Maritime Apex bodies, MASSA & FOSMA, donate Rs 25 lakhs to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund-COVID 19

2024-04-25 12:47:16 News & Society

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Mumbai, Sep 2020: Recognising the efforts of the state in combating the coronavirus pandemic, and for their understanding of the predicament of the mariners and those supporting from ashore, member-lines of leading maritime apex bodies FOSMA and MASSA have recently donated Rs. 25 lakhs to the CMRF COVID 19, Maharashtra.

The chairmen of both the associations met and personally handed over the cheque to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. This generous contribution comes on the heels of their earlier such donation of Rs 12.40 lakh in July 2020.

Taking the opportunity to acknowledge the hardships faced by their brethren at sea in these challenging times, Captain Prashant Rangnekar, Chairman of MASSA said, ?Our seafarers have rendered their service without much ado, stayed onboard ships way beyond their period of duty because they could not get home due to lack of transport facilities resulting from nationwide travel restrictions?.

?Seafarers of FOSMA and MASSA have been assisting in the battle against COVID 19 by moving essential goods, thereby, keeping the wheels of global trade running even in such challenging times?, added Dr. Sanjay Bhavnani, Chairman of FOSMA.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit India, FOSMA and MASSA has been living up to their stature as the representatives of the shipping industry and seafarers.

In June 2020, these two bodies had joined hands to transport about 4,000 Indian seafarers on Chartered flights at reduced costs in order to help these seafarers come back home, or report to shipboard duty safely during these tough times of restricted travel.

Based out of Mumbai, FOSMA (Foreign Owners Representatives and Shipmanagers Association) and MASSA (Maritime Association of Shipowners, Shipmanagers & Agents) are non-profit organizations that represent shipping companies, owners, managers, agents, and seafarers.

Also, providing education and training to seafarers, these associations help in appointing qualified seafarers onboard ships, 75% of which are owned and operated by foreign companies.

About MASSA
The Maritime Association of Ship-owners Ship managers and Agents (MASSA) is a non-profit making body of Ship-owners, Ship managers, and their Agents, registered as a Section 25 company, under the Companies Act, 1956 (Section 8 as amended in Companies Act, 2013) and based in Mumbai. Members include companies that have a long association with Indian Manning and are identified as traditional employers of Indian Officers and Ratings. MASSA is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company.

The origin of MASSA dates back to 1947 when it was established under the name of Owners/Agents' Committee (Crews). Since its inception, it has played a pivotal role in formulating a unified policy regarding the employment of Indian seamen. Some of the MASSA members have employed Indian officers and ratings for over 4/5 decades and have extensive shipping interests in India.

About FOSMA:

The Foreign Ship-owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA) was established in India in 1989 with the following objects:

To provide body representative of the foreign owners and ship managers operating in India for the purpose of developing, promoting, and protecting their business activities and the interest of foreign owners in India.

As a body representative, the Association takes up matters of common interest of Member Companies and their seafarers with the Authorities concerned to obtain a rational resolution of all the issues involved.