17th November, 2009

(In Supersession of DGS Order No. 06 of 2009, dated 09-10-2009)

Pursuant to recommendations of the Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department, Chennai and Several Representations from the Sailing Vessels Owner's Associations and realizing the importance of trade to meet demand of essential commodities in the region and considering the social problems of unemployment of sailing vessel seamen, in partial relaxation to MS Notice No. 28 of 2009, the Director General of Shipping had issued DGS Order No. 06 of 2009 on 09-10-2009. 

 However, in the resubmission dated 28-10-2009, Indian Motored Vessel Owners Association and Coastal Mechanised Sail Vessel Owners Association, Tuticorin, have expressed that Indian Registrar of Shipping surveyors, due to Honb'le High Court of Andhra Pradesh Order dated 01-05-2009 are not available for conducting MSV inspection/survey and it was realized that plying of MSV's between Tuticorin and Maldives was not addressed, the Director General of Shipping in supersession of DGS Order No. 06 of 2009 is hereby pleased to order as follows:-

1.         The concerned Registrars of Sailing Vessel, Port Administrations and Custom Commissioner may allow plying of MSV's in Gulf of Mannar (between Tuticorin and Colombo route and Tuticorin to Maldives) region during foul weather of North East (NE) Monsoon Season (1^st November to 31^st December) provided such MSV's meet following criteria:-  

1. (a) Between Tuticorin and Colombo Route:-        

i) At least one general inspection by MMD concerned before the first voyage is under taken with special emphasis on condition of closing appliances. 

ii) Observance of traffic discipline with respect to plying on an agreed pre-determined route wherein, such vessel is never more than 20 miles from land in Gulf of Mannar. 

iii) Confirmation of settled weather condition outlook for next 24 hours from the Port Administration (Port Control) of commencement of voyage.   

   (b) Between Tuticorin and Maldives Route:-

i) At least one general inspection by MMD concerned before the first voyage is under taken with special emphasis on condition of closing appliances. 

ii) Observance of traffic discipline with respect to plying on an agreed pre-determined route wherein, such vessel is never more than 10 miles from land in Gulf of Mannar upto Manpad Port and thereafter sets a course to Maldivian Port and vice-versa.  

iii) Three day advance weather report to be obtained by vessels during the sailings from Tuticorin or Maldives prior to departure. 

iv) If any time during the voyage the weather is likely to exceed wind force 3-4 of Beaufort Scale (12 knots), the voyage would be deferred till a favorable weather window is available.                                                                              

2.         The concerned Registrars of Sailing Vessel, Port Administrations and Custom Commissioner may allow plying of MSV's in Andaman and Nicobar Islands region (Inter Island routes) during foul weather of North East (NE) Monsoon Season (1^st October to 15^th November) provided such MSV's meet following criteria:-

i) At least one general inspection by MMD concerned before the first voyage is under taken with special emphasis on condition of closing appliances. 

ii) Observance of traffic discipline with respect to plying on an agreed pre-determined route wherein, such vessel is never more than 12 hours passage to or from a place or port of shelter / haven in Andaman and Nicobar Islands region.     

iii) Confirmation of settled weather condition outlook for next 24 hours from the Port Administration (Port Control) of commencement of voyage.   

During the period of this interim permission of two months, the association should obtain historical meteorological data of the region and submit to this Directorate to review the Rules and sustain plying of sailing vessels in these months. 

This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping.

Sd/-
 (Capt. S.K. Shukla)
Dy. Nautical Adviser

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