Dicky Phillip at GAC Shipping (India) PVT. LTD, Chennai, has  provided us with the following information.

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In May 2010, Government of India, Ministry of Shipping has issued a circular to all Port Trust of Indian ports in which it defined that various requirements has to be complied with by parties i.e. Shipper, Port, Vessel Agents, Ship Owners, Master and Charterers etc., these included but not limit to the following compliances:

A)    One P & I surveyor has to be appointed by the owners’ P & I club or the owners’ themselves (head owners themselves). He shall produce the job assignment letter received by him from the head owners/owners P & I club to the Authorities to confirm that he is really representing interest of the Owners (head)/their P & Club. The P & I Surveyor has to confirm/accept/certify the results obtained by the charterers’ surveyor/ shippers’ surveyor before it is submitted to the Mercantile Marine Department to issue the clearance for the vessel to sail out. This procedure is insisted to have the confirmation/assurance on the cargo loading from a surveyor who is appointed by the vessel’s interest (owners/owners P & I). In most cases, the charterers’ /shippers’ surveyors are more inclined to make savings for the cargo interests by ignoring the safety of the vessel.

B)    So also, the authorities have specified other compliances also to ensure that the safety of the vessel is ensured all through out. FYI, some of the compliances insisted are as follows;

i)             TML certificate provided the shippers together with the shipping bill to be issued by a DG Shipping approved first class laboratory.
ii)            The moisture content certificate for cargo drawn from the vessel’s holds during loading is to be issued by a Government approved laboratory.
iii)           On the completion of loading, the hold wise finding of the P & I Surveyors on the moisture content and the cargo trimming is required to be submitted.
iv)           A shift wise report of the P & I surveyor on CAN test and on spot moisture test is required to be submitted.
v)            The vessel agents to provide declaration to the port that the vessel is strengthened to load high density cargo in all the cargo holds and they are also required to submit the relevant page of the stability booklet.
vi)           There should be a continuous survey by the surveyors appointed by the charterers/Shippers. 

C)    The surveyors representing the other interests will have to work along with the P & I surveyor and their findings should meet with his satisfaction and has to be accepted/approved by him.

D)   In addition to the above, all the other specifications required to be complied with has to be ensured to get MMD (Mercantile Marine Department) clearance.

E)    Please note without MMD clearance, MDC (Marine Dues Clearance) will not be issued by the port and without MDC the Customs will not issue the port clearance.

F)    Please note understand from our enquiry that it is mandatory to have a surveyor appointed by the vessel’s head owners/owners’ P & I Club to confirm and certify the compliance by the surveyors representing the other interests.

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