No - 8 When A Mate Is Blissfuly Innocent Of His Responsibility

No - 8

When A Mate Is Blissfuly Innocent Of His Responsibility

"We have always done it that way!" This statement has turned from a mere excuse to a gigantic philosophy, corroding human creativity and progress on an unprecedented scale in our governance. The system just refuses to budge away from arcane inanities. Today we will discuss about one such document infamously known as "Mates Receipt".

In the olden days the Mate (The Chief Officer) used to supervise the loading of merchandise. Therefore, his authentication of the exact description of the merchandise being loaded was extremely important for the tax collectors. He had to make observation on any short fall or defect in quality, since the Master of the vessel was responsible for delivering exactly what he loaded. Today, the cargo is stuffed into a metal box far away from the ship and sealed by the Customs personnel. The event is endorsed on the shipping bill. The Mate is blissfully unaware of what is inside  the metal box. Even the shipping line's agent is unaware, just declaring on his BL as "Said To Contain". 

In such a situation how can a Mate endorse what is inside a container? But in India, Mate's Receipt is needed by the Customs Department. It is understandably signed by the Agent on behalf of the Mate of the vessel. Needless to say that this document is signed blindly by the Agent as a ritual, knowing fully well that he has no way of ever finding out the veracity of the contents, unless they turn out to be contrabands like drugs or guns and happen to be discovered. The chances of getting discovered in India is very slim, unless someone from within the mafia sings. Alas! In that case the agent would be forced to own up full responsibility, because he had signed the Mate's Receipts. And we have hardly found any Customs Official (responsible for checking the contents and sealing the container) being penalized on this count. Doesn't this system stink of perpetration of the tyranny of the colonial era? And who said we live in a free country?

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Brgds

Capt Rath

Econship Marine

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