PARADIP: Paradip Port is the first Major Port on the Eastern Seaboard of India to issue an SOP for crew change in accordance with the MHA & DG Shipping guidelines.   

In a yet another first for J. M. Baxi & Co., the first crew change from M.V. Sunlight Express (9 each sign on & offs) was carried out at PARADIP 07/08 May 20. We took the initiative to approach all concerned authorities and coordinated arrangements to make this happen. The ADM of Paradip, Mr. K. C. Dhir facilitated setting up of a COVID-19 testing centre for the ship’s crew inside the port. Parallelly, the state administration was approached to verify and approve Hotel Golden Anchor as a private quarantine centre exclusively for seafarers. As per the process, the crew was signed off from the ship, the COVID-19 sample was taken and the crew was accommodated in a designated hotel till the test results were received. If result is negative, the crew is allowed to go home after getting permission/ travel permits from all port/ government authorities. Till date, no positive case is detected.

Thereafter, in the past few weeks, J. M. Baxi & Co. has successfully handled sign offs from the M.V. Atlantic Harmony (1 crew member), M.V. Aquintania (3 crew members) & MT Dawn Madurai (5 crew members).

Paradip Port has therefore, now become very convenient for ships to carry out their crew changes while their cargo operations are in progress. With the crew change procedure having been streamlined by J. M. Baxi & Co., even agents who do not have local offices at Paradip, have easily followed this procedure successfully.

J. M. Baxi & Co. is thankful to the Director General Shipping, Paradip Port Trust Chairman – Mr. Rinkesh Roy, DC - Capt. Mohapatra,

HM - Capt. Sahoo, PHO – Mr. Panigrahi, ADM - Mr. K. C. Dhir, State COVID Centre I/C – Dr. Basant and Local Immigration Officer – Mr. Manas Das for its crew change for facilitating this process.

J. M. Baxi & Co. is also the first in taking the initiative to facilitate crew changes at Dhamra Port. Arrangements were made with DG Shipping to include Dhamra Port in their E-Pass Module and WIP Bhadrak to facilitate immigration procedures for the first time ever. 9 each sign ons and offs for M.V. Darya Padma are being done for the very first time at Dhamra Port.

J. M. Baxi & Co. is grateful for the continuous support from Capt. P S Patra, Dhamra Marine Head, Local Custom House and SP of Bhadrak District Mr. Rajesh Pandit for facilitating the immigration process which was set into motion and flawlessly executed.

The team of J. M. Baxi & Co. comprising the Regional Head - Capt. Rakesh Singh and other staff members at Paradip & Dhamra made this all possible under the guidance of Capt. Raja Mitra and others of the head office.