NO TRIFURCATION OF DG-SHIPPING UNDER CONSIDERATION

New Delhi; December 15, 2009

Rajya Sabha

Shri G. K. Vasan, the Union Minister of Shipping, in written reply to a question informed Rajya Sabha today that the Government is not contemplating to trifurcate the Directorate General of Shipping (DG-Shipping) with a view to create separate directorates for each of the three regions.

Giving the details of steps proposed vis-a-vis those actually implemented for modernization of DG-Shipping during the Tenth Five Year Plan, the reply stated that:

(i) The DG Shipping and allied offices have been fully computerized and connected by internet.

(ii) To cope with increasing work load in view of the growth in shipping activities and international trade, the Directorate has set up offices of Mercantile Marine Departments (MMD) at four new locations at Kandla, Haldia, Paradip and New Mangalore, while MMD, Kochi and Kandla have been upgraded to a regional level MMD. The Directorate has started an e-Governance project that enable users to access information and processes regarding regulatory service of the Directorate online.

(iii) Training examination and certification process in MMDs have been tested under Quality Certification System ISO 9001.

(iv) Technical officer were given training in technical and administrative functions with a view to improve their performance.

The volume of vessels inspected by DG-Shipping year wise during the last Five Year Plan is as under:

Year                  Port State control                            Flag State Inspection

2002                           513                                                   246

2003                           452                                                   296

2004                           878                                                   377

2005                           913                                                    357

2006                           659                                                    473

2007                           657                                                    448

For the current Plan period no projection has been made. However the figures for the first two years of the Plan period are:

Year                   Port State control                         Flag State Inspection

2008                           829                                                    378

2009 (upto October)   550                                                    261