NEW DELHI: The shipping ministry has sought details of seafarers stranded abroad as it prepares plan to bring them back through sea or air routes.During a web-based interaction with different stakeholders including unions of seafarers, Union shipping minister Mansukh Mandaviya assured the associations for quick evacuation of the stranded Indian seafarers whenever the situation becomes favourable.Different associations have claimed that at least 20,000 seafarers are stranded and are keen to return. The total number of Indian seafarers who were employed on Indian or foreign flag vessels is nearly 2.1 lakh and there has been huge increase in the past three years.A shipping ministry spokesperson said acknowledging the importance of seafarers for smooth supply chain movement and the challenges faced by them Mandaviya has asked officials to make the process of the sign-on and sign-off easy at Indian ports.To facilitate the movement of seafarers and for operation of merchant ships, the ministry recently issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers at Indian ports.The SOP specifies how the seafarers de-boarding ships will undergo tests and will be quarantined before they are allowed to go home. Before de-boarding, the master of vessel, coming from any foreign port or any coastal vessel from any Indian port, will ascertain the health of each person on board and will submit the maritime declaration of health to the port authorities.It also details how the ship owner or the recruitment agency will identify the Indian seafarers for joining vessel.All 12 major ports under the Central government will provide Rs 50 lakh compensation or ex-gratia to the dependent members or legal heirs any port employee including contract labourers who are employed directly and other contractual labourers as well in case of any death due to COVID-19.This compensation will be applicable till June end and may be reviewed later.The shipping ministry on Tuesday issued the order authorizing each port chairman the settling claims and disbursement of the compensation or ex-gratia. The port chairman concerned will also be the verifying authority for the cause of death from COVID-19.Food Corporation of India has also notified ex-gratia for all employees and even contractual laborers. The government is yet to announce similar compensation for truck drivers and helpers.