact of being peeved with me for my frontal attack,through down right frustration.
Thanking you for your kind attention and anticipated good sense and benevolence.
yours obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
ex-Chief Engineer
MT Meridian Mira
dear Mr.Teeka,
I had hoped for a responce from you.I had been busy with RTI and now I have facts of the goings-on in the Government and how the big and small helped you in dealing with me.Being related to a government servant for 54 years of my life I do beg you to think of those poor souls who went out of their way to help you in hoodwinking me and do away with my wages for 35 days on MT Meridian Mira.How their careers and promotional chances will be affected on my report to the authorities , if I do so,without any care for my money(which I should do anyway for the sake of other seamen getting similar dealing). I would request you not to let down all the officers and clerks who helped you in the GDShippings and Shiping office,right down from Mr.Bodhe to some Deputy DGs for merely a sum of USdollars.2861.00 or afew dollars here or there.This time I don't have to run back to Varanasi,giving you a breathing space to do manipulations through late Capt.Devare or Capt.Verma.Pl. don't make it a prestige issue as not you but your good friends shall be the sufferersI can go on urging upon you to be fair to those who helped you in the past as you will always need their help so long you are in the Shipping business.So pl. use your long range commercial-sense and common sense to come to a decision about paying me off and get rid of a life-long hassel,involving you don't know how many more,who helped you,for whatever their reasons,one of them being the fact of being peeved with me for my frontal attack,through down right frustration.
Thanking you for your kind attention and anticipated good sense and benevolence.
yours obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Marine Chief Engineer
ex-Chief Engineer
MT Meridian Mira
Saturday, May 9, 2009
My many,many requests & pleadings to Sri Teeka,the boss of E.S.M.
request for a donation on the basis of old associationssince having sailed on M.V. Meridian Mira on behalf of Mr. B.S.Teeka and Executive Ship Management
dear Mr. Teeka.
On my return to Mumbai in order to raise some money for my grandiose scheme of raising a "Hall of Fame" for the Raghuvanshies of Katehar in my village of abode for nearly six hundred years to honour and commomorate my ancestorearising from the same houseparticularly,as well as close cousins by sailing in ships myselffinding an opening or by realising old outstanding dues(God-willing) or as a last resort seek donations for my past associations of labourfrom those who have prospered beyond recognitionand may have changed their stiff attitude to generousity by now. Happily I came across your e-mail ID and prayed to God that you would perhaps recall me and call upon your subordinates to consider me for a bounty of sortscall it past-payment or a gesture of benevolence in the form of a donation for a good cause to a a honestupright if slightly stubborn by nature seaman who came in your contact and was unlucky to come across a obstinate master to his bad luck and another one in Dato Halimwho considered him a retired chief engineer a decade fefore he really did retire. There will be a proper plaque showing your kind generousity and you will be asked to come as an honoured guest to my village on the opening of the edifice. you could kindly send acheque for an amount thought suitable for the purpose and in accordance to your status and dignityto me here at Mumbaiat my address in New Mumbai or send it to your Comany's office in Govandior to the DG Shipping's Mr Pratap BhosleSr.DDG(Technical)as ay be found right by you.
Thanking You in great anticipation.
yours sincerely
Suresh Pratap Singh
Chartered Engineer(London)
Marine Chief Engineer1st Class combine
E-4/23.Spaghetti
Sector 15 Kharghar
Navi-Mumbai-410210
09935398306(Mobile)
dear Mr. Teeka.
On my return to Mumbai in order to raise some money for my grandiose scheme of raising a "Hall of Fame" for the Raghuvanshies of Katehar in my village of abode for nearly six hundred years to honour and commomorate my ancestorearising from the same houseparticularly,as well as close cousins by sailing in ships myselffinding an opening or by realising old outstanding dues(God-willing) or as a last resort seek donations for my past associations of labourfrom those who have prospered beyond recognitionand may have changed their stiff attitude to generousity by now. Happily I came across your e-mail ID and prayed to God that you would perhaps recall me and call upon your subordinates to consider me for a bounty of sortscall it past-payment or a gesture of benevolence in the form of a donation for a good cause to a a honestupright if slightly stubborn by nature seaman who came in your contact and was unlucky to come across a obstinate master to his bad luck and another one in Dato Halimwho considered him a retired chief engineer a decade fefore he really did retire. There will be a proper plaque showing your kind generousity and you will be asked to come as an honoured guest to my village on the opening of the edifice. you could kindly send acheque for an amount thought suitable for the purpose and in accordance to your status and dignityto me here at Mumbaiat my address in New Mumbai or send it to your Comany's office in Govandior to the DG Shipping's Mr Pratap BhosleSr.DDG(Technical)as ay be found right by you.
Thanking You in great anticipation.
yours sincerely
Suresh Pratap Singh
Chartered Engineer(London)
Marine Chief Engineer1st Class combine
E-4/23.Spaghetti
Sector 15 Kharghar
Navi-Mumbai-410210
09935398306(Mobile)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Shipping Cos.taking seamen for whole-sale ride
Writing a blog as a last resort to let others know of my predicaments with shipping companies and their managers and how they take the seamen for a ride who are at the last leg of their journey and are compelled to sail with riff-raff, although known companies to fend-off their hard-times, so long they can, by honest means. While on the other hand shipping cos. are always on the look-out to rook them whole-sale.Read-on ---
Dear Sri Swaminathan, sir,
You had very kindly instructed me to come and see you after my return from my trip to Varanasi etc. On my return I asked for your permission to come and see you, accordingly.
2. Meanwhile Capt.Sahgal had moved the Shipping Office and had the file transferred to Mr.Pal, who took some more documents from me depicting implications of wasting my precious sailing days as a chief for at least three months till 26.02.09, when my revalidation was to expire.
3.What opinion has your own legal cell forwarded about signing me on then on asking for a copy of the contract being fired on the 10th of December’08,within four days of signing- on the 6th of December’08 ?
4.Copies of my application of the murky episode are in the ministry and with DG as well. Repercussions may keep sounding back.
5. As you were the owners don’t you think you should sort-out the rigmarole, for which I approached you first thing on the 10th instt., after writing to the DG.
6. Pl. take a pity on a poor old servant of a servant of yours, after your managers have mis-behaved with their humble servant.
Yours obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Signed-on 6.12.2008 on MV Ispat Star
And not yet signed-off
3rd petition sent on 14.04.2009
Dear Sri Swaminathan, sir,
You had very kindly instructed me to come and see you after my return from my trip to Varanasi etc. On my return I asked for your permission to come and see you, accordingly.
2. Meanwhile Capt.Sahgal had moved the Shipping Office and had the file transferred to Mr.Pal, who took some more documents from me depicting implications of wasting my precious sailing days as a chief for at least three months till 26.02.09, when my revalidation was to expire.
3.What opinion has your own legal cell forwarded about signing me on then on asking for a copy of the contract being fired on the 10th of December’08,within four days of signing- on the 6th of December’08 ?
4.Copies of my application of the murky episode are in the ministry and with DG as well. Repercussions may keep sounding back.
5. As you were the owners don’t you think you should sort-out the rigmarole, for which I approached you first thing on the 10th instt., after writing to the DG.
6. Pl. take a pity on a poor old servant of a servant of yours, after your managers have mis-behaved with their humble servant.
Yours obediently
Suresh Pratap Singh
Signed-on 6.12.2008 on MV Ispat Star
And not yet signed-off
3rd petition sent on 14.04.2009
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