KARACHI, Jan 15: The Federal Communications Ministry, in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2001, has decided to close down offices of the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) of shipping throughout the country.

The seamen were issued the certificates from the offices for boarding on Pakistani and foreign vessels. After promulgation of the ordinance, educational institutions would be authorized to provide necessary training to the seamen for issuing certification according to their qualifications. Education up to Matric level has been fixed for lower seamen.

The Pakistani seamen can join foreign ships after getting such certificates from the educational training institutions. Foreign ship owners would not be required to enter into any agreement with crew in Pakistan, as Pakistani seamen can now join or sign off foreign ships anywhere in the world.

Earlier, they were restricted to sign any ship without the approval of Pakistani authorities. The federal government is also appointing shipping masters in metropolitan cities of the country.—PPI