DoS bars females from joining shipping jobs

The Department of Shipping (DoS) is allegedly barring females from entering maritime sector by not providing Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) defying an order of the Ministry of Shipping (MoS), sources said.

After getting necessary training from the Bangladesh Marine Academy, some 36 female cadets are waiting for CDC to join shipping jobs. The DoS is the sole authority to provide CDC to mariners, which is mandatory for getting a job in shipping sector.

CDC is a pass to step into a ship, subsequent seafaring and visiting the ports across world. It is issued from a government shipping office under the merchant shipping rules. Information related to sea-service, performance and medical fitness of mariners is recorded in a CDC.

The MoS in a letter on September 03 this year asked the DoS for bringing necessary changes in the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Ordinance-1983 and provide CDC to female cadets who got training from the Bangladesh Marine Academy.

After receiving the letter, the DoS held a meeting with ship owners and expressed its reservation to amend the ordinance and provide CDC to female cadets.

Director-General of DoS Jabair Ahmed told the FE after consulting with stakeholders (ship owners), his office has decided not to provide CDC to female cadets taking into consideration cultural, social, religious regulations, and security issues of Bangladeshi women.

He said according to the Bangladesh Merchant Shipping Ordinance-1983, females are not allowed in the maritime sector for working in ships. "I will have to bring necessary amendment to the ordinance to allow females in this sector as according to the rule only males are allowed for this job."

Mr Ahmed in a recent letter to the MoS suggested moratorium on enrolment of females for training in the next batch of students in the Bangladesh Marine Academy.

He also suggested for taking actions against those who enrolled the females in the Bangladesh Marine Academy without taking approval from the academy's governing body.

Mr Jabair said during consultations with Bangladeshi ship-owners, they expressed their reservation to employ female cadets in their ships. "Sailors themselves need to ensure their safety while on board. Female cadets are unlikely to be able to ensure their security alongside discharging their duties."

Officials said countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, Finland, India, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Spain, Japan, Slovenia, France, and Romania have female mariners. Besides, Muslim majority countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey also have employed female mariners who are contributing to the shipping sector alongside their male colleagues.

Statistics show that presently out of 1.25 million seafarers in the world, some 25,000 are women. Besides, globally 2,300 female officers and 20,700 female ratings are also employed in this sector.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at Manila Diplomatic Conference in 2010 urged its member-countries to take steps for engaging more females in the maritime industry. Following this appeal, the Bangladesh Marine Academy in 2012 started providing training to females following a decision taken by the MoS.

Presently, there are 71 Bangladeshi flag vessels which employ a good number of seafarers. However, no female seafarers are employed there.

Commandant of the Bangladesh Marine Academy Dr Sajid Hussain was found busy enough to make a comment on this issue on being approached by this correspondent over phone.
Source: Financial Express