1. The Directorate regularly receives several queries
on the subject of fitment of life saving appliances, Radio
communication equipments, navigational equipments etc
on Indian Ships.
2. In accordance with section 283 of the M.S. Act, 1958,
Safety Convention includes International Convention for
the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 74 as amended and all
Indian ships are required to comply with the requirements
of the Safety Convention as applicable.
3. Attention is invited to the applicable IMO Resolutions,
circulars and recommendations with respect to general
requirements for life saving appliances, Radio communication
equipments and Navigational equipments as mentioned in
chapters III, IV and V of the SOLAS 74 as amended respectively.
4. Attention is also invited to provisions under various
Merchant Shipping Rules notified in gazette of India and
made under the relevant sections of the M S Act, 1958
wherein certain responsibilities and authority have been
vested with the Nautical Advisor to the Government of
India.
5. In accordance with such M.S. Rules, unless otherwise
expressly provided in these rules, life saving appliances,
and navigational equipments and Radio communication equipments
carried on an Indian ship and their arrangements shall
comply with the requirements of these rules and shall
be tested in accordance with relevant IMO recommendations.
Appropriate plans and relevant equipment falling under
LSA, Navigation or Radio communication must be approved
by the Nautical Adviser to the Government of India.
6. Indian ships newly built outside India, are required
to ensure that such equipment comply to relevant parts
of SOLAS 74 as amended including applicable IMO Recommendations
etc and are approved by the Maritime Administrations of
respective countries of manufacture of that equipment
for their acceptance by the Nautical Adviser to the Govt.
of India.
7. Newly acquired second hand Indian ships, are like-wise
required to ensure that such equipments comply to relevant
parts of SOLAS 74 as amended including applicable IMO
recommendations and must be approved by Maritime Administrations
of respective countries in which such equipments are manufactured.
In order to ensure verification of such compliance, all
ship owners /ship managers of newly acquired vessels must
forward details of aforesaid compliance to the Nautical
Adviser to the Govt. of India for grant of their acceptance
certificate.
8. Under ISM Code, it is mandatory that requirements
of maritime legislation be incorporated in the safety
management system of the ship and the company. Non-compliance
with national legislation is tantamount to violation of
the principles of the safety management system. Carriage
of duly approved equipment aboard ships for safe operation
of ships forms an important part of ISM compliance.
In view of foregoing, all ship owners, ship managers,
ship builders and classification societies are urged to
ensure that equipments referred to in para 5 above fitted
on Indian ships are approved by the Nautical Advisor to
the Government of India.
This issues with the approval of the Director General
of Shipping.
Sd/-
(Capt. S.K.Mishra)
Nautical Surveyor
