Centre cancels immigration system for Indian flag vessels moving between country's ports

NEW DELHI: (Nov 20) In a relief to Indian sailors operating along the nation's coastlines, the Union Home Ministry on Thursday abolished two-decades-old immigration procedures that were considered a major source of delay.

The two main rules scrapped for the crew of Indian-flag vessels, such as ships, dredgers, barges, and research vessels that only operate within Indian port limits, are the coastal sign-on and sign-off system and the shore leave pass (SLP) procedure.

Earlier, sailors had to face a cumbersome paperwork process similar to international immigration clearance, even though they moved between Indian ports. Moreover, a sailor required an SLP, a recurring immigration pass, to step off the ship and go ashore (shore leave).