SOME IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF FISHING VESSEL REGULATIONS IN INDIA

By

V. A. PUTHRAN, Central ·Institute of Fisheries, Nautical & Engineering Training, Cochin

INTRODUCTION sation (lMCO) and ap'Jroved by a con­ During recent decades there has fer~nce convened by -the organi~tion been rapid technological development in 1972. These rules have' come In in design of vessels, in deck machinery, force in 1977 and the majority of the navigational aids and other equipment. countries in the world are following the Larger and powerful vessels equi:oped same. 1n addition to this, each country with highly sophisticated equipment " makes its own rules for the manning req­ are already On the high seas, With uirements, certification and examination the accelerated pace of technical and of different grades, safety equipment and . economical development in the shipping registration of vessels. industry, there are practically no sea areas inaccessible to modern vessels and Regulation (or preventing collision at Sea techniques. < The new 1972 Intternational Regula­ With the increasing size of vesse ls, tion . for preventing collision at sea the chances of accidents have become are followed by the lndian vessels. more, especially in the areas of high Under these regulations, vessels eng­ congestion routes. In order to avoid aged in fishing shall display the ap­ accidents and achieve greater safety at propriate lights, shapes, flags and ' use sea, rules and regulations on shipping . the prescribed sound signals. Eng­ are also changed along with the tech- aged in fishing means fishing with nets, nological advancement. lines, trawls or other apparatus that restrict manoeuvrability, but does not The international regulations for include trolling li nes or other apparatus preventing collision at sea were revised that does not restrict manoeuvrability. and redrafted by the Inter - Govern­ Code and conduct of vessel engaged in mental Maritime Consultative Organi- fishing:-

20 .. 1. As per the n~w collision regula­ Not.: To attract the attention of another tion) sailing and po,ver-drivcn vessel vessel, any vessel may make light or under way shall keep out of the sound signals that cannot be mistaken way of vessels engaged in fi ~hing. for any signal authorised elsewhere in the rules, or may direct the beam of its 2. Vessel engaged in fishing shall:- searchlight in the direction of danger, in such a way as not to embarass any a) not impede the passage of any vessel. vessel navigation within a nar­ row channel or fairway and Vertical distance of fishing lights - for any vessel following a traffic vesselS of 20 metres or more lane nnder the traffic separation - two metres, but tbe lower scheme light should not be less than four metres above the hull; b) so far as possible, keep out of the way of a vessel not Jar vessels of less than 20 met­ under command, a vessel rest­ res - one metre, but the lower ricted in her ability ' to light should not be less than 2 manoeuvre and avoid impeding metres above the gunwale. The the safe passage of a vessel distance between the side lights constrained by her draught. and the lower of the fishing lights shall be twice the vertical c) keep out of the way of the distance between the fishing vessel overtaken. lights.

Signals for vessel engaged in fishing Trawlers: a) a mast head light shall be carried abaft of and higher than the Lights and signa is to be displayed fishing lights; vessels 'of less than 50 by vessel engaged in fishing are given metres in length need not carry the mast in the coloured plate. head light,

b) optional additional lights Additional information on Fishing Lights and Signals if exhibited should be at least 0.9 metres apart and between the fishing lights, Size of tbe cone - diameter of the base and hejght not less than 0.6 c) vessels engaged 'in pair tf· metre; . shapes of le;sser dimen~ awling may exhibit their search light sian may be used by vessels of directed forward and in the direction of less than 20 metres in length. the other vessel of the pair.

Sound signals in restricted visibility-one Other than Trawler: when' gear extends prolonged blast followed by two more than 150 metres horizontally from short blasts at intervals of not vessel, another alroulld white light ex­ more than 2 minutes. Vessels hibited shaH be placed between two to of less than 12 metres may make six metres from the fishing lights tow­ some other efficient sound signals ards the direction of the gear and shall "at some intervals. not be below the side lights. .' 11 • Range an d visibility of lights

Lights & Visi- bility Masthead Side Stern All round Length of the light light light light Remarks vessel in Metre 225· 122!Q 135° 3600

50 and above 6 mi les 3 miles 3 mi les 3 mile, The additional lights for shooting, hauling, net ob- 20 - 50 5 .. 2 2 2 .. struction and ham- pered by purse- seining shall be 12 - 20 3 .. 2 .. 2 .. 2 visible at least one mile but at a lesser Less than distance than other 12 2 .. 2 .. 2 .. fishing lights

THE INDIAN MERCHAN T SHIPPING ACT 1958 (44 of 1958) (As modified upto the 1st July 1973)

Grading of Certificate of com petency for manning fi shing vessel s As per the above Act, the following grades of Certificate of Competency are granted for manning fishing vessels namely- a) Second hand of a fishing vessel b) Skipper of a fish ing vessel c) Engine Driver of a fishing vessel (Motor). d) Engineer of a fishing vessel (Motor).

Manning regulations for fish in!: vessel

Every fishing vessel when going to Sea from any port Of place in India shall be provided with the deck and engine side officers as given below;-

Deck side ollicers

Gross Certificated Certificated tonnage Skippers Second hands

Above 25 upto 50 one

Above 50 one one Engine side officers

Certificated Holder of Certificate of N. H.P. Engineers/Drivers competency as

Less than 50 one Engineer of a fishing vessel or Engine (282 B. H. P.) Driver of a Sea going ship or Engine Driver of a fishing vessel

Above 50 one First class Engineer or Second class (282 B. H. P.) Engineer or Engineer of a Fishing vessel

Particulars of qualification and experienee required to appear for the Certificate of Competency as per Merchant Shipping (Examin­ ation for Skipper and Second hand of a fishing vessel) Rules 1964

Second hand of fishing vessel Age - not less than 19 years

Service on deck Service ·of Sea going fishing Service SI. on vesse l of not less in the Remarks No. deck at than 25 tons Indian Sea Gross Navy

l. *36 months -Remission of 9 months Sea service is given to 2. *30 months 12 months the candidates who have passed the Fishing Second 3. 12 months Maximum hand course from period of 30 C. J. F. N. E. T. months

------===---23 Skipper or a Fishing Vessel Age - not less than 21 years

Service on deck of Sea going fishing vessel of Sf. Service at not less than 25 Tons Qualification - Holder of No. Sea gross as Second hand fishing

I. 48 months -12 months -Certificate of Competency as Second hand

2. 12 months Certificate of Competency as Master or Mate

Candidate for a Certificate of Competency as Second hand and Skipper of a fishing vessel shall pass the examination in the following three parts nameJy­ i) written test ii) oral test iii) signalling.

Second hand Skipper i) Written test a) Chart work 2 hr. paper 3 hI. paper b) Practical Navigation 1 hI. paper 3 hI. paper ii) Oral test Navigation and Navigation and Seamanship Seamanship iii) Signalling Receive/send Receive/and and oral oral

The Syllabii for these examinations are attached as Appendix A.

For the above-said competency examination, the candidates are examincd at the offices of Mercantile Marine Department at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. The examination generally commences on the first Monday in each month. A candidate who desires to appear for an examination shall ' apply in the prescribed form to the Principal Officer, M . M. D. at the port at which he desires to be examined at least one week before the commencement of the examination. Every such application shall be accompanied by the following documents, namely, a) a certificate of birth b) testimonials as to character including sobriety and experience and ability on board ships for the last twelve months of sea service preceding the date of application c) certificate of discharge and a valid First Aid certificate. Every candidate has to undergo the prescribed sight test before certificate is issued to h im. Particulars of qualification and experience required to appear for the Certificate of Competency as per Merchant Shipping (Examination of Engineers and Engine Drivers- of Fishing Vessel) Rules 1973 Engine Driver of Fishing Vessel (Motor) a) experience counted only after the age of 14 years b) age - not less than 18 years Workshop service Sea service on board SJ.No. Qualification after Designation Period not fishing vessels propelled by having obtained Nature of service I ess than --;;;--,;';:'n::t;:::e:::rn::a=I,; .;,c:.:o::m;;.;:b-=u:-:s.:;ti:.:o:.:n~e:.:n-:g"in..ce~ B. H. P. Period in Nautre of months service \. As an appre­ Work suitable for *18 months Not less 9 months Service in ntice or the training of an than 40 the Engine Fittet Engine Driver in room the manufacture or maintenance of internal combus­ tion engines of a fishing vessel or other suitable machinery or both • Remission of 12 months workshop service is given to the candidates who have passed the Engine Driver Course from C. 1. F. N. E. T. The balance six month service in workshop aillo cao be substituted by sea service in the engine room of fishmg vessels as follows:- a) 6 months in not less than 85 B. H. P. .b) 9 mon.ths in not Jess than 40 n. H. P. c) 13 months below 40 B. H. P. 2. Not less 27 months do than 85 3. Not less 36 months do than 40 4. Not less 48 months do than 40 5. Diploma in Mechanicall Less 6 months do Engineering of a Board than 40 of Technical Education of any State 6 lInd Class Engine Driver's Not less 9 months do certificate than 40 7. 1st dass Engine Driver's can directly appear certificate for the examination The First clas.s and Second c lass Engine Driver's certificate means certifi cate of competency under the Inland Stea.m Act 1917 (1 of 1917) or an equivalent certificate granted under the Indian Ports Act 1908 (IS of 1908) Engineer of Fishing Vessel (Motor) a) experience counted only after the age of 15 ,years b) age - not less than 20 years Sea service on board fishing vessels propelled by internal SI­ Qualification Desig­ Workshop service combustion engine No, after having 0 btaine'd nation Period B, H. P. Period Nature Nature of service not less not less not less of than than than service L As an Work suitable for the 24 months 170 12 months Engineer or apprentice training of an Engineer Fitter on Engineer in the manufacture or regular watch maintenance of internal combustion engines of a fishing vessel or suitable machinery or both a) Sea service in a 'sea-going ship is also counted. b) The part of the full workshop. service can be substituted by sea S":fvice in the engine room of sea going ship or fishing vessel pro· pelled by internal combustion engines in the following proportion:- i) Main engine of not less than 170 B. H. P. 3 months sea service = 2 months workshop service ii) Main eogine of more than 85 and less than 170 B. H. P. 2 months sea servi ce = 1 month workshop service. 2. As an appr- - do- 36 months 170 12 month, - do­ entice Fitter 3. Engine Driver of Sea­ 170 3 months Service in the going motor ship Engine rOOm 4. 1st Class Engine Driver's 170 9 months - do- certi fica te 5. Engine Driver of fishing 170 12 months -do- vessel and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering of a head of any Technical education of any State Govt, 6. Engine Driver of fishing 170 21 months -do- vessel Note: "Sea service" means time actually spent at Sea on sea-going motor ships or fishing vessels excluding time spent such as on lay offs. for repairs, leave, survey. ~ "Service in the engine room" means service in a rank not lower than a greaser in full charge of a watch. A candidate for a Certificate of b) Orals . Competency as an engine driver of a fishing vessel (motor) shall pass a viva· . The Syllabii for these examinations are voce examination in engin eering know­ attached as Appendix B, ledge.

A candidate for the certificate of compe­ For the above-said competency certi­ tency as an engineer of a fishing vessel ficate examinations, the candidates are (motor) shall pass examinations in the examined at the offices of the Mercan­ following two parts, namely- tile Marine Department at Calcutta, Part A i) Elementary Mathematics (one Bombay, Madras, Goa, Cochin, Visakha­ paper of three hours) patnam and Jamnagar. A candidate who desires to appear for an examination ii) Elementary Drawing (one paper of three hours) shall apply along with the testimonials to the Principal Officer, or Surveyor-in­ Part B i) Elementary General Engi­ charge, Mercanti Ie Marine Department neering of the port or place at which the candi­ ii) a) Engineering knowledge date desires to take the examinati on (one paper of three at least 15 days before the commence­ hours) ment of the examination.

27 List of life-saving appliances to be provided on board fishing vessels (Ships of

Length of vessel Life boat Class C boat Inflatable Buoyant in Metres at least (length in life-rafts apparatus metres) at least

44 or Two more

or

One Two (5.5)

35 - 44 Oue One or One

24 - 35 One One or One (4.9)

12- 24 One or One (during foul season) (4.3)

12 - 24 One or One or One (during foul season) (4.3)

28 Class VIII) as per Merchant Shipping (Life saving appliances) Draft Rules 1969

Capacity to accomo­ date or support as Life buoys at least Life Distress signal at least the case may be Jackets

Life boat on each side- 4 - for vessels of 30 metres 12 parachute distress signals­ for all per sons on or lUore for board the ship Ships of more than 24 At least one half of metres in length- the life-buoys to be carried shall be fitted Rafts - twice the with self i~njtjng light. One 6 red star distress signals num ber of persons on for for Ships of less than 24 board th: ship One life- buoy (not each metres in length attached with the self person igniting light on each Life boat - all persons side of the ship to on board the ship. Raft be attached wi th a or buoyant apparatus­ buoyant line of 27.5 all persons on board metres in length on the ship ships of more than 21.5 metres in length and 18 metres buoyant Raft or buoyant I ine on ships of less apparatus - one and than 21.6 metres in half times the number length. of persons on board the ship

Raft - all persons all board the ship

Raft or buoyant apparatus - all persons on board the shi p

29 ...o List of fire fighting appliances to be provided on board fishing vessels (Ships of Class VIII) fitted with internal combustion propelling machinery under 1000 Gross Tons as per Indian Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliance) Rules 1969.

Pump and fire hose Fixed fire Foam Fire Extinguishers- Other Fire Receptacle con­ Gross to direct powerful extinguish­ type Portable types Buckets taining adequate Tonnage of jet of water in any ing insta­ Capable of discharg­ filled quantity of sand vessel part of the ship llation ing froth or any with or other dry with suitable nozzle other substance suit­ sand or material suitable spraying water on able for quenching wa ter for quenchiug oi I oil oil fires. fires with the scoop for distri­ buting the same

Under 150 one set (for open Two Three One One set boats this can be substituted by two fire buckets attached with lanyard) • Fire bucket painted Red - word "FlRB" in Black or Red . Half the number of buckets fitted with lanyard.

150 - 500 One set One with capacity Two Four One One set (powered pump) of 45 litres 500 - 1000 One set One No. of Fire B.H.P. of Three (powered pump) Extinguishers main engine 3 Not over 100 4 100 - 150 5 150 - 200 6 200 - 2~0 7 over 250

• In addition. ODe set of Fire mans out fit shall be carried. Two numbers of fife extinguishers can be substituted by either fire extinguisher of 4S titres capacity or 16 Kg. C02, At present in India, we ' have 2. The Merchant Shipping Act 1958 different sizes of ' vessels engaged in (44 of 1958), Govt. of India, fishing operations carried out for di- Ministry of Law, Justice and Iferent purposes such as: Company Affairs.

i) Exploratory/Experimental/Res­ 3. The Merchant Shipping (Exami­ earch/Survey nation for Skipper and Second hand of fishing vessel) Rules 1964. ii) Training 4. The Merchant Shipping (Exami­ iii) Commercial nation for Engineers and Engine According to the International colli­ Drivers of fishing vessels) Rules sion rules , all vesse ls engaged in fishing 1973. are covered under the rules. As per 5. The Merchant Shipping (Fire the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 " Fish­ Appliances) Rules 1969. ing vessel" means a ship fitted with mechanical means of propulsion which 6. The draft of the Merchant Shipp­ is exclusively engaged in sea fishing ing (Life savi ng appliances) Rules for " profit. This indirectly means that 1969 . the 3rd category of ves sels alone are fulfy covered by the existing manning and safety regulation prescribed in the APPENDIX A M. S. Act 1958 under the head "Fish­ ing Vessels". In order to have a uni­ SYLLABII FOR EXAMINATiONS form and streamlined procedure especi­ ally in view of the increase in the I. Certificate of Competency as Second hand number of vessels joining the fishing fieet of the country, it would be appropri­ (i) Written examin ation in Navigation: ate if separate rules are framed for a) take bearing by compass; use of fishin g vessel s covering all the above said aspects including registration, and chart, meaning of all the marks, bring the same under a separate chapter signs and abbreviations thereon; .in the existing Merchant Shipping Act. finding the courses and di stance made good, the compass conrses Acknowledgement: and distances, counteract the effect of tide and current; ship's The writer wishes' to express his positions by cross bearing of two sincere gratitude to Mr. D. A. S. objects; and from two bearings Gnanadoss , Director, Central Institute of the same object. of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training, Cochin for encouragement b) find the latitude by Meridian and the permission accorded to publish Altitude of the sun. this article. (ii) Oral examination in Navigation References: and Seamanship - the use and ad­ \. International Regulations for justments of the Sextant; impro­ preventing Collision at Sea, 1972. vising and use of a sea anchor; 31 ------marking and use of the lead line; (ii) Oral examination in Navigation rigging and masting of fishing and Seamanship - use of :Jie Pel­ vessels; accidents and how to deal orus, finding the deviation by with them; taking in and setting means of two bearings; use and. fore and aft sail; man overboard reading of the Aneroid barometer; ~nd necessary action; management getting und~r way; t~ nding a vessel of vesse l's boat in heavy weather; at anchor; moor~ng ano. unmooring; International Regulations for keeping a ship head to sea in Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972; heavy weather or if dismasted or the distress signals, pi lot signals with engines broken down; action and the liabilities and penalties to be ta ken if vessel is springing for misues; use and management leak; rigging and lise of a jury of the rocket apparatus; uniform ruddar; getting a cast with the system of buoyage and wreck mar­ deep sea lead in heavy weather; . king system; local seamarks, lights laws of storms and tracks and etc., notices to mariners; storm season of cyclones in the Indian signals on the Indian coast; life Ocean and the Bay of ~ Bengal; saving appliances and fire appli­ re levan t Chapters of Merchant ances. Shipping Act. 1958 concerning case of a death, injury or illtreatmeot (iii) Examination in signalling - morse or of punishment inflicted on bo­ and semaphore alphabets (with the ard or in case of casuality to a spee d of 6 words a minute in vessel; as to agreement and ap­ semaphore and 4 words a minute prentices' indentures; as to acco­ in morSe flashing); International unts, wages; and as to certificates Code of flag signals (meaning of of discharge, application of echo single flag). sounding in detecting fishing gro­ unds; duties of a skipper of a I II. Certificate or Competency as Skipper fishing vessel (The topics to be dealt with , in addition to those for Second hand (iii) Examination in signalling - know­ examination are given below) ledge of the "International Code I of Signals" (i) Written examination in Naviga­ tiOD. APPENDIX B

(a)(i) variation, deviation by transit be­ SYLLABII FOR EXAMINATIONS 'Iring (ii) course and distance made good, course to steer by counter­ 1. Certificate of Competency ~s engine acting the effect of tide or current driver or a . fishing vessel (b)(i) day's work in simplest form (ii) deviation of the compass by I. viva-voce - working of the var­ Amplitude and Time Azimuth of ious types of internal combus­ the sun (iii) longitude by chron­ tion engines and principal parts ometer and by the altitude of the of machinery; use and manage­ Sun ment of the different valves, cocks, FISHING

DAY -SHAPES

TWO Bt.ACK CONES POINTS TOGETHER VERTICALL't I

8ASKET _ ALTERNATIVE FOR VESS!l OF' LESS THAN 20 'rft IN LENGTH

alACK CONE IN OIRECTtON OF OUTL'iING GEAR EXTENDING MORE THAN 150. HORIZONTALLY FROM THE VESSEL. I.

I ... tot , SHOOTING NETS

I AM HAULING NETS

KEEP CLEAR OF ME. I AM ENGAGED IN PAIR TRAWLING·

MY HEn HAVE COME 'AST UPON AN ODSTAUCTION

SIGNALS IN RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. ONE PROLONGED BLAST FOLLOWED BY TWO SHORT 8LASTS AT INTERVALS NOT TWO MINUTES. pipes and connections, method of numbers. ratio and pr0portion, supplying air and fuel to the percentages, direct and inverse cylinders; starting troubles of variation , averages; areas and per­ engines, defects connected there­ imeters of a rectangle, triangle and with, remedies, starting reversing circle, vo fumes and surface areas arrangements and defects therein; of box shaped bodies, cylinders, overhauling the engine, wear and pyramidS, cones and ' spheres; tear to the machinery, correction Simpson's First Rules; practical for defects from accidents; pro­ applications involving use of perties of fuel oils used in inter­ given formulae, rearrangement of nal combustion engines; leakage given formulae; from fuel oil tanks, precautions to be taken against explosion; b) Elementary Drawing: precautions to guard against the Use of drawing instruments, re­ escape of infiamable vapour when ading of blue prints, production the engines are stopped, dealing of working drawings of machine wIth fire, fire fighting appliances; and engine parts, code of practice layout and working of electric of General Engineering Drawing light installations; dry-docking as published by Indian Standards including repairs to the propeller, Institution (IS; 696-1960) tail shaft rudder and sea con­ nections; elementary calculations c) Elementary General Engineering pertaining to speed, consumption Science of fuel oil" and fresh water; ma­ intenance of simple log book Fundamenral units, density and concerning the performance of specific gravity, parallelogram of engines; pumping out bilges; con­ forces, the triangle of forces, mo· struction and maintenance of in­ ments and levers, parallel forces , sulated holds; use of 'common centre of gravity, stress and str .. engineering materials on fishing ain, friction , work , temperature vessels; scales, quantity of heat and spe-' cific heats , quantity of electricity 2, Practical Test: Actually overhaul­ and Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis, ing and operating the engines of resistivity, Ohm's Law, the meas­ a fi shing vesse I in the presence of urement of resistance by the Am­ an examiner. meter/Voltmeter method.

II. Certificate of Competency as Engineer d) Engineering Knowledge: of a Fishing Vlssel Principles of .working, construct­ I. Written 'examination on the fol­ ion) operation and maintenance lowing subjects: of two stroke and four stroke in­ ternal combustion engines (super­ a) Elementary Mathematics charged and naturally aspirated) Addition, subtraction, multiplic­ used on board ship, with parti­ ation, division, decimals and vul­ cular reference to starting and gar fractions; powers and roots of reversing arrangements and safety devices; general uses and appli­ sulating fish holds; estimation of cation of various materials used fuel; lubricating oil and water in machinery on board fishing consumption, for a given voyage; vessels, the construction, use and work releated to drydocking, in­ principles involved in the action cluding propeller, tail, shaft, rud­ of pressure gauge, thermometer, der, sea-connections; elements of pyrometer, and other measuring ship construction; precautions ag­ instruments commonty used on ainst fire and explosions due to board ships; construction, operatoD oil vapour or gas, flash point, and maintenance of . centrifugal, danger of oil leakage, precautions bucket and gear type !pumps, lay­ while bunkering; explosion in cr­ out and operation of bilgc, ballast ank cases and starting air systems; and fuel oil systems; construction. construction, operation and main­ operation and maintenance of ste­ tenance of fire fighting appliances; ering gears; lay-out and working knowledge of statutory require­ of electric light and electric power ments concerning safety; free hl!nd installation with particular ref­ sketches of machine and engine erence to safety devices; construc­ parts. tion and care of starting air vessels including mountings; con­ 2. Viva-voce examination on 'Eng .. struction and operation of refrig­ ineering Knowledge' as specified erating plant and methods of in- above.