**Executive Summary**
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Shipping of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Shipping of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh aims to strengthen cooperation in passenger and tourist transportation via coastal and protocol routes. The MoU, signed on November 16, 2015, is valid for five years with automatic renewal unless either country provides a three-month written termination notice. Competent Authorities for implementation are the Ministries in charge of Shipping of both countries.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Application:**
* The MoU applies to the movement of passengers and tourists in watercraft registered under the inland shipping ordinances of both countries.
* **Entry of Passengers and Tourists:**
* Parties agree to passenger and cruise services on Indo-Bangladesh Coastal and Protocol routes.
* Passengers and tourists are allowed to embark/disembark at identified ports (decided by Joint Shipping Committee or Joint Standing Committee).
* Services can be suspended without notice due to overriding security concerns, to be communicated immediately and services resumed as early as possible.
* **Visas:**
* Passengers and tourists must have valid passports and visas.
* Crew members need valid passports/visas or certificates of employment with authenticated photos.
* Officers supervising operators must have passports endorsed with multiple entry visas.
* **Customs and Immigration:**
* Parties will take measures to provide security and expedite customs/immigration formalities.
* These measures will be reviewed periodically based on the security environment.
* **Joint Committees:**
* The Joint Shipping Committee and Joint Standing Committee are responsible for efficient MoU implementation.
* Committees can be convened for consultation and expeditious implementation.
* **Search and Rescue:**
* A Search & Rescue Cooperation Plan will be developed by shipping companies in consultation with the Joint Committees.
* **MoU Amendment:**
* Modifications require communication, consultation, and confirmation via Exchange of Notes.
* **Legal and Administrative Processing:**
* Vessels, crew, passengers, and tourists are subject to the laws and regulations of the other Party while in their waters.
* Each Party reserves the right to reject entry of undesirable persons.
* **Opening Branch Offices:**
* Shipping companies can establish representative offices in the other Party's territory according to local laws.
* **Removal of Wreck:**
* In case of accidents, vessels, passengers, crew, and cargo receive the same treatment as national vessels, subject to customs laws.
* **Safety Inspection:**
* Shipping documents issued by competent authorities are recognized.
* Vessels may be inspected as per national standards.
* **Insurance of Vessels:**
* Vessels must carry a certificate of insurance with limited liability.
* **Standard Operating Procedure:**
* A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be created to activate, operate, and facilitate the MoU.
* **Settlement of Disputes:**
* Disputes will be settled through negotiations.
* **Date of Commencement:**
* Effective upon signature, remains in force for five years with automatic renewal.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: The Ministries of Shipping of India and Bangladesh**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation and oversight of the MoU, ensuring compliance with its provisions.
* **Action Required:** Establish the Joint Shipping Committee and the Joint Standing Committee, and collaborate on the development of the Standard Operating Procedure and the Search and Rescue Cooperation Plan.
**Stakeholder: Shipping Companies/Organizations and Shipping Enterprises**
* **Impact:** Able to offer passenger and cruise services between India and Bangladesh.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with all regulations outlined in the MoU. May establish representative offices in the other Party's territory. Develop the Search and Rescue Cooperation Plan with the shipping company.
**Stakeholder: Passengers and Tourists**
* **Impact:** Benefit from facilitated travel between India and Bangladesh via coastal and protocol routes.
* **Action Required:** Obtain necessary travel documents (passports and visas).
**Stakeholder: Vessel Crews**
* **Impact:** Subject to the regulations of the host country while operating in its waters.
* **Action Required:** Possess valid passports/visas or certificates of employment with authenticated photos, and endorsed passports (for officers).
**Stakeholder: Port Authorities**
* **Impact:** Required to expedite customs and immigration formalities for vessels and travelers.
* **Action Required:** Implement security measures and streamline processes to facilitate smooth operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Memorandum of Understanding on passenger and cruise services on the Coastal and Protocol Route: The core agreement outlining terms for passenger and cruise services between India and Bangladesh.
Ministry of Shipping (India): One of the parties to the agreement responsible for the Indian side of the coastal and protocol route services.
Ministry of Shipping (Bangladesh): One of the parties to the agreement responsible for the Bangladesh side of the coastal and protocol route services.
Joint Shipping Committee on Coastal Shipping / Joint Standing Committee on PIWTT: Committee tasked with deciding on embarkation and disembarkation ports and overseeing implementation of the MoU.
Indo-Bangladesh Coastal and Protocol routes: The geographical area to which the MoU's provisions apply for passenger and cruise services.
THE MEMORANDUM OF
and cruise services on Coastal and Protocol
Route
BETWEEN
THE MINISTRY OF SHIP NG OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE RE BLIC OF INDIA
AND
THE MINISTRY OF SH G OF THE
NMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S BLIC OF BANGLADESH
Preamble
ment of the Republic of India and the Government of the
People's blic of Bangladesh (hereinafter referred to as the "Pafties");
Desiring to fufther develop the friendly ns and to strengthen their
in the field of passenger and rist transpoftation in the Indo-
Coastal and Protocol routes in accordance with principles of
equality nd mutual benefits;
Recogn g the need for passenger and ise services between the two
through Indo-Bangladesh route which is mutually
to the economic, social and cu I advancement of the two
the following understanding
:
Afticle 1
Aoplication
shall apply for the movement of ssengers and tourists in the
registered under the inland ipping ordinance t976 and
Shipping Ordinance 1983 as ed from time to time in case
of Bangl h vessels and inland vessels L9L7 and Merchant Shipping
Act 195 as amended from time to time in of Indian vessels. This willwhich carry passengers d tourists and
accompanied
Afticle 2
Alti-!6 2
nI
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r
n cn oe ut n.
t
ryo f rfi rc .re ar rf
r
ls .*u rp ve r nvis ri rn ;s
;
.o ;r uco nn lotro i'| .| 0in 's
'*
it th ne
the multiple entry visas. ' -
Afticle 4
The subject to their national and regulations, shall take
appropri measures to provide security to rs/ crew and vessel to
prevent necessary delays to vessel and expedite and simplify to the
extent the carrying out of the cu , immigration and other
forma applicable in their respective . These measures could be
r)r
d\ ..t\,tg-g-on periodic basis, as per ling security environment, to
determi the efflcacy of the control a screening mechanisms and
necessary amendments.
The Joi Shipping Committee on Coa Shipping and Joint Standing
on PIWT&T under respective ries to the Ministries in
the subject of shipping shall responsible for the efficient
of the MoU.
Committees may be at the request of the
to the Ministries in charge the subject of Shipping for
and for expeditious implemer of this MoU. The modalities
of these ngs are to be decided by the Secretaries through mutual
ons.
(b)
& Rescue Cooperation plan will developed by the concerned
shipping ny providing passenger and services in consultation
with the nt committees as the case
Either Pa of this MoU, which desires to any provisions of this MoU
nent it with additional provisions, communicate the same to
the other Party for consultation. Modificatio or supplements as agreed by
shall come into effect n they are confirmed by
Exchang of Notes through diplomatic chan
xrot, rc or uew te, opa f s ts he eng oer ts h ea rn d p at ro tyurists bo en e
s
uP ba jety
c
tw th oil s tht i en the Costal
respective
laws and regulations of the Pafty specially the laws and
s concerning navigation and safe as well as public order, fiscal,
immigration, health veterinary a sanitary controls as well
regulations concerning human rd drug trafficking. Each para tys
t ehe re r dig h ut n t do e r se irje ac bt l ee n wtr iy t hin ot uo t it as n t y il agr by i lo itf y a tn hy e p ree ors fo n to w h to hs ee e pn atr fy i
ng companies, shipping organ and shipping enterprises
offering ssenger and cruise services, re and operating under the
territory
r fe tg hu ala
t
t Pio an Os ,o sf ho an le
l
bp ea ert ny
t
ia fln ed
d
h toa bth lie si hr rr ee pg ris et se er ne td
a
to ivff eic oe fs
f
icin
e
sth ie
n
ry of the other party in accorda with the laws and regulations
:r Pafty.
In
case vessel of either party suffers sh wreck, runs aground, casts
suffers any other accident in the C I or Protocol routes of the
, the vessel, passengers, tourist, c and cargo shall enjoy the
rnent in the territory of the other PaO which is accorded to
en xa tt eio nn ta al
s the
o cf
a
t sh ea ot fP ita st t oy w, na n vd
e
sa ss es lsis ,tance toll tb he
e
g Cra un stt oe md st o
la
t wh se os fa tm heea
Pafties.
2iity, measuring and safety
r , as well as other shipping
issued by the
respective rnt Maritime Authority
ce with the requirement of the N I Laws shall be recognisedin
re ,/l e -mva an yt a bu eth io nr sit pie es
c
teo df ,t h ife ro eqth uer
as
p. eT rh ne
a
v tie os ns ae ll s
e
qo uf
i
ve ait leh ne tr
of the two countries, by the ie DG (Shipping) of the two
or the IWAI in case of inland in India under intimation to
shipping company for
n.
plying through or between the countries under this MoU on
ated route shall carry certificate insurance with limited liability
by both countries.
commercial maritime s between the two countries,
lbe
Standard Operating procedure
SOP) to activate, operate and
facilitate his MoU.
For the of this MoU the Com Authorities shall be
the
Ministries in-charge of the subject of Shipping of the two countries,
fu
-'\rJ'j"arises between the parties ng to the interpretation or
this MoU, the pafties endeavour to setUe it
by
shall come into effect on the of its signature by both the
and shall remain in force for five years with provision for
renewal for successive five yea unless either Country gives
a
written lice to the other Country by gi three months prior written
its intention to terminate the wtoU.
;S WHEREOF, the undersigned ly authorized thereto by their
Governments have signed this
affixed thereto their seals.
at New Delhi on this 16rH of November 2015, in two
originals each in English language all texts ng equally authentic subject
approval of both the Governm In case of any divergence in
, the text in English shall prevai
(Rajive mar)
(Shafique Alam Mehdi)
(Shipping)
Secretary (Shipping)
GOVERNMENT
FOR THE GOVERNMENT
OF
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
INDIA
OF BANGLADESH