Dated: April 1, 2005

   
          Directorate is accountable to the Public, Parliament, Ministry, Press and other Stakeholders to readily explain any major events related to our scope of work.

 2.      In a recent case, an incident related to a missing officer from one of the Indian vessels was not communicated to the Director-General of Shipping in time, as a result, the requisite information could not be given to the Ministry.

 3.      Accordingly, all concerned are directed that any developments such as marine casualties, oil pollution, information in the news papers or periodicals or any other developments related to the functions of D.G. Shipping, which may attract attention of public, parliament, press, Ministry or other stakeholders, should be brought to the notice of the Director-General of Shipping immediately, if required, on his residential telephone even during holidays/off office hours or when the Director-General is on tour, on his mobile, so that all concerned can be suitably briefed.

 4.      It would also be pertinent to add that sensitive and important issues relating to shipping casualties must be handled centrally by one nominated branch alone in order to avoid duplication of work and avoidance of confusion.  It is clarified that the Nautical Branch is the nodal branch for shipping causalities of all nature.

Sd/-
(G.S. Sahni)
Director General of Shipping &
ex. officio Additional Secretary to Govt. of India