Technical Circular
No.: 075/2017 Date: 07th June 2017
To Whomsoever it may concern
Subject: DGS NT/ENG Circular No. 2 of 2017 Regarding Dispensing with
the requirement of 100% PSC/FSI of all vessels when loading Category
“A” cargoes as per the IMSBC Code.
1. The DGS vide NT/ENG Circular No. 2 of 2017, dated 01st June 2017(copy attached) has
notified that the conduct of a Port State / Flag State Inspection is no longer a mandatory
requirement for carriage of Category “A” cargoes as per the IMSBC Code.
2. The circular is applicable to all ships, whether Indian or Foreign Flag in an Indian
Port/anchorage within the territorial waters of India, loading/carrying “category A”
cargoes as defined in IMSBC Code.
3. All vessels loading 'Category A' cargoes need to submit the following to the nearest
Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) at the earliest and in any event prior to the
commencement of loading:
a) A declaration from the Master of the loading vessel containing the following
aspects:
i. That the vessel has been inspected as per the provisions of “Guidance to ships crew
and terminal personnel for bulk carrier inspections”, IMO Resolution A.866 (20);
ii. That a risk assessment has been carried out prior loading „Category A‟ cargoes in line
with Company policy / Safety Management Systems and/or as per guidelines of the
various P&I insurance clubs/class societies;
iii. That all necessary precautions for loading „Category A‟ cargoes required under
various applicable International Conventions and Codes have been adhered to;
iv. The declaration should further confirm that loading will not be undertaken during
heavy rains and that the cargo hatches will be kept closed at all times, except for
loading. This declaration may be submitted by the ship agent to the MMD Surveyor
on behalf of the Master of the vessel.
v. Loading/ unloading plan to be agreed between Master & Shipper & a signed copy to
be submitted.
. This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of
supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any
person.
. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to
verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.
b) The agent should also submit a declaration containing the following information
from the shipper duly addressed to the concerned MMD/PO/SIC, prior to the
commencement of loading.
i. Name of the cargo using the Bulk Cargo Shipping Name (BCSN) as detailed in the
IMSBC Code;
ii. The declaration should indicate whether the cargo is associated with liquefaction
hazard;
iii. The declaration has to be individual provided for each cargo hold (except where the
moisture content of cargo is clearly uniform);
iv. The actual moisture content and transportable moisture limit as defined by Section 8
of IMSBC Code as amended and determined by a laboratory approved by Director
General of Shipping in accordance with MS Notice 14 of 2016 dated 28th November
2016.
c) The said declaration in paragraph 3b above from shipper should state the following:
i. That the samples used to determine the average moisture content are representative of
the whole shipment;
ii. The interval between the testing for moisture content and loading of cargo is no more
than 7 days and there is no rain between the time of testing and loading or the cargo
is kept protectively covered from rains as the case may be;
iii. The test to determine TML of the cargo has to have been conducted within six months
of the date of loading of the cargo.
4. The requirement of obtaining clearance/ approval from concerned Mercantile Marine
Department prior loading / sailing out after loading category 'A' cargos as per MS Notice
9 of 2010 is now dispensed with.
5. The requirement of 100% Port State Control / Flag State Implementation inspection of
all vessels loading cargo of iron ore fines / concentrates and similar cargo, as per MS
Notice 9 of 2010 is also dispensed with.
6. Non-compliance with this circular by Owner, Master, Agent and/or the Shipper thereof
will lead to appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of MS Act 1958, as
amended and/or the applicable International Conventions.
7. Ship Owners / operators and masters of vessels loading/carrying “category A” cargoes as
defined in IMSBC Code are advised to be guided by above and the attached DGS
NT/ENG Circular No. 2 of 2017.
Enclosure:
1. DGS NT/ENG Circular No. 2 of 2017, dated 01st June 2017.
Whilst the utmost care has been taken in the compilation of the Technical Information, neither Indian Register of
Shipping, its affiliates and subsidiaries if any, nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents assume any
responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused in any manner
whatsoever by reliance on the information in this document.
