Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai
File No: 28-11/3/2023-MSB
DGS Circular No. 08 of 2024
Introduction of Online Ship Reporting for the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Somali Basin, and Arabian Sea Region
For the attention of Ship Owners, Ship Managers, Shipping Agents, RPSL Agents, Ship Masters, Seafarers, Charterers, Recognised Organisation & Recognised Security Organisation, Coastal Indian States including Administration of Union territories and State Maritime Boards.
1. This advisory is issued in continuation to the DGS Circular No. 27 of 2023 dated 29.12.2023, and subsequent observations on maritime security in sensitive regions, including the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Somali Basin, and Arabian Sea region. There was a need to further simplify and enhance the mechanism for reporting and tracking maritime activities to safeguard the interests of merchant ships, their crew, and maritime trade flows.
2. Due to the increasing number of vessels reporting to the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and DG Comm Centre in pursuance to the aforesaid DGS Circular, a dedicated online Ship Reporting Form has been established. This form aims to streamline the reporting process and ensure robust database for efficient monitoring and swift response to any maritime security threat.
3. Accordingly, in the event of any incidents or security escalation due to incidents in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Seas, Somali Basin, and Arabian Sea region, the reporting and communication protocol to be maintained is as follows:
3.1.1. Reporting Protocol
3.1.1. All vessels transiting through the aforementioned areas are requested to submit their details daily via the online Ship Reporting Form, which can be accessed at
http://117.219.8.190/ifcior/
3.1.2. This measure is critical for maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date vessel database, which will facilitate easier tracking and coordination at the Centre if the Indians Navy is required to respond to the incident.
3.1.3. Accordingly, there is no requirement to forward the position report specified in Annexure I of DGS Circular No. 27 of 2023 dated 29 December 2023, as the daily reporting using the online link will take care of the same.
3.2. Communication Protocol
In the event of maritime security incident, the following procedure is advised:-
3.2.1. Contact the nearest Indian Navy vessel and coalition warship using VHF Channel 16, provide the current location, describe the situation, communicate the intended course of action, and seek further guidance.
3.2.2. Inform the CSO of the vessel, who can convey the information immediately by phone/WhatsApp, preferably to the following centres, which are manned 24x7:
(Alternative Numbers: +91 22 22613606 / +91 8657549760 / +91 8657549752).
(Alternative number: Landline: +91-124-2208385)
3.2.3. Inform the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and other applicable agencies/organisations relevant to the region and type of occurrence (such as MRCC, etc).
3.2.4. As soon as the situation allow, a first information report should be transmitted to the DGComm Centre.
4. Furthermore, all CSOs, Vessels and masters must consider the heightened security risks given the current scenario. In addition to the daily reporting through the online form, the practices and precautionary measures specified in DGS Circular No. 25 of 2023 dated 05.12.2023, DGS Circular No. 27 of 2023 dated 29.12.2023 and the SOPs/advisories/Best Management Practices therein are to be adhered with.
5. Weekly Maritime Security Updates, as available on the IFC-IOR website, must also be referred to obtain the weekly list of security incidents occurring worldwide.
6. In light of prevailing security concerns, it is advised to conduct comprehensive ship shore security drills encompassing all pertinent security scenarios, including but not limited to piracy and loitering munitions threats. Additionally, Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) testing may be undertaken before transiting through the regions above. These proactive measures are essential for ensuring the preparedness of the crew and the operational readiness of security systems on board.
7. All stakeholders are advised to maintain a proactive stance towards security, constantly enhancing their preparedness to face evolving maritime security challenges through regular reviews and training. Accordingly, collective vigilance and adherence to the security SOPs/advisories are crucial for mitigating these varied and significant threats.
8. Any incident to a suspicious nature not affecting the vessel may also be, therefore, reported to the DGComm Centre (dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in) with a copy to IFC-IOR
( ifcior.gurugram@navy.gov.in )
This is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping.
Sd/-
Capt. Anish Joseph
Deputy Nautical Adviser-cum-Sr. Dy. Director General [Tech / Maritime Security]/anish-dgs@gov.in