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1. The Directorate General of Shipping, GOI, with the purpose of improving the port state control performance of Indian vessels in various PSC Regional MOUs, has implemented additional measures vide Engineering Circular No. 01 of 2019 (copy attached). These additional measures are to be implemented/ complied with in addition to measures required vide earlier DGS circulars/ requirements.

2. Additional measures as per attached Engineering Circular 01 of 2019 includes following;

a. An E-Learning PSC module will be developed by DGS. All Indian seafaring officers will be required to complete the same prior signing on ship.

b. All shipping companies owning/ managing Indian ships on regular/ frequent/ one-time foreign run are required to develop a ship specific checklist which is to be completed by Master/Chief Engineer based on verification onboard prior berthing at each foreign port and the completed checklist is to be forwarded to company DPA/Superintendent by e-mail well in advance. Non-compliance to this requirement may lead to disciplinary action by DGS against DPA/Superintendent/Master/Chief Engineer.

c. An inspection check of certain critical items as stated below will be conducted by RO surveyors each time they board a foreign going vessel between last completed surveys (Annual/Intermediate/Periodical/Renewal) and the next due survey (Annual/Intermediate/Periodical/Renewal).

i. Fire Safety: Fire detection, Fire Pumps (Emergency), Fire Dampers, Doors within main vertical zone; verification that bilges are not filled with oil; Exhaust laggings on Auxiliary and Main Engines; Emergency Generator; Dead Ship Start Arrangements etc.

ii. Life Saving: Lifeboats, Rescue Boats & Life buoys.

iii. Safety of Navigation: Nautical Publications and Charts; Light, Shape and Sound Signals, VDR/S-VDR, BNWAS, ECDIS.

iv. Quick round of Deck to verify that all pipelines, air vents, ventilators closing mechanisms are in good working condition.

v. Operation of Oily Water Separators and 15 PPM alarm and other critical machineries.

d. A ‘Risk based’ flag state inspection regime will be developed by DGS where the risk is based on various scientific factors (apart from vessel’s age) such as Flag State/ Port State inspection/detention records, casualty Statistics, MLC 2006 Compliance, frequency of request for extension of surveys etc.

e. Punitive actions against Master/Chief Engineer/ Superintendent/ DPA/ Company/ Ship in case of Port State detentions and if found that any or all of them are involved in taking an unseaworthy ship to sea.

f. Indian vessels (on coastal or foreign run) which have not undergone any PSC inspection under Tokyo MOU, Paris MOU, USCG or AMSA in last one year & is due for dry dock, and the owner/operator of the vessel plans to take the vessel to a foreign dry-dock after completion of a loaded voyage to a foreign port for discharge and then proceed directly to dry-dock are required to comply with following additional requirements;

1. In case during the course of voyage to discharge port, the Statutory surveys will become overdue, the vessel is not to undertake a loaded foreign voyage without obtaining a written dispensation from the Directorate prior start of the voyage.
2. To undergo a Superintendent inspection (prior proceeding to last load port just prior dry-dock) to ensure that the vessel is compliant with all Statutory requirements in case of a PSC inspection.
3. Inspection by RO of Owners/ Operators choice (after Superintendent Inspection and prior proceeding to load port just prior to dry-dock) to ensure that the vessel is compliant with all Statutory requirements in case of a PSC inspection.
4. Master/Chief Engineer to fill up check list and forward same to office by email as mentioned in para ‘2 b’ above, prior berthing each port.

g. All Shipping Companies are required to brief Master/CE/Chief Officer & Second Engineer prior joining about all the requirements stated in Engineering Circular 01 of 2019 and Engineering Circular 5 of 2017. The pre-joining checklist is to be amended to include this requirement.

3. Ship owners/ operators and masters are advised to be guided by above and ensure compliance

Enclosure:

1. DG shipping Engineering Circular No. 01 of 2019

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.

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