The long Indian coast line spanning 7517 km. from Gujarat in west coast to West Bengal in the east coast is in the form of a large peninsula. There are 12 major ports and 187 notified minor and intermediate ports, suitably located to cater to the requirements of the entire country with respect to import and export of various types of cargo. The list of major ports include Kandla, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru (JNPT), Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin, Chennai, Corporate port of Ennore, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata with Haldia dock complex.

  As per United nation Convention of Laws at Sea (UNCLOS), ARTICLE 94, flag state shall effectively exercise its jurisdiction and control in administrative, technical and social matters over ships flying its flag.

  All types of ships under Indian as well as International flags regularly call at Indian ports for loading or discharging various types of cargoes. In addition, a number of ships carry out their annual surveys, dry docking and repairs which are provided in various ship building cum repair yards suitably located along the Indian coast line.

  While we encourage safe and secured ships which do not pollute our clean waters, our strategy is to ensure that unsafe ships which may threaten our marine environment are identified, inspected, their deficiencies noted and thereby detained, if found necessary.

  During the year 2011, 267 nos. of Indian flag ships were inspected under Flag State Implementation (FSI) regime and 42 nos. ships were detained. Detained ships were released after rectification of their observed deficiencies and payment of relevant fines.

  While analyzing the deficiency reports, we found most of the deficiencies were not in compliance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended. This finding is viewed as a matter of grave concern by the Indian Maritime Administration. .

  Keeping above in view, we have disseminated our findings to the ship owners to enable them take necessary corrective actions in order to minimize the number of deficiencies.

  We are committed to continue proactive monitoring of our ships� performance and we shall ensure that all the shortcomings are eliminated to ensure we have safer ships and clean oceans.