**Executive Summary**
Merchant Shipping Notice (MSN) 05 of 2019, dated July 3, 2019, addresses the incorporation of High-Speed Craft (HSC) Codes provisions regarding Life Saving Appliances (LSA) on Indian passenger HSCs. It clarifies compliance with SOLAS Convention and LSA Rules. All concerned are required to be guided by this MSN when examining 'Life Saving Appliances arrangement' plans of HSCs.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SOLAS Convention and HSC Compliance:**
* HSCs constructed between January 1, 1996, and July 1, 2002, compliant with the HSC Code 1994 are deemed to comply with certain SOLAS chapters.
* HSCs constructed on or after July 1, 2002, compliant with the HSC Code 2000 are deemed to comply with certain SOLAS chapters.
* Indian HSCs that comply with the above requirements also comply with Chapter III of the SOLAS Convention and Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules 1991 (as amended).
* **Life Raft Alternatives:**
* Open reversible inflatable life rafts are acceptable as alternatives if they comply with Annex 10 of HSC Code 1994 or Annex 11 of HSC Code 2000, based on certification. These are for category 'A' HSCs operating in fair weather, daylight hours between Port Blair, Swaraj Dweep island, Shaheed Dweep island and Baratang.
* **MSN Availability:**
* A copy of this MSN must be kept with the approved LSA plan of the vessel at all times.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India**
* **Impact:** The Directorate General of Shipping is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of SOLAS Convention and Merchant Shipping Rules in India.
* **Action Required:** To issue and ensure compliance with the requirements outlined in the MSN, and to use it as guidance when examining the 'Life Saving Appliances arrangement' plans of HSCs.
**Stakeholder: Owners/Operators of Indian Passenger High-Speed Crafts**
* **Impact:** The MSN outlines the requirements for life-saving appliances on their vessels, including compliance with HSC Codes and SOLAS.
* **Action Required:** To ensure their vessels comply with the requirements outlined in the MSN, including using specified life rafts and maintaining a copy of the MSN with the vessel's LSA plan.
**Stakeholder: Surveyors/Certifying Authorities**
* **Impact:** The MSN outlines the standards to which the life-saving appliances of high-speed crafts must be surveyed and certified.
* **Action Required:** They must adhere to the guidelines provided in this MSN when examining and approving the Life Saving Appliances arrangements of HSCs.
**Stakeholder: Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG[Tech.]**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the technical aspects of this Merchant Shipping Notice.
* **Action Required:** The Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG[Tech.] has approved the issues within this document and ensures its adherence and implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Shipping: Primary regulator issuing the Merchant Shipping Notice concerning High-Speed Craft Codes.
SOLAS Convention: International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, specifically Chapter III, pertaining to life-saving appliances on merchant ships.
High-Speed Craft Code: The 1994 and 2000 versions of this code are referenced for the construction and certification of high-speed crafts.
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958: Indian legislation addressing matters pertaining to life-saving appliances and arrangements on merchant ships.
Mumbai: Location of the Directorate General of Shipping, the issuing authority of the notice.
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DTRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F.No. l4-NT(6)/2004-ft- I Dated: 03.07.2019
Merchgnt Shiprine Notice - 05 of 2919
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l. chapter III of Intemational convention on safety of Life at Sea, 1974 [SOLAS
Convention] addresses matters pertaining to life-saving appliances and arrangements on merchant
ships. ln India, this is addressed by Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, Merchant shipping (Life
Saving Appliances) Rules and through Executive orders (DGS Order, Merchant shipping Notice,
circulars etc.) issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India from time to time.
2. SOLAS, Chapter X, Regulation 3 provides that -
(a) a high-speed craft constructed on or after 1 January 1996 but before I July 2002 which
complies with the requirements of the High-speed craft code, 1994 in its entirety and which has
been surveyed and certified as provided in that Code; and
(b) a high-speed craft constfucted on or after I luly 2002 which complies with the
requirements ofthe High-Speed craft code, 2000 in its entirety and which has been surveyed and
certified as provided in that Code;
- shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of certain chapters of the SoLAS
Convention.
3. Accordingly, an Indian High-speed craft (HSC) which complies with the requirements
stipulated in sub para 2 above shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements ofchapters
III of SOLAS Convention and Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules 1991, (as
amended).
4. Further, in accordance with section 8.10.2 ofHSC Code 1994 and 2000, open reversible
inflatable life rafts, complying with applicable annexure of the relevant HSC Code [i.e' Annex l0
ofHSC Code, 1994; Annex l1 ofHSC Code, 20001 are acceptable as altemative to the required
life rafts [i.e. life rafts complying with Reg. IIV39 or IIIi4o of SoLAS-1974 for HSCs certified
under HSC Code 1994; life rafts complying with Reg. 4.2 ot 4.3 of LSA Code for HSCs certified
under HSC Code, 20001 on category 'A' high-speed crafu operating only during daylight hours,
in fair weather and between Port Blair, Swaraj Dweep island, Shaheed Dweep island and
Baratang.
5. All concemed are required to be guided by this MSN when examining 'Life Saving
Appliances arrangement' plans of HSCs'
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A copy ofthis MSN shall be kept with the approved LSA plan ofthe vessel at all times.
7.
This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.
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(Capt. Mohit Behl)
Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG[Tech.]
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