**Executive Summary**
DGS Order No. 03 of 2025, issued on April 17, 2025, clarifies the responsibilities of Principal Officers of the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) within the Crisis Management and Reaction Group. This order supplements DGS Order No. 10 of 2023, which constituted the Crisis Management and Reaction Group. It is effective immediately.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Principal Officer, MMD Responsibilities:**
* Responsibilities within the Crisis Management and Reaction Group are further delineated.
* Acts as the nodal coordinator between the Crisis Management and Reaction Group and regional/jurisdictional MMDs/Seamen Employment Offices (SEOs).
* Exercises jurisdictional responses, including technical assessment of maritime casualties involving Indian seafarers.
* Conducts vessel inspections under distress, coordinates with port authorities and flag states, and ensures comprehensive documentation of incident-specific technical details.
* Deploys technical resources for immediate situation assessment during seafarer crises.
* Establishes direct communication with relevant maritime authorities, provides expert technical and operational guidance & support, and expedites resolutions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Principal Officers, Mercantile Marine Department (MMD)**
* **Impact:** Clarified and expanded responsibilities within the Crisis Management and Reaction Group.
* **Action Required:** Implement the delineated responsibilities, including coordination, jurisdictional responses, resource deployment, communication, and support, as detailed in the order.
**Stakeholder: Crisis Management and Reaction Group**
* **Impact:** Receives clarified support and coordination from the Principal Officer, MMD, ensuring efficient operation.
* **Action Required:** Integrate the Principal Officer, MMD, into its operations as the nodal coordinator.
**Stakeholder: Regional/Jurisdictional MMDs/Seamen Employment Offices (SEOs)**
* **Impact:** Must coordinate with the Principal Officer, MMD, for crisis management and reaction efforts.
* **Action Required:** Establish communication and coordination channels with the Principal Officer, MMD.
**Stakeholder: Indian Seafarers**
* **Impact:** Benefits from improved and coordinated responses to maritime casualties.
* **Action Required:** N/A
Key Entities Referenced
Crisis Management and Reaction Group: A group established to manage maritime crises, as referenced by DGS Orders.
DGS Order No. 10 of 2023: A previous order related to the constitution of the Crisis Management and Reaction Group, serving as context for the current order.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: The primary agency issuing the order and responsible for maritime affairs.
Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department (MMD): Official(s) designated to act as member(s) of Crisis Management and Reaction Group.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
File No. 23/NIISC/38/2023-CREW-DGS (C.No. 24147) Datez 17.04.2025
DGS Order No. 03 of 2025
Subiect: Clarification on responsibilities related to Principal Officer (P.O). Mercantile
Marine Department in the crisis Management and Reaction Groun - rep.
In continuation of DGS Order No.'10 of 2023 dated 11.08.2023 regarding the
constitution of the Crisis Management and Reaction Group, the following clarifications and
additional provisions are hereby mandated:
l.
Whereas, the Principal Officers, Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) have been
designated as a Member(s) of the Crisis Management and Reaction Group vide DGS Order
No. l0 of 2023. It is further required to delineate the responsibilities of the Principal Officer,
MMD within the framework of the crisis Management and Reaction Group.
2. The Principal Officer, MMD shall be the nodal coordinator for coordination between the
Crisis Management and Reaction Group and the respective regional and jurisdictional
MMD's or Seamen Employment Offices (SEOs).
3.
The Principal Officer, MMD shall exercise jurisdictional responses including technical
assessment of maritime casualties involving Indian seafarers, conduct inspections of vessels
under distress as required, co-ordinate with port authorities and flag states within their
respective region and ensure comprehensive documentation of all incident-specific technical
details for the Crisis Management and Reaction Group.
4. Additionally, during seafarer crisis, the Principal Officer shall deploy technical resources
for immediate situation assessment, establish direct communication with relevant maritime
authorities in the area of incident, provide expert technical and operational guidance &
support to the Crisis Management Group and expedite resolutions as deemed fit.
Shyamffi*,
Director General of Shipping
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