Taking in to cognizance the difficulties faced by Offshore Industry in complying with the S.D. Circular No. 1 of 2007 for offshore vessels chartered for operations in Indian waters / Indian Offshore fields, the Directorate, in partial modification of S.D. Circular No. 1 of 2007,  hereby issues following revised guidelines for vessels carrying more than 12 special personnel. 

(1)        Self propelled vessels carrying less than 50 special personnel will be exempted from compliance with Damaged Stability and Bilge Pumping Arrangements, as additionally required under SPS Code. 

(2)        Non-propelled vessels may either comply with SPS Code provisions    as stipulated under S.D. Circular No. 1 of 2007 with the exemption as stated under para (3) below or MODU Code, as applicable, in its entirety. 

(3)        For non propelled vessels, instead of compliance with Chapter 2 of the SPS Code (Stability, Subdivision and Bilge pumping arrangement), compliance with relevant provisions as per MODU Code will be acceptable. 

(4)        For both self propelled and non-self propelled vessels, dispensation from the provision of lifeboat, if additionally required under the provisions of SPS Code, will be considered, provided; the vessel carries a Fast Rescue boat and 150 per cent life rafts on both sides of the vessel.  

(5)        With regard to compliance with SD Circular 1 of 2007 is concerned, license will be issued for a period of three months from the date of issue of this circular for vessels complying with the SPS Code provisions stipulated for the season 2007-2008, provided they comply with all other requirements stipulated by the Directorate vide SD Circular 1 of 2008 and its amendments. Such vessels must obtain SPS / MODU Code compliance certificate during this period taking in to consideration the aforesaid revised requirements, if they intent to continue their operation in Indian waters / Indian offshore fields beyond this period.  

(6)        Where a ship does not fully comply with the SPS Code provisions but is certified  to meet a safety standard that closely approximates that of the Code, the Directorate, after due examination of the technical aspects of the vessel, if satisfied that compliance with a particular provision of S D Circular 1 of 2007 would be unreasonable, having regard to the type of ship, its equipment and its intended voyage, exempt the ship from compliance with that provision, as long as the exemption is consistent with the Code. 

      The above relaxations shall be applicable for operation of the offshore vessels in fair season only. 

      This issues with the approval of Director General of Shipping.

 
                                                                                                                              Sd/-
[SURESH KUMAR R M]
Dy Chief Ship Surveyor-cum-Sr. DDG (Tech)