Work at the shipping master's office came to a standstill because of the search. Officials working there confirmed to The Financial Express that the investigative agency has not allowed carrying out any work since Monday.

The officials were also uncertain if any business would be conducted on Wednesday. Numerous attempts to contact the superintendent of police SA Kakkar proved futile.

The shipping master is responsible for issuing the CDCs for seafarers. The possession of CDC (akin to a passport) is a must for working on a ship. Senior officials at the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) too confirmed the raids.

Laxmi Narain was recently transferred as director, Seamen Employment Office. The transfer, effected byformer Director General of Shipping, MP Pinto (now chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) has been a culmination of numerous complaints against him. Former assistant director of general of shipping ME Hussain is the new shipping master.

Disciplinary proceedings against Narain, who was serving as shipping master for a couple of years now, have already kicked off, sources said. The principal secretary in the Directorate General of Shipping's (DGS) office is said to be in-charge of the enquiry.

The shipping master is responsible for signing-on and signing-off of seamen. This, in simple terms, means that when a seaman signs in and takes up employment on a ship, the articles of agreement (or terms & conditions of employment) of the seaman are signed in front of the shipping master.

Similarly, after the expiry of the article of agreement, it is mandatory for the seaman to `sign-off' the agreement in the presence of the shipping master. The agreements are also renewed by his consent.

The shipping masterplays an important role in settling disputes between the shipping company and seafarers. "The seamen can complain to the master against his employer at the port of engagement. The shipping master is entrusted with the responsibility of getting due compensation from the shipping company if the latter defaults on any condition of employment promised to the seaman", sources said.