Following is drawn up recognising the reality that most of the provisions for welfare and care provided for statutorily, through contracts and unions, often do not work and fail to deliver due to inherent international risky nature of shipping and issues connected with it.

Members should focus on making seafarers aware of their duties, responsibilities and rights under their terms of employment with particular reference to ship owner, manager, P&I Club, Unions, Flag State administration, Port State, their passport/domicile etc under which provisions for grievance redressal mechanisms that exist.

The intent and effort should be to resolve disputes that arise/may further arise, quickly without compromising their rights, enabling settlements by negotiations and mediation.

Members need not be negotiators and mediators; they should only guide the aggrieved

Seafarers families and next of kin should be helped likewise, when seafarers are deceased, missing, incapacitated, sick etc

Funds may be organised or generated and given directly to the seafarer/family, hospital, lawyer etc as the case may be. Members may themselves donate directly as aforesaid. GUILD should not collect funds unless a specific decision is officially made, to do so.

Confrontationist attitude should be avoided at all times. If there is conflict of interest because of members employment, profession etc, such member should hand over such cases to other members who can and wiould carry forward the efforts to conclusion.

Members are not to file cases and pursue matters in tribunals and courts. They should direct the complainants to free legal aid/pro bono advice or otherwise from Seafarer societies, Rotarians etc or to credible maritime lawyers conversant with issues in hand.

Members should maintain records of advice and services provided, make these available to other parties if necessary and disseminate such information to widen our efforts.

Members must use their common sense and initiative to make their efforts result oriented.

Members should update their details whenever changes occur, use only direct private email ids (not official ones at work place), continue membership drive ceaselessly and keep authorities and our supporters apprised of the same. COUNSELS should declare their background and specialisation if any when pursuing dispute resolution.

Members may educate seafarers of their rights when teaching/training them stating so, and may receive honorarium if so paid as the usual practice.