Dr. N. Reuben Paul, Chairman of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (India) and Vice-Chairman of the Global Seafarers Organisation, met His Excellency Shri Ravi Shankar, Ambassador of India to Greece, at the Embassy of India in Athens on the occasion of World Maritime Day. The meeting covered issues concerning the welfare, rights, safety and dignity of seafarers, as well as matters affecting Indian and Greek shipping companies, according to Cyprus Shipping News. Dr. Paul briefed the Ambassador on pending claims relating to abandoned vessels and seafarers’ wages, repatriation and contractual obligations, as well as certain pending contractual matters involving Greek shipowners and Indian chartering companies.
A central issue raised was the practical difficulties experienced by certain Greek shipping companies and seafarers in relation to crew changes at some Indian ports, with Dr. Paul seeking the Ambassador’s assistance in bringing these concerns of the Greek maritime community to the attention of the appropriate authorities in India so that practical arrangements might be considered to facilitate crew changes. Dr. Paul also presented the Global Seafarers Organisation’s proposals to establish Global Seafarers Centres in Greece, which would provide welfare assistance, counselling, communication, recreational and other essential services to seafarers of all nationalities visiting Greek ports, with the discussions also emphasising the importance of strengthening India-Greece maritime cooperation.
Source: Cyprus Shipping News — https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2026/09/30/dr-n-reuben-paul-meets-indian-ambassador-in-athens-on-seafarers-welfare-and-maritime-issues/
Tags: Seafarers Welfare, Piraeus, India-Greece Relations, Crew Changes, Greek Shipping
