Kandla Port wins Port of the Year award for seafarers welfare

04 December 2012 | Kandla

 

Kandla Port won the prestigious ‘Port of the Year’ award on November 28 for its seafarers welfare activities such as setting up a Seafarers Centre of international standard, under the leadership of Dr. P. D. Vaghela, IAS, Chairman of Kandla Port Trust (KPT).

The announcement was made at the ‘2012 International Seafarers’ Welfare Awards’, hosted by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Koji Sekimizu, at the IMO premises in London. Dr. Vaghela accepted the award from Mr. Sekimizu, in the presence of leaders of maritime business and trade unions from all over the globe.

Besides, Mr. Joseph Chacko, Administrator of Kandla Seafarers Welfare Association, was shortlisted as Welfare Personality of the Year from among five individuals from Thailand, Italy and Australia.

Commenting on the awards, Mr. Roger Harris, ICSW Executive Director, observed: "Tonight has been a real celebration of not just the winners but all those who are committed to the welfare of seafarers".

Earlier in the day, Dr. Vaghela was one the participants in a seminar on Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), where he spoke about the relationship between ports and seafarers welfare and how he could achieve so much with the support of the Trustees of Kandla Seafarers Welfare Association, Port users and officials of KPT. He also acknowledged the commitment of the staff of Seafarers Centre, Kandla.

According to an official release, this was the first time an Indian port was bestowed with such a prestigious award.