DG Shipping – Know it better

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If you landed here in search of DG Shipping, then you should visit its website or the below address

but if you wish to know about this institution and why it holds such an important place in a life of an Indian Seafarer, let’s dive in.

Visit here for extensive contact details.

सागरा: सुपंथान: संतु

“May the sea be on right path“

What is in the name?

The full form is DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, where

Directorate : a section of a government department in charge of a particular activity

Directorate-General : are departments with specific zones of responsibility, here the responsibility related to shipping

So, it is an attached office under the Ministry of Shipping India, which implements the shipping policy and legislates for Indian registered ships and ships at Indian ports. The Director General of Shipping is vested with statutory powers under Section 7 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, and is responsible for implementation of the provisions of the Act.

Also Read

7 important travel documents you should know as a seafarer.

How DG Shipping works?

DG Shipping came into existence post independence in 1949, with other directorates as

• Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
• Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)
• Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D)
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation
• Directorate of Enforcement

Objectives

• SAFETY of life and ships at sea
• prevention of MARINE POLLUTION, 
• promotion of MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING in co-ordination with the IMO.
• regulation of EMPLOYMENT and WELFARE of seafarers
• DEVELOPMENT of coastal shipping
• AUGUMENTATION of shipping tonnage
• EXAMINATION and CERTIFICATION of Merchant Navy Officers
• SUPERVISE and CONTROL of the allied offices under its administrative jurisdiction

The organization is broadly divided into two departments

1. Administrative or Non-Technical Department
2. Technical Department
   • Nautical Wing
   • Engineering Wing
   • Naval Architecture Wing

Administrative or Non-Technical Department

The Director-General of Shipping and other non-technical and administrative officers derive statutory, financial and administrative powers from the Fundamental Rules and Supplementary Rules, General Financial Rules, Delegation of Financial Power Rules, Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and the Rules framed thereunder, etc. and also discharge functions in accordance with the administrative instructions and guidelines issued by the Government of India from time to time.

The Team

• Joint Director General of Shipping (1)
• Deputy Director General of Shipping (6)
• Assistant Director General of Shipping (9)
• Joint Director (Official Language) (1)
• Executive Officer (3)
• Assistant Director (Official Language) (2)
• Senior Personal Assistant (4)

Mode of processing and disposal of work: 

• Receipts from Central Diary are sent directly to the Branch Heads (Jt. DDG/ DDG).
• Branch Heads send the receipts to Branch Officers (ADGs, EOs, JD(OL) and AD(OL) with remarks, if any.
• Branch Officers send the receipts to the concerned Branches with remarks, if any.
• Lower Division Clerk in the Branch diaries the receipts and distributes to the concerned Dealing Assistants.
• Dealing Assistants examine, process and put up the receipts in relevant files to the Office Superintendent.
• Office Superintendent after scrutiny and examination put up the cases to the Branch Officer with recommendations.
• Branch Officer put up the cases to Branch Heads with recommendations.
• Branch Heads may either dispose of the cases directly or refer to DGS for orders/approval wherever necessary.
• The files then travel down to the Branch where the decision is communicated to the concerned. 

Jt. DG             –  Joint Director General of Shipping
DDG               – Deputy Director General of Shipping
ADG               – Assistant Director General of Shipping
JD (OL)          – Joint Director (Official Language) 
AD (OL)         – Assistant Director (Official Language)
EO                  – Executive Officer

Nautical Wing (Technical)

The following functions and duties are being performed by the Nautical wing: –

• Examination (Nautical) – Conduct and issuance of certificates for all grades including foreign going, near coastal vessel, fishing and dredging grades.
• Casualty Investigation – Merchant vessels, fishing vessels, sailing vessels registered under Merchant Shipping Act and other seagoing vessels in Indian ports and plying near Indian coast.
• ISPS Code – Approval of port facility, security assessment, port and ship security plans, verification of port and ship security plan implementation and issuance of statement of compliance for ports and ships security certificates to ships. 
• Piracy – Data compilation, legislation and policy decision for Indian ports, Indian coast and ships.  Deliberations with other national and international agencies dealing with piracy.
• Life Saving Appliances – Plan approval for ships, proto type approval and type approval for use on board Indian ships.
• Training – Navigation, cargo, operation of ship and care of persons, communication ISPS for seafarers and port personnel – preparation of guidelines and technical advice.
• Plan approvals – Life Saving Appliances, Light & Sound Signals, Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP), Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan (SMPEP), Procedure and Arrangement Manual (P&A Manual), Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (GMDSS), Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Wheelhouse arrangement.
• Registration – Allocation of name, call sign, signal letters & MMSI number, maintenance of central registry and mortgages.
• Navigational Safety in Ports – Co-ordination with Chief Hydrographer and DGLL to ensure navigational safety in private ports. Issuance of guidelines and Navigational Safety in Ports Committee (NSPC) clearance to private ports.
• VTMS  (Vessel Traffic Management Systems) – Co-ordinate with DGLL and Chief Hydrographer for planning, manning, maintenance and training related to various VTMS schemes on Indian coast.
• Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) – Interact with DGLL and advise on installation, maintenance, modification and modernization of Light House, Light Ships and Light buoys. 
• Safe Manning – Issue safe manning guidelines for nautical and communication discipline.
• Dispensation (Manning) – Safe manning, age, family and supernumerary’s dispensation.
• Dispensation (Equipment) – Life saving, Lights and Sound signals, radio equipment, navigational equipments and cargo equipment dispensation.
• Inland waters – Declaration of inland water limits, granting of voyage permissions, formulation of policy and guidelines for plying I.V. vessels beyond I.V. limits.
• Pollution – Representation in Civil Liability Convention (CLC), Fund Convention, Cess collection, Co-ordination with Coast Guard and chemical pollution, formulation of policy and guidelines for related areas of SOPEP, SMPEP, P&A & oil pollution compensation.
• Search & Rescue – Formulation of policy, guidelines and co-ordination with Coast Guard, ships and shipping companies.
• Quality – Implementation of quality requirements as prescribed under Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) Convention. Periodical internal and external audits and maintenance of ISO 9001 certificate.
• Parliamentary questions – Advise Director General of Shipping on questions dealing with functions of nautical wing.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) – Preparation of brief, attending meetings, implementing Conventions, Codes, Circulars and Guidelines relevant to nautical wing.
• Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) – Preparation of brief, attending meetings and implementation of directives relevant to nautical wing.
• Naval documents – Formulation of policy, guidelines and interaction with Navy for carriage of naval documents on Indian Merchant Vessels.
• Crisis / Disaster Management – Preparation of crisis/disaster management plans, policy, guidelines and coordination with different agencies for various types of maritime disasters such as cyclone, tsunami, earthquake, fire, pollution, hijacking and other security related incidents.
• Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) – LRIT’s main purpose is for National & International : Search & Rescue, Security and Environmental protection. LRIT tracks vessels globally and is also useful for tracking and monitoring ships in coastal areas.

The Team

• Nautical Adviser to the Government of India (1)
• Principal Officer (2)
• Deputy Nautical Adviser to the Government of India (5)
• Nautical Surveyor (21)
• Indian Maritime Casualty Investigation Cell (3)
• Sr. Radio Surveyor (2)
• Radio Inspector (6)

Nautical Adviser is concurrently the Chief Examiners of Masters/Mates

Mode of processing and disposal of work: 

• Receipts from Central Diary are sent directly to the Branch Head (Nautical Adviser).
• Branch Head sends the receipts to Branch Officers (Dy. NAs) with remarks, if any.
• Branch Officers send the receipts to the Branch with remarks, if any.
• Lower Division Clerk in the Branch diaries the receipts and distributes to the concerned Dealing Assistants.
• Dealing Assistants examine, process and put up the receipts in relevant files to the Office Superintendent.
• Office Superintendent after scrutiny and examination put up the cases to the Branch Officers with recommendations.
• Branch Officers put up the cases to Branch Head with recommendations.
• Branch Head may either dispose of the cases directly or refer to DGS for orders/ approval wherever necessary.
• The files then travel down to the Branch where the decision is communicated to the concerned. 

Dy. NA           – Deputy Nautical Adviser to the Govt. of India
NS                   –  Nautical Surveyor

Engineering Wing (Technical)

The following functions and duties are being performed by the Engineering wing:

• Examination (Engineering) – Conduct and issuance of certificates of Competency for Engineers  for all grades including foreign going, near coastal vessel, fishing and dredging vessels.
• Casualty Investigation – Merchant vessels, fishing vessels, sailing vessels registered under Merchant Shipping Act and other vessels on Indian coast.
• ISM Code – ISM Audits of shipping companies and ships and issuance of certificates to ships and office. 
• Fire Fighting Appliances – Inspection and approval for use on Indian ships.
• Training – Engineering, preparation of guidelines and technical advice and approval as per STCW Convention and DG Shipping guidelines.
• Plan approvals – Fire Fighting Appliances and Control Plans, Oil Discharge Monitoring Control, International Oil Pollution Prevention equipment under MARPOL, Fuel Oil Control Plans, P & A Manuals,  etc.
• Registration – Ship repairing Unit, Bunker Suppliers
• Workshop Approval – Workshops involved in manufacturing and servicing of fire fighting appliances and equipment, Life Saving Appliances 
• Safe Manning – Engine discipline for ships
• Dispensation – Safe manning, age, family and other supernumeraries.
• Pollution –  Technical Investigation into Oil Pollution incidents, enforcement of MARPOL 73/78.
• Scrutiny – Technical scrutiny of proposal for ships acquisition, Price reasonableness for ships built by Indian Yards claiming subsidy from Government
• Flag State Implementation –  application and enforcement of SOLAS Regulations for Cargo and Passenger Ships   
• Quality – Implementation of Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping (STCW).
• Parliamentary questions – Dealing with the questions relevant to engineering wing.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) – Preparation of brief, Attending meetings, implementing Conventions, Codes, Circulars and Guidelines relevant to Engineering wing
• Ballast Water – Control, management and enforcement of Ballast Water discharge from ships as per the Convention

The Team

• Chief Surveyor with the Government of India (1)
• Principal Officer (3)
• Deputy Chief Surveyor (8)
• Engineer & Ship Surveyor (29)
• Engineer & Ship Surveyor (Indian Maritime Casualty Investigation Cell) (2)

The Chief Surveyor is concurrently the Chief Examiner of Engineers.

Mode of processing and disposal of work: 

• Receipts from Central Diary are sent directly to the Branch Head (Chief Surveyor).
• Branch Head sends the receipts to Branch Officers (Dy. CSs) with remarks, if any.
• Branch Officers send the receipts to the Branch with remarks, if any.
• Lower Division Clerk in the Branch diaries the receipts and distributes to the concerned Dealing Assistants.
• Dealing Assistants examine, process and put up the receipts in relevant files to the Office Superintendent.
• Office Superintendent after scrutiny and examination put up the cases to the Branch Officers with recommendations.
• Branch Officers put up the cases to Branch Head with recommendations.
• Branch Head may either dispose of the cases directly or refer to DGS for orders/ approval wherever necessary.
• The files then travel down to the Branch where the decision is communicated to the concerned. 

Dy. CS            – Deputy Chief Surveyor with the Govt. of India
E&SS              –  Engineer and Ship Surveyor

Naval Architecture Wing (Technical)

The officers of the Naval Architecture Wing perform the following powers and duties:-

• Port State Control and Flag State Control – Monitoring of inspections and activities, upkeep of database, investigation of PSC/FSI detention cases, report to IMO/IOMOU.
• Plan approval – Structural Fire Protection, Crew Accommodation, Design and structural plans.
• Approvals  – Trim and Stability, Damage Stability, Grain Stability, Sub-division Calculations, Tonnage Computations.
• Manual Approval – Loading operations and cargo securing manuals.
• Loadline assignment – Assignment of Govt. of India Load   Line.
• Certificates – Issuance of Load line Certificates.
• Technical Clearance – Scrutiny of proposals for ships acquisition.
• Parliamentary questions – Dealing with the questions relevant to Naval Arch Wing.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) – Preparation of brief, Attending meetings, implementing Conventions, Codes, Circulars and Guidelines relevant to Naval Arch Wing.
• Monitoring – Review of Condition Assessment Scheme Survey reports, issue of Statement of Compliance.
• Survey – Survey matters pertaining to Hull and Load Line.
• RO’s work – Monitoring of survey work delegated to ROs.
• Design approval – Approval of designs for Life Boats, Rescue Boats and Life Rafts.
• Material approval – Approval of Structural Fire Protection materials such as Fire Class Doors, Bulkhead and Ceiling Panels, Flooring, Insulation, Curtains, etc.

The Team

• Chief Ship Surveyor with the Government of India (1)
• Deputy Chief Ship Surveyor (1)
• Ship Surveyor (7)
• Junior Ship Surveyor (1)

Mode of processing and disposal of work: 

• Receipts from Central Diary are sent directly to the Branch Head (Chief Ship Surveyor).
• Branch Head sends the receipts to Branch Officer (Dy. CSS) with remarks, if any.
• Branch Officer send the receipts to the Branch with remarks, if any.
• Lower Division Clerk in the Branch diaries the receipts and distributes to the concerned Dealing Assistant.
• Dealing Assistant examine, process and put up the receipts in relevant files to the Branch Officer.
• Branch Officer put up the cases to Branch Head with recommendations.
• Branch Head may either dispose of the cases directly or refer to DGS for orders/ approval wherever necessary.
• The files then travel down to the Branch where the decision is communicated to the concerned. 

Dy. CSS    –  Deputy Chief Ship Surveyor
Jr. SS  –  Junior Ship Surveyor

Who Is the Director of this Directorate?

Shri Shyam Jagannathan, is the current director of DG Shipping India, an IAS officer of the 1997 Assam-Meghalaya cadre. He is on central deputation since May 2021 and will serve as director at DG Shipping for three years.

What is MMD then?

This acronym is more famous than SOLAS, ISM and IMO among seafarers. Every seafarer has visited this age old building once in their career (being modest here). MMD stands for MERCANTILE MARINE DEPARTMENT where,

Mercantile : something that relates to trade or commerce

The Mercantile Marine Department, was set up in 1929 to implement the first SOLAS Convention and Load Line Conventions. Pre-independence, this institution was under the Government and not Ministry of Shipping, till the establishment of the Directorate General of Shipping at Mumbai in 1949.

The main objectives of MMDs are

• to administer the various Merchant Shipping Laws and rules relating to safety of ships and life at sea
• registration of ships
• tonnage measurement
• crew accommodation
• surveys for
  • load line
  • safety construction
  • prevention of pollution
  • radio equipments onboard
• inquiries into shipping casualties and wrecks
• inspection and approval of statutory equipments like
  • wireless telegraphy
  • Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems
  • navigational aids
  • pollution prevention equipment
  • LSA, FFA
• supervision of repairs
• construction of ships on behalf of State and Central Govt. Organizations
• Port State Control inspection
• examination and certification of various grades of Certificates of competency

When the DG Shipping was formed the MMDs worked as the their “Field offices“.

MMDs are the holy places for seafarers, it grants your patience and perseverance in a grand way.

– someone after ship’s party

Where are these MMDs?

MMDs are functioning at these five places:

1. MMD Mumbai which also operates through MMD Goa and an extension to its examination cell from MMD Noida.
2. MMD Kolkata which has its sub ordinate offices at MMD Port Blair, MMD Haldia and MMD Paradip.
3. MMD Chennai extends its administrative controls through MMD Visakhapatnam and MMD Tuticorin.
4. MMD Kandla a preferably newer addition also operates through MMD Jamnagar as its administrative extension.
5. MMD Kochi which also operates from MMD Mangalore as its sub-ordinate office.

Contact Details

MMD Mumbai	Old CGO Building, M.K. Road, Mumbai-400 020 Locate	Tel No: 022-2203 9881/ 2203 9883/9981/9781 E-mail : mumbai-mmd@gov.in
MMD Goa	Headland Sada, Goa-403 804 Locate	Tel No : 0832-2520617 E-mail : goammd@gmail.com sic-mmd.goa@gov.in
MMD Noida	IWAI Bhawan, 3rd Floor,  A-13, Sector-01,  Noida-201301(U.P.) Locate	Tel No : 0120-2420742 E-mail : mmdnoida-exam-ship@gov.in E-mail : exame.noida-mmd@gov.in
MMD Kolkata	Marine House, Hastings, Kolkata-700 022 Locate	Tel No: 033-2223 0236/37/38/0229 E-mail : pommd.kol-wb@gov.in pommdkol@yahoo.com
MMD Port Blair	P.B.No. 20, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands-744 101 Locate	Tel No : 03192-232530 E-mail : mmd.portblair@gov.in
MMD Haldia	Chiranjibpur (Opp. BSNL Office Building), East Medinipur, Haldia-721604 West Bengal Locate	Tel No : 03224 – 252323 / 252968 E-Mail : mmdhaldia@gmail.com
MMD Paradip	Opp. Central School, Dist. Jagatsinghpur,  Paradip, Orissa – 754 142  Locate	Tel No : 06722 – 220053 E-mail : paradip-sicmmd@gov.in
MMD Chennai	Anchorgate Building, 2nd Floor, P.B.No.5004, RajajiSalai,  Chennai -600 001 Locate	Tel No : 044-25255555 (Board) 044-25233336  (Direct) E-mail : chennai-mmd@gov.in
MMD Visakhapatnam	MMD Staff Quarters Complex, Salagramapuram, Visakhapatnam- 530 024 Locate	Tel No : 0891-250148/2525475 (O) E-mail : sic.vizag-mmd@gov.in
MMD Tuticorin	New Port Area,  Tuticorin-628 004 Locate	Tel No : 0461-2352872 (O) E-mail : sic.ttn-mmd@gov.in
MMD Kandla	Plot No. 16, Sector-8,Government Office Area, Behind KPT Admin Building, Near Maitri Bhavan, Gandhidham, Pin Code- 370201 Locate	Tel No. : 02836-297015 (D) Tel No. : 02836-297127/28 (O) PO’s Email : skd-dgs@gov.in Office E-mail : kandla-mmd@gov.in
MMD Jamnagar	3rd floor, Deep Bhavan, Pandit Nehru Marg, Jamnagar – 361 008 Locate	Tel No : 0288-2752873 SIC’s Email : sic.jamnagar-mmd@gov.in  Office Email : jamnagar-mmd@gov.in
MMD Kochi	Mercantile Marine Department  Willingdon Island, North End PO Kochi – 682 009 Locate	Tel No: 0484-2666489 /2587000-38 e-mail : po.mmd-ker@gov.in
MMD Mangalore	“A” block,  First Floor, MMD Resi Qtr. Bldg, 23rd Street, NMPT Colony Panambur, Mangalore  575 010. Locate	Tel No. : 0824-2400430/2407572 e-mail :  mlr-sicmmd@gov.in

What are Allied Offices & Autonomous Bodies related to DG Shipping India?

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DG Shipping is an inevitable part of seafarer’s life and we can all agree that the website for the DG Shipping needs a revamp to make it more user friendly, user specific and easy to navigate. Till then this website is no less than a rough sea and we all know it makes the best sailors.

In meantime, please share us some of your MMD experiences down below.

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