Govt finds its alternative way of DG Shipping in maritime authority

The Union Government’s plan to set up a National Maritime Authority, in tune with the global trend, is an important initiative that can provide a much needed shot in the arm to improve the maritime administration.

The shape and structure of the authority is yet to be spelt out, but the indication is that it will be on the lines of the proposed Civil Aviation Authority, a centralised agency overseeing the activities of the sector. 

This means the proposed authority will replace the Directorate General of Shipping, a department under the Shipping Ministry, which handles maritime administration under the existing regime.

The move would put India on the same page as the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia that follow the model of independent maritime authorities.

For instance, the sector is governed by world regulations, mainly adopted by agencies such as International Maritime Organisation. Ship owners and others engaged in sea trade have to comply with these rules, and it is the responsibility of a country’s maritime administration to ensure these are implemented effectively. As more than 90 per cent of India’s trade by volume and 70 per cent trade by value moves by sea, maritime transport is crucial. It also underscores that India needs a stronger maritime administration.

For the proposed authority to handle these challenges effectively, it would need to ensure: Functional and financial autonomy, and the size and quality of human and technical expertise. While the autonomy requirement can be enshrined in the authority’s constitution, the more important factor that can make the difference depends on the skill set. The role of a maritime administration comes under three categories. In technical terms, these are called flag state, port state and coastal state controls. The first deals with registration of ships flying the country’s flag, the second covers mainly inspection of foreign ships calling at the country’s coast and the third is basic facilitation services including pollution control, navigational warning and search and rescue operations. The DG Shipping handles all the three responsibilities.

Consistent improvement in the working of the DG administration has been observed in the past years, however there are also opportunities observed. However setting up of a maritime authority would be a welcome change for the further development and growth of the Indian Shipping Industry.