Technical Aspects

Technical Advice to the Marine Administration and Shipping Industry.

CHAPTER 11

11. As has been stated in Chapter – II, the Director General of Shipping on the technical side is assisted by the Nautical Adviser, who is also the Chief Examiner of the Masters and Mates, and by the Chief Surveyor who is the Chief Examiner of Engineers. These officers, in turn, are assisted by the Deputy Nautical Adviser, Nautical surveyors, Deputy Chief Surveyors, Dy. Chief Ship Surveyor, Engineer and Ship Surveyors and Ship Surveyors. The functions and responsibilities of these Technical Advisors are enumerated below: -

11.2 Nautical Wing

Nautical Wing of the Directorate is headed by the Nautical Adviser to the Govt. of India. He is assisted by two Dy. Nautical Advisers and two Nautical Surveyors. Main functions of Nautical Wing are as follows: -

1. Matters relating to registration of ships, including the maintenance of the Central Register.
2. Examination of Masters and Mates.
3. Examination of Reports & Proceeding of Inquiries / Investigations into shipping accidents / casualties.
4. Matters relating to survey / inspections of safety equipment such as life saving appliances, etc. including approval of plans.
5. Matters relating to certificated (Masters and Mates) manning of ships.
6. Matters relating to the carriage of dangerous goods and other special cargoes on ships.
7. Matters relating to air, sea search and rescue.
8. Matters relating to development and approval of various indigenous items of safety equipment, etc. for use on board Indian ships.
9. Matters relating to training of Merchant navy personnel on nautical side.
10. Technical examination from the nautical angle of particulars of ships proposed to be acquired by Indian owners.
11. Matters relating to International Maritime Organizations and International Convention.
12. Matters relating to wrecks and salvage.
13. Matters relating to oil pollution emergencies.
14. Matters relating to navigational and pilotage aspects of ports.
15. Matters relating to lighthouse and lightships.
16. Matters relating to hydrographic surveys.
17. Advisory functions to other Govt. Departments on marine matters.
18. Guidance and advice to MMDs on technical matters.
19. Matters relating to formulation / enforcement of various safety regulations.
20. Dispensations regarding requirements of Masters and mates Radio Officers and other statutory requirements.
21. Matters relating to Safety Radio and Telegraph surveys, extension of these abroad and other allied matters.
 

 

11.3. Engineering Wing.

The Engineering Wing of the Directorate is headed by the Chief Surveyor with the Government of India. He is also an Adviser to the Government in formulation of various policies relating to the Indian shipping industry. He discharge responsibilities of the State towards the International Conventions pertaining to the safety and pollution prevention and training of Marine Engineer personnels. In the organisational structure of the D.G. Shipping, he is assisted by two Deputy Chief Surveyors, 1 Deputy Chief Ship Surveyor, 4 Engineer & ship surveyors and one ship surveyor.

The main functions of the Engineering wing are :-

1. Approval of different statutory plans of hull, accommodation, machinery, equipments of Fire Fighting, Oil Pollution and approval of new statutory equipment for vessels built in India and abroad.

2. Approval of operating Manuals and documents for loading and operation of Indian vessels.

3. Issue of load line certificate.

4. Tonnage measurement of Indian vessels.

5. Monitoring of various statutory certificates issued by the classification societies such as load line, cargo ship construction certificate, International Oil Pollution Prevention certificate and certificate and certificate of fitness on behalf of the Indian Maritime Administration.

6. Drafting of rules and regulation under the M.S. Act, 1958 pertaining to surveys, safety and pollution prevention and examination.

7. Scrutiny for acquisition of ships by Indian Shipowners.

8. Monitoring of Port State Control and Flag State control Inspections by the Surveyors and reporting back to the International Maritime Organisation.

9. Scrutiny and monitoring of inspection report of detention of Indian vessels abroad.

10. Investigation into Oil Pollution incidents.

11. Scrutiny of casualty reports and initiation of follow up and corrective action.

12. Conduct of examination for grant of Certificate of competency to the Engineer Officers and for other different grades of personnel for all types of sea going vessels.

13. Monitoring and control of various pre-sea, post-sea courses required under International STCW Conventions and regulating the institutions which offer the courses.

14. Approval and monitoring various workshops and institutions imparting training to Marine Engineer personnel.

15. Control of statutory surveys of Indian vessels abroad.

16. Work of standing committee on shipbuilding and ship-repairing and ancillary industries and for development of indigenous production of machinery and equipment.

17. Enforcement of various International instruments related to Safety and Pollution prevention.

18. To co-operate with International Maritime Organization in matters relating to approval of classification societies. Flag state implementations, Port State Control, New Codes (e.g. ISM Code, STCW Code), development of examination system for marine engineer personnel for approval, etc.

11.4 MERCANTILE MARINE DEPARTMENTS

As had been stated elsewhere, the coast of India has been divided into three Mercantile Marine Districts for implementation of the provisions of Merchant Shipping Act. The three districts are Mumbai, Madras and Calcutta. The above districts are headed by the Principal Officers and assisted by Engineer and Ship Surveyors, Nautical Surveyors, Ship Surveyors and Radio Inspectors. Following are the main functions of each Mercantile Marine Department: -

(1). Registration of ships: - The Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department is also a Registrar of Indian ships. The matters relating to the registration of ships have been dealt with separately.

(2).Safety Of Life at Sea: - Certification of ships is done by issue of the following statutory certificates:

(a). Safety Equipment Certificate.
(b). S.R.T. Certificate.
(c). Safcon Certificate.
(d). I.O.P.P. Certificate.
(e). Load Line Certificate.
 

(3). Inspection Under Port State Control.

(4). General Inspection of Indian Registered Ships. This inspection is being done by the surveyor of Mercantile Marine Department to ensure that the condition under which various statutory certificates were granted are maintained. In case of any defects with respect to her hull or machinery or in proper loading, etc., vessels are detained if required as per the provisions of Section 336 of M. S. Act.

(5). Industrial Surveys are carried out with respect to Life Saving Appliance, Fire Fighting Appliances and Machinery Items. Prototype approval inspection are also being carried out to the above mentioned items by the surveyor of the Mercantile Marine Department.

(6). Miscellaneous Inspections: Inspection of ship for measurement of tonnage are being done by the surveyor of the department under registration.

Inspection of ships with respect to compliance of M. S. Crew Accommodation regulations.Inspection of carriage of grain in bulk in compliance of M. S. (Carriage of grains) rules, 1974.Inspection and approval of stowage plan of the ships loading dangerous goods as per I.M.O regulations.

(7). Examinations are being conducted as per Masters and Mates Examination Rules and Engineer's Examination Rules.

(8). The vessels registered under the Inland Vessels Act are surveyed by the Surveyor of the Mercantile Marine Department as per the relevant law. Similarly the Examination and Certification of floating staff of the inland vessels is done by the Mercantile Marine Department.

(9). Investigations and Inquiry are being done by the Surveyor of the department in case of any Shipping Casualty to Indian registered ships or any foreign ships if in Indian water is being conducted as per M. S. Act.

(10). Scrutiny and approval of Life Saving Appliances, Light & Sound signal appliances and Fire Fighting Appliances Plans are approved by Mercantile Marine Department, Mumbai.

(11). Co-ordination with N.C.S.O (Naval Control of Shipping Office) & various other authorities for search and rescue operation of ships around Indian Coast.

 

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