Coastal Branch Circular
No.CS-10(1)/98 Dated: 20th January, 2005
Subject: Role and functions of Regional Officer (Sails) for regulation of sailing vessels Instructions/Guidelines on issue of identity cards - reg.
In supersession of all the existing orders/instructions/guidelines on issue of permit/identity cards to the sailing vessels crew, the Director General of Shipping and Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India is hereby pleased to issue the following instructions:-
(i) The permit / identity cards to the sailing vessels crew shall be issued / renewed for a period of 5 years at a time in compliance of rule 44(4) of Part III of M.S. (Sailing Vessels) Rules, 1997.
(ii) The permit / identity cards shall be issued only to such applicants who serve on Indian sailing vessels plying between Indian Ports and/or any other ports outside India.
(iii) The applicant shall have to produce a letter from the owner/tindal of a sailing vessel to the effect that the applicant will be employed on board the sailing vessel(s) owned by such persons and that the said sailing vessel(s) is/are plying between Indian and Foreign Ports.
(iv) The applicant shall normally have completed 18 years of age as on date of application.
(v) The applicant shall furnish a certificate in the enclosed proforma from a police authority not below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police of the area to which he belongs.
(vi) The permit / identity cards shall not be hand delivered to the applicants by the Issuing Authority except in exceptional circumstances. The identity card shall be sent to the applicant's address by Registered Post.
(vii) A statement of crew in the prescribed form shall be maintained on board the vessels as prescribed under section 429 of MS Act, 1958. Every change in the crew shall be recorded therein and two copies of such statement shall be furnished to the Registrar concerned at the commencement/expiry of the voyage. The Registrars may make sufficient copies of form "E" of "STATEMENT OF CREW" and issue at reasonable price to the beneficiaries so as to make good the cost of stationery.
(viii) All Registrars shall verify the statement of crew at regular intervals and ensure that the identity cards are not misused. If for any reason any of the crew-members do not report back after complete of the voyage, the owner of the sailing vessel and/or tindal shall be responsible for him in all respects.
(ix) The Principal Officer of Mercantile Marine Department, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata and Surveyor-in-Charge of all Mercantile Marine Departments shall also inspect the statement of crew frequently to ensure avoidance of fraudulent use of identity cards.
(x) The Regional Officer (Sails) shall not act as "attesting officer" for the statement of crew.
The Registrars, Identity Cards issuing authorities and other officers concerned shall strictly follow the above instructions while issuing the permits/identity cards to the crew of the Sailing Vessels, with immediate effect.
This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
Sd/- (PH KRISHNAN)
Dy. Director General of Shipping
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CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Shri............................... son of Shri ....................................... a permanent resident of ... ....................................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................................... is known to me for the last .......... years and :
(i) that his date of birth according to the (proof) ......................................
. is........................
(ii) that he was born at (place) .................. Village in ............ .Taluk.............................
District of ..............................State.
(iii) that he bears good character and conduct;
(iv) that there are no adverse antecedence reports against him from any known source;
(v) that the above statements are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. He is not related to me.
Signature of the certifying Police authority
[Should not be below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police of the area to which the person belongs]
With Office Stamp