Now, registration mandatory for all shipping vessels

2016-12-21

Now, registration mandatory for all shipping vessels

The Ministry of Shipping has issued a directive asking vessels of all sizes to be registered with the respective state fisheries departments. The order, issued recently, keeping coastal security issues into focus, directs smaller fishing vessels, in particular, to come under the scanner.

Earlier in 2013, Ministry of Shipping in a notification had made registration mandatory for Indian flagged fishing boats with a length of 20 metre and above. These vessels had to be registered with the Mercantile Marine Department.

Now, in an order issued last month, those boats of 20 metre and above length will come under the purview of Directorate Generate of Shipping, “whereas fishing vessels of below 20-metre length may be registered by the Fisheries Departments of states and union territories,” reads the order.

Measures on registering boats of all sizes were initiated immediately after the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, wherein terrorists had sailed to Mumbai.

Additionally, last week, Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 was introduced in the parliament that states that those who “proceed to sea without the required certificate” will attract imprisonment up to six months or a fine up to two lakh rupees, or both.

All the fishing vessels, irrespective of the tonnage and size, will also have to compulsorily carry Distress Alert Transmitters and Automatic Identification System so that the maritime security agencies can be alerted during emergency situations. In fact, for the last half a decade, security agencies have been emphasising about fishing boats need to have Distress Alert Transmitters and Automatic Identification System.

Source: DNA

Source from : International Shipping News

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