INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO)

The mission of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a United Nations

specialized agency is to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient
and sustainable shipping through cooperation.

Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): Directorate General of shipping

deals with the legal aspects of shipping so as to ensure the safety of life and
ships at sea, the prevention of marine pollution, promotion of maritime
education and training in co-ordination with the International Maritime
Organization. DGS regulates the employment and welfare of seamen, conducts
exams and certifies Merchant Navy Officers and ratings. DGS also deals with
the development of coastal shipping and increase of shipping tonnage, as well
as control and supervision of its allied offices.
Mercantile Marine Department (MMD): MMD is the operational arm of
DGS. The main function of MMD includes administration of the various
Merchant shipping Laws and rules relating to the registration, tonnage
measurement and crew accommodation of ships, Surveys for safety of ships,
load line inspection, enquiries into shipping casualties and wrecks, holding of
examinations for officers and ratings, survey of passenger ships, inspection and
approval of statutory equipment such as lifesaving and firefighting appliances,
communication equipment and other navigational aids. MMD also detains
overloaded ships and unsafe ships. MMD also acts as the Port State Control,
ensures implementation of Flag State requirements, Safety Management Audit,
ship/Port facility security audit and implementation of new IMO regulations
including the STCW’95 amendments.
Shipping Master: Shipping Master employed under the Merchant Shipping
Act, 1958 carry out their duties under the general control of D.G.Shipping.
Their main duties include engagement and discharge of officers and ratings,
issuing CDC, treatment of distressed seaman, inquiries into disputes between
seaman and masters/ship owners relating to wages, ill treatment, and medical
examination. The shipping master conducts death enquiries that happen on
board the ships and is the custodian of personnel effects and wages of the
deceased/hospitalized seamen. The shipping master also visits the ship for
inspection to check the living conditions on board for seaman.
Seaman’s Provident Fund Organization: The seamen’s Provident Fund
scheme is the social security scheme for Indian Merchant Navy Seamen. The
purpose of this fund is to provide for the institution of a provident fund for
seamen as old age retirement and their family members in the event of death of
seamen members.
The Seamen’s Provident Fund is vested in and administered by Seaman’s
Provident Fund Organization.
This is a contributory provident fund and the employers are required to deposit
the provident fund contributions in respect of the seamen employed by them
with their matching contribution with the seamen’s Provident Fund organization
after the termination of each voyage. The prevailing rate of contribution is 12
% of the wages, leave wages, seniority supplement and 10% of supplement
payable to the seaman. All monies belonging to the Fund are invested in the
securities as per the pattern prescribed by the Ministry of Finance.
Seaman’s Welfare Fund Society: The seafarer’s welfare Fund Society is a
central organization for the welfare of Indian seafarers and their families.
The main objectives of the Society are as given below:
 To provide and maintain a fund by the name of the Seafarer’s welfare
Fund.
 To provide welfare facilities in general to seamen at ports in India and to
seamen engaged as per provisions of section 101 of the Merchant
Shipping Act, 1958, while at ports abroad.
Mercantile Marine Department (MMD): MMD is the operational arm of
DGS. The main function of MMD includes administration of the various
Merchant shipping Laws and rules relating to the registration, tonnage
measurement and crew accommodation of ships, Surveys for safety of ships,
load line inspection, enquiries into shipping casualties and wrecks, holding of
examinations for officers and ratings.
Survey of passenger ships, inspection and approval of statutory equipment such
as lifesaving and firefighting appliances, communication equipment and other
navigational aids.
Survey of passenger ships, inspection and approval of statutory equipment such
as lifesaving and firefighting appliances, communication equipment and other
navigational aids.
MMD also detains overloaded ships and unsafe ships. MMD also acts as the
Port State Control, ensures implementation of Flag State requirements, Safety
Management Audit, ship/Port facility security audit and implementation of new
IMO regulations including the STCW’95 amendments
THE OFFICIAL LOG BOOK:
The Official Log Book is carried on board Indian Merchant ships as per the
requirements of the administration. The entries in the OLB are made by the
Master of the ship. All entries regarding the drills and inspections of the vessel
are made in the OLB. Whenever there is a change of command this entry is
made in the OLB. Entries are also made in case of any birth, death, accident,
emergencies, or misconduct. The names of crew along with date of joining and
leaving is entered in the OLB.
The remaining on board of fuel, fresh water along with time and draft during
arrival and departure at each port is entered in the OLB. Details of port state and
flag state inspections along with detention, fine or arrest if any and emergency
incidents or casualties are entered in the OLB. The entries in the OLB are
signed by the Master and the chief officer or chief Engineer according to the
nature of the entries. The entries in the OLB are valid evidence for any inquiry
or investigation.
Deck Log Book:
The deck log book or mate’s log book as it is called contains all the entries
regarding the daily operations of the ship in the deck department. During each
sea watch entries regarding the course and speed of the ship, weather,
temperature and barometric conditions are entered in the log book. The daily
noon position along with the distance steamed from noon to noon, speed of the
ship, bunkers and fresh water consumed and remaining on board are also
entered in the log book.
In port entries regarding details of cargo operation, stevedoring gangs coming
on board during the cargo watch along with weather, draft, breakdowns or
inspection by shore authorities. The entries in the log book are signed by the
duty officer and counter signed by the chief officer and the master. The entries
in the deck log book are used as evidence when conducting any inquiry or
investigation.
Engine Room Log Book:
This log book contains all the entries regarding the operating parameters of the
main engine, boilers, generator engines and electrical loads during each watch
whether the engine room is manned or unmanned. Entries are made for each
watch at sea and in port. Sounding of all fuel oil tanks along with fresh water
generated, sea water temperature and draft is recorded in the log book.
Record of all maintenance work, accidents, incidents and inspections is entered
in the log book. The log book is signed by the watch keeping engineer and
counter signed daily by the chief engineer. The entries in the engine room log
book are used as evidence when conducting any inquiry or investigation.

Articles of Agreement:
 It is an agreement between the seafarer and the employer/employer’s
agent.
 The agreement exists in 5 original copies.
 All 5 copies are initially signed by the seafarer and the
employer/employer’s agent.
 Seafarer joins ship with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Original copy.
 These copies are signed by the master and seafarer.
 The master retains the 1st and 3rd copy and the seafarer retains the 2nd
copy.
 The 4th copy is retained by the employer/employer’s agent.
 The 5th copy is handed over to the shipping Master.
 On signing off the 1st, 2nd and 3rd copy are signed by the master and
seafarer.
 The 1st copy is retained on board whereas the 2 nd and 3rd copy will be
carried ashore by the seafarer.
 The 2nd copy will be retained by the seafarer and the 3rd copy will be
handed over to the employer/employer’s agent where all dues off the
seafarer will be settled.
 The 3rd copy will then be forwarded to the shipping master after three
photocopies are taken.
 One photocopy will be forwarded by the employer/employer’s agent to
the seaman’s Provident Fund Organization (SPFO).
 The second photocopy will be forwarded by the employer/employer’s
agent to seafarer’s welfare Fund Society (SWFS).
  The third photocopy is retained in the employer/employer’s agent’s
office.
Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC):
CDC is a document issued to a person to identify him/her as a seafarer, under
the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The CDC is issued by the Shipping Master.
Each CDC has a unique number along with the date of issue and validity period.
The CDC shows the record of service rendered by a seafarer in the past. The
entries in the CDC consist of the ship’s particulars, port and date of
embarkation, port and date of disembarkation, rank of the seaman and type of
voyage whether coastal or foreign going. Entries in the CDC are signed by the
Master of the ship in which the seafarer has served.
The entries in the CDC consist of the ship’s particulars, port and date of
embarkation, port and date of disembarkation, rank of the seaman and
type of voyage whether coastal or foreign going. Entries in the CDC are
signed by the Master of the ship in which the seafarer has served.
Discipline:
A seaman lawfully engaged shall be guilty of an offense against discipline if
he/she commits any of the following acts under the Merchant shipping Acts
1958:
Quits the ship without leave after her arrival at the port of delivery and before
she is placed in security.
Guilty of wilful disobedience to any lawful command or neglect of duty.
Guilty of continued wilful disobedience to any lawful command or neglect of
duty.
Assaults the Master or any other officer or seaman or apprentice belonging to
the ship
Combines with any crew to disobey lawful commands or to neglect duty or to
impede the navigation with any of the crew to disobey lawful commands or to
neglect duty or to impede the navigation of the ship or retard the progress of the
voyage.
Wilfully damages the ship or commits criminal misappropriation or breach of
trust in respect of, or wilfully damages any of , her stores or cargo.
Engaged in smuggling of goods.
Penalties:
If a seaman lawfully engaged is convicted of an offence of smuggling any
goods whereby loss or damage is occasioned to the master or owner of the ship,
he/she shall be liable to pay to that master or owner a sum sufficient to
reimburse the loss or damage and the whole or a part of his/her wages may be
retained in satisfaction on account of that liability without prejudice to any other
remedy. If a seaman lawfully engaged is convicted of an offence of smuggling
opium, hemp or any other narcotic drugs or narcotic, the DGS may direct that
seaman’s CDC to be cancelled or suspended or suspended for such period as
may be specified in the directions.