The Department of Shipping (DoS) has extended the validity of certificates, surveys, audits and inspections of Bangladeshi flag vessels, which have already expired or are going to expire before October, for six months considering barriers (in renewing those) amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The maritime regulator, in late last month, also extended for six months the validity of seafarers' documents that have expired or are expiring between February 2020 and June 2021, as those could not be renewed due to the pandemic impact.
The DoS, in a notification on Wednesday, opined that all reasonable efforts should be taken to ensure that statutory certificates are kept valid.
However, the recognised organisations (ROs) are given authority to grant an extension of the vessel documents "after obtaining (an) undertaking from the master of the vessel on satisfactory condition of the vessel and verification of past survey/audit/inspection records, as deemed appropriate".
It also advised that while extending the validity of the certificates, the ROs will take into consideration the circular of the International Maritime Organisaion (IMO), issued on June 2 relating to COVID-19 guidance for flag states regarding surveys and renewals of certificates during the pandemic.
The DoS also asked the ROs to inform the department when and to which vessels such extensions were given.
The DoS Director General Commodore Syed Ariful Islam told the FE earlier that the pandemic has obstructed movements of people as well as slowed down work in various offices. The situation has barred many seafarers and vessel owners from renewing their documents.
At the same time, ship surveyors and ROs cannot physically survey or inspect the vessels, fearing coronavirus infection.
But without having valid documents, neither the seafarers nor the vessels will be allowed to work or ply abroad, he also said.
"We have granted the automatic extension of these documents for the sake of seafarers' job security as well as for legal plying of vessels," he added.
According to the DoS officials, many Bangladeshi seafarers, working in various foreign vessels, are now staying in different ports across the world.
As they are failing to return to Bangladesh following air flight suspension due to the Covid-19 shutdown, they are getting stuck in vessels for months and validity of their documents are expiring.
A seafarer is not allowed to work in a vessel with expired documents, an official noted.
