13 miles of sea comes between 21-year-old sailor and his career

Ameya Sail a 21yearold sailor who has been stranded midsea on board Kamal XL for months stands to miss out on a valuable chance that could help him further his career The young sailor had enrolled for a course that would elevate him to the level of a navigation watchkeeping officer but his chances of making it back on land in time for the qualifying exam on April 15 now looks slim All at sea Anand Sail 60 Ameyarsquos father has been running from pillar to post at the shipping office so that his son can be brought safely home to pursue the course Ameya is a member of the crew that has been stranded for months 13 miles into the sea while he is scheduled to give his exam on April 15 With time running out Ameyarsquos father a retired sales tax inspector is making frantic efforts to get his son back on solid ground so that he can appear for the exam but his efforts have not yielded any results so far PicSuresh KK MiD DAY had exposed the plight of the 36 crewmembers on April 4 2013 lsquoStranded on nightmare ship 36 crew beg to be rescuedrsquo The sailors are fending for themselves ever since the company that owns the ship washed its hands off them claiming bankruptcy Speaking to MiD DAY from the vessel Ameya a resident of River Wood Park in Dombivli East said ldquoI am at present working as trainee officer in watchkeeping wherein I assist the captain of the vessel when it is in motion After completing Std XII I opted for a diploma course in Nautical Science and took up a job with Jaisu Shipping Company in June 2011 on a monthly remuneration of Rs 5000 But to get further in my career I have to write the navigation watchkeeping officer examination which is conducted by the Mercantile Marine Department under the Director General of Shippingrdquo Ameya has already enrolled himself for the course that is starting from April 15 and after three months the final examination would be held in September 2013 ldquoThe certification will then help me get a job with a higher pay packet ranging between Rs 40000 and Rs 120 lakhrdquo said Ameya ldquoBut I am trapped here on the vessel and if I miss the chance to enroll myself for the course by April 15 I will miss one year I cannot afford to miss this chance as I have to support my parentsrdquo said an emotional Ameya ldquoI have not been paid for last four months and the company owes me Rs 20000 I havenrsquot shared my situation with my mother Smita who is unwell and cannot bear the knowledge that I am stranded at sea with no food and moneyrdquo Ameya said Anand Sail 60 Ameyarsquos father has been making the rounds of the Director General of Shipping office for the past week seeking help but to no avail On Monday Anand visited the office once again but was asked to come back later being told that the senior officials were out of Mumbai ldquoI have already paid Rs 10000 to enroll Ameya for the course which is starting from April 15 and the rest of the course fees has to be paid after he joins the class I am confused as I have no knowledge about the shipping industry I am sure he will come back Only after he returns will I inform my wife about my sonrsquos hardships on the vesselrdquo Asked if he would want to go board a merchant vessel once he manages to get back on shore safely this time Ameya said ldquoThe shipping industry has a lot of openings and one can seriously make a good career but the problem is with certain shipping companies who are not taking good care of their employees To make matters worse the agents who help the company to make recruitments loot the candidates by charging exorbitant amounts as commission ranging from several thousand to a few lakhsrdquou00a0