**Executive Summary**
MS Notice No. 7 of 2012, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping on March 7, 2012, addresses the increasing navigation of merchant ships closer to the Indian coast and the resulting interactions with fishing vessels. It highlights instances of merchant ships mistaking fishing boats for pirate skiffs, leading to accidents and the need for heightened vigilance. The notice advises all merchant vessels to exercise caution and follow specific reporting procedures.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Increased Coastal Navigation:** Shipping traffic is increasing closer to the western Indian coast.
* **Fishing Activity:** Intense fishing activity occurs off the coasts of Kerala and Karnataka, extending up to 50 NM from the coastline. Over 300,000 fishing boats are in operation in these waters.
* **Transgression of Fishing Nets:** Increased shipping traffic results in merchant ships crossing fishing nets, leading to fishermen raising alarms.
* **Mistaken Identity:** Merchant ships have mistaken fishing boats for pirate skiffs, leading to firing incidents.
* **Collisions:** Collisions between merchant ships and fishing boats have occurred, resulting in loss of life and detention of involved vessels.
* **Avoidance of High Risk Area (HRA):** Merchant ships transit closer to the coast to avoid the HRA, which starts at 12 NM from the Indian coast.
* **Piracy:** No piracy incidents have been reported in the Indian EEZ since June 2011 due to vigilant Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard patrols.
* **Advisory to Merchant Vessels:**
* Take note of dense fishing traffic and exercise extreme caution when approaching up to 50 NM from the Indian coast.
* Do not mistake fishing boats for pirate skiffs or PAGs.
* Take cognizance of IMO Circular MSC.1/1334 regarding suspecting a fishing vessel to be a Pirate Action Group (PAG).
* Report sightings of any suspicious craft within the Indian EEZ to the Indian Coast Guard.
* Report the presence of armed guards on board to the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
* **Reporting Requirements:** Vessels are required to report armed guards on board to the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard using the provided contact information, in compliance with IMO and Ministry of Shipping circulars.
**Impact Analysis**
**Merchant Vessels**
* **Impact:** Increased responsibility and vigilance required when navigating near the Indian coast. Potential delays due to increased reporting and cautious navigation.
* **Action Required:**
* Adhere to advisory on navigating cautiously near fishing areas.
* Report suspicious crafts and armed guards to the relevant authorities.
**Fishermen**
* **Impact:** Increased risk of accidents due to increased shipping traffic and potential for mistaken identity.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required by this notice.
**Indian Navy / Indian Coast Guard**
* **Impact:** Increased reporting from merchant ships on suspicious crafts and the presence of armed guards.
* **Action Required:** Receive and process reports from merchant vessels.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Coast: Refers to the coastal waters of India, particularly concerning navigation and fishing activities.
Merchant Ships: Commercial vessels navigating near the Indian coast, interacting with fishing boats and posing potential safety risks.
Fishing Boats: Vessels engaged in fishing activities off the Indian coast, vulnerable to collisions and misidentification as pirate skiffs.
Indian Navy / Indian Coast Guard: Maritime security forces responsible for maintaining vigilance and responding to incidents in Indian waters.
MS Notice No. 7 of 2012: Official notice issued by the Directorate General of Shipping addressing navigation safety, fishing activity, and piracy risks.
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File.N o. 35-NT(4l)2 OI2 7th March 2OI2
MS NoticeN o. 7 of 2012
Sub: Navigation off the Indian coast - transgressing of fishing nets
mistaking fishing boats with pirate skiffs
1. Shipping traffic closer to western Indian coast has been observed to be
steadily inireasing during recent times as merchant ships appear to prefer
planning their passage closer to Indian coast as against the straight courses
across the Arabian seas.
2. There are over 3OO,O00 fishing boats in operations off the Indian coast.
Fishing off the coast of state of Kerala and Karnataka is particularly intense
during post South West monsoon and extends up to 50 NM from the coastline.
Generafiy in these waters, FRP Fishing boats with 04-05 crew with outboard
motors operate and engage in fishing activity with long lines and purseine gear.
3. Increasing shipping traffic closer to the Indian coast causes the
merchant ships to, at times, transgress the fishing nets. On observing the
approaching merchant vessel onto their fishing nets f gear, it is common for the
'sail
fiihing boats to raise alarm and to towards' the merchant ship to attract
attention so as to avoid damage to their nets.
4. Reports are being received where merchant ships have mistaken the
fishing boats to be 'pirate skiffs' In one such recent incident off the coast of
West coast of India, Kerala, a merchant ship fired on the fishermen, killing two
of the fishermen. The ship's security guards had assumed the innocent
fishermen to be the pirates. In addition, there has been report of another report
of firing of warning shots on Indian fishermen.5' In another case, a merchant ship collided with a fishing boat. This
resulted in sinking of the boat and loss of life of three fishermen while two of
the fishermen are still missing. These unfortunate accidents have resulted in
the detention of the suspected vessels and their crew members/ security guards
involved' In addition to these two instances, there have been numerous
reporting of near miss collisions of fishing vessels with merchant ships off the
west coat of India.
6' It has been reported that merchant ships are transiting very close to the
coast to avoid the High Risk Area (HRA) which starts at 12 NM from the Indian
coast' when the merchant ships navigate close to the coast, they do have close
encounters with the fishermen. This interface may result in either a collision
with the fishing vessels or at times merchant ships mistaking the fishermen to
be pirates' fire upon the innocent fishermen. such close encounters may result
in the adverse consequences for the fishing vessels as well as the merchant
ships.
7 ' while the ships are advised to maintain best management practices as
per the advice of IMo, while navigating in the high risk r.*, it is clarified that
continuing heightened vigil of Indian Nar.y and Indian coast Guard has
ensured that no cases of incidents of piracy have occurred rn the Ind ian EEz
(up-to 2oo NM from the Indian coast) since June 20lr.
8. Therefore, alr merchant vessels are advise,c;
sma h) a ot yo u ldt ba ek n e oa tpn po mrt oe isa to c ahf k e ed d e n ths b ee y s efi t s h fh e isi sn heg i n gbtr oa a bff t oi sc a tsfo o n r f oI rsn ad 'pfi ea ilgn au teac ro d sa i kns igt i, f st ,th he oe ri p r p o As n Gs ei t sb s i l ait / ny d l it nh nea ast v igt ah ane td ey
aw nit dh , extreme caution when rpp"ro.ching ,rp-to 50 NM from the Indian coast,
arb e ) Pg t a io rr a d tt ea t k o Ae ca tp ic opo nrg e n c Gi iz a ra otin unc pge (s po u Af f GfI iM c )io e ntc ir gc ru ol ua nr dsM fS oC r . sr u I s prg e3 c4 ti n, gc a tt he ed f2 iss h iJ nu gn ve2 so so eg l tow i bth e
c) to report sightings of any suspicious craft within Indian EEz to Indian coast
Guard on contact details mentioned under para 7 below.
9 ' A11m erchant ships are further advised to report the presence of armed
Guards on board to Indian Nar.y (email:
22661702) I rndian coast Guari 1.-.i1: mrcc-west@indiancoastgu; a rfa dx .n: ic+ .9 in1 22
i n d s a r ( @ v s n 1 . n e t , o r ; T e 1 e p h o n e : + 9 I 2 2 2 4 3 B B 0 o6r5 '24316558, Fax: +9 1 22 24316558, *9L 22 24333727\ in compliance to para
3.8 of IMO circular MSC. I lCnc 1405/Rev.1 dated 16 Sept. 2Oll and para 7.6
of Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India Circular F. No. SR-13020l 6l2OO9-MG
(pt)d ated2 9 Aug 2OII.
10. This is issued with approval of Director General of Shipping.
fG-pt. Ifarish l{hatfi)
(Dy. Director General of Shipping (Tech)