Sri Vijaya Puram, June 1: This is for information and compliance of all concerned including the Ship Liners and Cargo Ship Operators that, the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai has issued advisory and instructions on Safe Voyage Planning for General Cargo Ships Operating between Mainland and A&N Islands and within the A&N Islands in Monsoon and Rough Weather Condition vide DGS Circular No. 58 of 2025 dated 15.12.2025.
The DG Shipping, Mumbai further clarified the applicability of requirements prescribed in the said DGS Circular for vessels operating in the A&N region including monsoon-fitness survey obligations, age-based restrictions, the exemption status of certain cargo/container vessels, weather dependent sailing permission, loading of inspection requirements and the conditions governing the operation of vessels above 40 years of age during fair-weather windows, as stipulated below:
•The scope of the pre-monsoon or monsoon-fitness survey shall be clarified to the effect that, where the annual or renewal survey is carried out between January and April, the monsoon-related checks may be conducted concurrently through IRS; otherwise, a separate pre-monsoon inspection may be undertaken one to two months prior to the onset of monsoon. The scope of pre-monsoon survey will be as per the guidance provided in the circular.
•It was clarified that vessels carrying the class notation “certified to carry containers” do not come under the ambit of the applicability of DGS Circular No. 58 of 2025, since the circular provides requirements for general cargo vessels.
•It shall be recorded and circulated to the Owners/Port Authorities that permission from MMD for monsoon-season operation will remain conditional upon local weather forecasts, and that both the Port Authority and the Master must satisfy themselves that the forecast is acceptable prior to departure; wind speed below 20 knots and wave height below 2 metres may be treated as the indicative threshold.
•In respect of vessels engaged in inter-island voyages of short duration, carriage of specified construction material such as stone (in bulk), sand (carried in bags) and other general cargo, where conditionally permitted, may be allowed by IRS/MMD subject to approved cargo stowage, due diligence by the Owner, and vetting of the loading plan.
•A vessel-specific approved loading plan shall be prepared by the Owners/Operators, and its verification shall be carried out by a third-party surveyor wherever available; in the absence of third-party surveyor, the standard loading condition, stability particulars, and loading plan shall be vetted and approved by IRS/MMD and the Harbour Master prior to departure.
•The Harbour Master, Port Officer and Master shall verify the load line and actual loading condition at the port of departure, including recording the date and time of departure and photographic evidence of the hatch condition before and after loading, and shall retain a copy of the master-certified actual loading condition. Copy of departure conditions to be submitted to the MMD.
•A compliance checklist, in the format prescribed by MMD Kolkata, shall be furnished by stakeholders prior to each voyage.