India provides clarifications on inspection of cargo ships

The Indian Ministry of Shipping provided more details on the certification and survey of Indian Flag Cargo vessels.

As informed, inspections are conducted by recognized organizations such as American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), DNV-GL(AS), Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) , Korean Register of Shipping (KRS), Lloyd’s Register (LR), Nippon Kaiji Kayokai (NKK) and Registro Italian Navale (RINA).

In order to exercise control over the quality of surveys and also for maintenance of ships between surveys, the Indian Flag vessels are inspected by Flag Surveyors (Government Surveyors at various offices of Mercantile Marine Departments) as part of Flag State Interventions (FSI) regime.

The control of Foreign Flag vessels visiting India is conducted under Port State Control (PSC) regime by Government Surveyors at various Mercantile Marine Departments.

Indian Flag Vessels are inspected as per guidelines given in Merchant Shipping Notice 4 of 2017. Foreign Ships visiting India are inspected as per guidelines given in Merchant Shipping Notice 04 of 2017 and International Maritime Organization Resolution 1052(27): “Procedures for Port State Control 2011”.                                                                          

Any violation during inspection results in detention of vessel, which is not allowed to sail till the violation is rectified.  Detention fine is levied on vessels in accordance with Director General of Shipping (DGS) Finance & Accounts Circular 13 of 2010 for both Indian Flag and Foreign Flag vessels detained for violations.

The number of violations detected in Flag State Inspections in 2017 (up to June) is 12 ships and the violations in Port State Control Inspections are 11, while the numbers for 2016 were 19 and 19 respectively