BMMOA’s positive action during the pandemic: no members will fail to join ship due to financial crisis or certificates not being ready

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Dear Bangladeshi Mariners and BMMOA Members ,

During this worldwide pandemic BMMOA has initiated a massive community response throughout the Bangladeshi Mariners Community.

As a professional’s organization our main moto is to develop professionalism and ensure that none of our members fails to join ship due to financial crisis and certificates are not being ready.
Below are details of some activities which are ongoing under BMMOA :-

1. At present we are distributing PPE with other protective items (Mask, Goggles, Hand Sanitizer, Surgical gloves, Disinfecting liquid) to all Bangladeshi flag vessels and foreign ships calling Ctg, Mongla and Payra port where Bangladeshi Seafarers are also available (we are not leaving the other nationalities also). On the first phase we have planned to distribute 1500 PPE with other safety items.

2. Our members and other marine officers who have requested for support, received a Care Package of 50kg goods inclusive of Daily household items. We are grateful to our volunteers who has put their life in risk in this pandemic to make sure that the items reached the seafarers and the members who applied.

3. STCW Courses: We can understand that a number of seafarers have to do their STCW courses, which will be difficult for junior officers due to financial crisis. In this situation, we have contacted with two of the institutes to give a 50% discount on STCW courses for our members. From BMTI (Bangladesh Maritime Training Institutes) we have already got a positive feedback. They have offered us 50% discount on all the existing STCW ancillary courses and 20% on the Simulator based STCW ancillary courses. From the other institutes (Bangladesh Marine Academy), we are also expecting a positive feedback. Besides above discount, we shall provide financial support to our members (especially to Junior Officers and Cadets) which will be up to 50% of their total STCW course fees (this is additional to the discounts offered by the Institutes). Please apply for this grant to: info@bmmoa.org with your details.

4. There is a circular from “SEAMEN WELFARE & EMIGRATION DIRECTORATE” regarding financial aid for the Seafarers in this COVID-19 situation, our president had a meeting with the concerned authorities and they have confirmed that officers are also eligible for the aid who meet the criteria of the circular. We have already circulated the message in different social media. We request to those, who will apply for the aid, please send us your CDC no. so that we can pursue to approve it. The Circular is attached here for your better understanding.

In reference to some comments in social media, we would like to clarify that BMMOA has not asked for any financial donation from mariners for a project to provide financial Loan to seafarers as because we believe our seafarers have the right for aid from “SEAMEN WELFARE & EMIGRATION DIRECTORATE”

5. As you all know, We have corporate agreements with two hospitals in Chattogram ( Dhaka is in the process) who will provide a special discount for our members. Attached herewith the copy of the mail with the discount informations for your reference. 

BMMOA is the only authorized and recognized organization for the welfare of the Bangladeshi merchant officers community.
Our official email id: info@bmmoa.org
President and general secretary email id: president@bmmoa.org, gen.secretary@bmmoa.org
Official phone number: +8801708527811

Best regards
Md. Shakawat Hossain
General Secretary
Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association