Dated:19th January, 2007

Sub: Submission of information under Clause viii of form III of RPS Rules.

1.         In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 95 of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), the Central Government has promulgated Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules, 2005 (RPS Rules) vide notification No. G.S.R. 182(E) dated 18.3.2005. These Rules have been further amended by notification No. G.S.R. 580 dated 14th September, 2005. 

2.         RPS Rules provide a mechanism for protection of Indian seafarers working on Indian and Foreign flag vessels and the necessary safeguards for their repatriation in the event of their being stranded or during such other exigencies, when the ship owner fails to discharge the duty of repatriating the seafarers to the home port of the seaman. 

3.         All Registered Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) providers vide Clause viii of Form-III, submitted upon approval for registration or renewal of registration, have committed to submitting a monthly report to the Director General of Shipping/Seamen’s Employment Offices. The Form in which this information is submitted is not specified.  In default, all registered RPS providers are submitting information in Form-IV prescribed under Rule 5(1)(h) to all Seamen's Employment Offices to maintain a register on information received from the RPS providers.

4.         A review of Form-IV has led to the conclusion that the information maintained by SEOs is needed to monitor the workload of the RPS and broad parameters of their work but is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the M.S. Act 1958 to trace the RPS providers if a person is injured/missing/dies etc. during their contract period on board the ship.  It is therefore decided to prescribe a separate Form IIIA which all RPS providers shall submit every month.

5.         It is clarified that subsequent to the requirement of submission of Form-IIIA, RPS providers are not required to submit the existing Form-IV.

6.         Form-IIIA is being made available “online”, w.e.f. 1^st February, 07.  Therefore, the submission of Form-IIIA can be rendered by logging in to the website of the Directorate www.dgshipping.com.   All registered RPS providers are required to comply with the same and are to obtain user name and passwords by sending an e-mail to kris@dgshipping.com or savita@dgshipping.com latest by 25^th January, 07.

7.         All SEOs are required to continue to maintain documentation with respect to each RPS providers as required under Clause 5 of RPS Rules.

8.         All RPS providers are advised to fill in the required data on Form IIIA “online”, on daily or weekly but not later than monthly basis.

9.         This issues with the approval of Director General of Shipping & Ex-officio Additional Secretary to Government of India.

  Sd/-
(Capt. Harish Khatri)
Dy. Director General of Shipping