NAUTICAL  BRANCH CIRCULAR NO : NT/ISPS/SHIP/04/2009

Dated : 1st April, 2009
 

Subject : Amendments to Ship Security Plans of Indian Ships - Incorporating Security measures issued by Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) for vessels transiting Gulf of Aden (GoA)

            The Directorate General of Shipping is aware of the serious safety and security concerns of the shipping fraternity and seafaring community resulting from the attacks against ships navigating in waters off the Somalian waters / Gulf of Aden region.  In view of large number of hijacking incidents occurring in the Gulf of Aden or in proximity of Somalian waters, this area is considered to be high-risk area from security point of view. The Directorate has been issuing various security advisories and circulars to Indian Ship masters, ship owners and ship managers for the purpose of reporting and planning their ship transits through the defined security corridor to avoid / mitigate the possibility of a prospective pirate attack / incident.  

2.         Based on the experience gained from the large numbers of Ship Security Plans (SSP's) received at this Directorate for approval, it is observed that these Ship Security Plans (SSP's) require to be updated to include information contained in such security circulars and security advisories issued by the Directorate General of Shipping to all Indian vessels transiting Gulf of Aden region.  

3.         All Ship-masters, Ship-Owners, Managers, Operators, Ship Agents are requested to ensure that the Ship Security Plans (SSP's) are suitably amended to include SECURITY MEASURES laid down in such security circulars and advisories issued by this Directorate. Furthermore, Ship Security Officers (SSOs) are encouraged to include guidelines issued by other contracting parties as well. 

4.         The Ship Security Plans (SSP's) shall include the provision of mandatory reporting on an occurrence of piracy incident / attack / hijacking while the vessel is transiting Gulf of Aden (GoA) region. Such incidents shall be reported to DG Comm Centre (24 X 7) immediately or within 24 hours of incident. The Contact details of the DG Comm centre are as follows:

Tel Nos.:         00 91 - 22 - 2261 0606; 2261 4646; 3295 9320;

Fax No.:          00 91 - 22 - 2261 3636;

E-mail Ids:      dgcommcentre@satyammail.net;  dgcommcentre@vsnl.net;  

5.         The Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Principal Officer (PO) of all the Mercantile Marine Departments (MMD'S) are requested to guide their Auditors /  Surveyors to verify compliance of para 3 & 4 of this circular duly in the Ship's Security Plans (SSP's), while conducting VERIFICATION AUDIT for Issuance of International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) to the ship. 

6.         The above is for your information and necessary action.

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

           Sd/-
(Capt. R.K. Awasthi)
Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG(Tech)

Back to nt circulars main page