The shipping department cancelled the licence of a ship surveyor for working in favour of a shipping company violating Section 500 of Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1983.

Half a dozen marine engineers and marine captains are still involved in the unfair practices, sources said.

As Captain Yusuf Ali was found working in Messrs Sea Born Private Ltd even after obtaining certificate as a ship surveyor, the shipping department cancelled his licence.

"We often hear such cases but could not take punitive actions against them due to lack of valid documents. This time we found Yusuf Ali guilty and he himself admitted the allegation. And so, we cancelled his license," said Director General of Shipping AKM Shafiqullah.

A surveyor should not work in any private company as it would tarnish his neutrality, he said, adding that the malpractice also causes revenue loss to the government.

Similar actions will be taken if such allegation is proved against any company or surveyor, he said.

According to rules, a marine engineer can apply for working as a private surveyor after serving at least two years as chief engineer or captain in a ship.

For measuring the quantity and quality of cargo in a ship, the shipping department appoints private marine surveyors and issue licence against them. For getting a surveyors' certificate a private marine surveyor has to give an undertaking that he is not involved in any business related to ship owning, operators chartering or employed in a shipping firm.

There are around 30 government-appointed ship surveyors in the country while four or five captains are now engaged in ship surveying without obtaining certificate from the government, sources said.

The shipping department recently issued a notice warning those who are working as surveyors without obtaining government certificates or serving private companies even after getting appointments as surveyors.