Mandatory Verification of Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Certificate by Indian Port Authorities

भारत सरकार/ GOVERNMENT OF INDIA पत्तन,पोत पररवहन और जलमार् गमंत्रालय MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS नौवहन महाननदेशालय, मब ं ई DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI File No: 25/63/13/2024-NT-DGS Date: 07.05.2025 Merchant Shipping Notice No. 05 of 2025 Subject: Mandatory Verification of Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Certificate by Indian Port Authorities – reg. Under the Merchant Shipping (Regulation of Entry of Ships into Ports, Anchorages and Offshore facilities) Rules, 2012 [hereinafter referred to as the ‘Port Entry Rules 2012’], and MSN 02 of 2015 dated 04.03.2015, merchant vessels of 300 [three hundred] gross tons [GT] and above, intending to call at Indian ports, are required to comply and furnish a valid Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Insurance Certificates, as an evidence of insurance, as directed by the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 457 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), as amended. 2. This measure is in alignment to encompass liabilities and compensations arising out of international conventions and applies to all vessels that are subject to such conventions and call at Indian ports and/or transiting in Indian waters. 3. P&I Insurance provides essential coverage for third-party liabilities, including but not limited to, loss of life and personal injury to crew, passengers and others on board, cargo loss and damage, pollution by oil and other hazardous substances, wreck removal, collision and damage to property. Thereby, any merchant vessel calling at an Indian port is required to maintain and furnish a valid P&I insurance certificate in accordance with the applicable national and international regulations. Furthermore, a Certificate of Insurance or Other Financial Security (CiOFS) issued by a competent authority entitles direct claim from the P&I insurer of the vessel responsible for the damage. 4. As per the Port Entry Rules 2012, it is mandatory for all vessels entering into or sailing out of Indian Ports and/or transiting in Indian waters to hold a valid P&I Insurance issued either by the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (IG P&I Club) [accessible here - https://www.igpandi.org/group-clubs] or by Insurance Companies authorised by the Central Government [accessible here -https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/InsuranceBranch.aspx]. Page 1 of 35. It has come to the attention of the Directorate that certain incidents have involved P&I insurers declining to compensate pollution claims due to vessels possessing invalid P&I Insurance Certificates, which have been declared invalid by the P&I Insurer for reasons such as non-payment of premiums. This scenario necessitates a rigorous verification process to ensure the validity and authenticity of P&I Certificates. 6. Accordingly, all stakeholders are required to comply with the following requirements to ensure that P&I insurance is valid during port calls of all Indian and foreign-flagged vessels: A. The Vessel owners, operators, masters, or their authorised representatives shall: i. Note that the P&I insurance coverage may vary depending on applicable conventions, specific policy terms and/or the issuing P&I entity. Shipowners and operators are strongly advised to meticulously review their P&I coverage to ensure it adequately meets their specific operational needs and complies with all relevant domestic and international regulations; ii. Ensure validity of the P&I Insurance Certificates, including Blue Card and Certificate of Insurance or Other Financial Security (CiOFS), in original, certified, or electronic form, in accordance with the statutory requirements, which shall be verifiable online; iii. These documents shall be submitted to the respective port authorities directly or using the Maritime Single Window (MSW) Portal, prior to the vessel’s expected arrival. B. Pursuant to the provisions of the Port Entry Rules 2012, the port authorities of all Major / Other than major ports and/or maritime boards are required to enforce the following measures for foreign-flagged vessels calling at Indian ports: i. Verify the authenticity of the P&I Insurance Certificate directly through the official website of the issuing P&I insurer. This verification shall be done through the IG P&I Club’s online verification system [accessible here: https://www.igpandi.org/vessel- search/] or via the official website of the respective non-IG insurer, listed on the DGS website [accessible here: https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/InsuranceBranch.aspx] ii. Ensure that the certificate's validity covers the entire duration of the vessel's intended port stay; iii. In circumstances where the website is experiencing technical errors and/or further verification may be required, the port authorities may verify the same through the local correspondents of the P&I insurer. All P&I insurers are required to keep their local correspondent list updated on their official website. C. The P&I insurers shall: i. In cases where a vessel's premium payments are deferred or not remitted, the website must clearly state that the certificate is invalid or that the premium remains unpaid. If the insurer does not correctly indicate the premium status, the P&I Certificate shall be presumed valid, and the insurer cannot repudiate liability arising therefrom; Page 2 of 3ii. The P&I insurance validity status displayed on the website shall clearly indicate that the coverage is effective for a minimum period of three (03) months from the date of the vessel’s entry into an Indian port, or from the annual renewal date, which is ordinarily 20th February of each calendar year, whichever is applicable. In instances where this condition is not met, the P&I insurer’s website must provide a specific remark detailing the status of coverage and any relevant information; iii. Furthermore, effective from the date of issuance of this notice, the non-IG P&I insurers are provided a six (06) month timeframe to update their websites with the requisite data. Thereafter, port authorities shall rely exclusively on these platforms for real-time and accurate verification of P&I Certificates. While email-based verification shall remain available as a provisional measure until the insurer’s official websites are operational but will be discontinued after the specified timeline. Once these websites are operational, the links for the same shall be made available on the DGS website [accessible here: https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/InsuranceBranch.aspx]; iv. A list of all the official correspondents of the P&I insurers shall be made available on their official website. 7. Any irregularities or suspicions concerning the authenticity or validity of the P&I Insurance Certificate, Blue Card, or CIOFS shall be reported to the Directorate General of Shipping without delay, and the concerned vessel shall not be permitted entry into Indian ports until such issue is resolved. In the event that the vessel is already within Indian waters, it shall be directed to depart from the Indian waters without delay. This Merchant Shipping Notice is issued with the approval of the competent authority and shall come into force with immediate effect. Capt. Harinder Singh Nautical Surveyor and Deputy Director General (Tech) [singh.harinder@gov.in] Page 3 of 3