Mercantile Marine Department

Mercantile Marine Department, Pakistan (Urdu: سررشتہ بحری تجارت ، پاکستان) is an attached department of Ports and Shipping Wing, Karachi under the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Government of Pakistan. The department was established in 1930 under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1923, which was repealed and replaced with Merchant Shipping Ordinance No. L II of 2001 (Laws relating to Merchant Shipping) in 2001. The department is headed by the Principal Officer who is also Registrar of Ships and Superintendent of Light Houses in Pakistan.[1][2]

Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Pakistan
سررشتہ بحری تجارت ، پاکستان
Seal of Government of Pakistan
Agency overview
FormedApril 19, 1930 (1930-04-19)
JurisdictionPakistan
HeadquartersKarachi, Pakistan
Agency executive
WebsiteOfficial Website

Functions

Main functions of Mercantile Marine Department, Pakistan (MMD) are appended below:[3][4]

  1. Registration of ships and crafts as per Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 2001
  2. Periodical survey of ships and crafts as per national requirements and International Standards
  3. Inspection of ships under state port control and flag state controls. Issuance of sea worthiness certificate to ships and crafts
  4. Examination and approval of loading dangerous cargo plans as per IMDG Code and Compliance inspection thereof
  5. Collection of applications, fee and other relevant documents for submission to Director General (Ports & Shipping Wing) i.e. applications for Certificate of Competency Examinations (Nautical and Engineering), approval of plans for new constructions, exemptions, approval of SOPEP and Cargo manual and approval of workshop and service stations etc.
  6. Circulation of navigational warning to Shipping Companies
  7. Notice to Mariners which also contain Navigational warnings received from hydrographic Department of Pakistan Navy

Surveyors of MMD

Ports & Shipping Wing is also the Maritime Safety Administration of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan plays its role in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through this Wing. The functions of Maritime Administration of Pakistan are mainly discharged by the professionals serving on the Technical Posts of this Ministry. Out of 15 Surveyors of the Ministry of Ports & Shipping, approx 11 surveyors (both Nautical and Engineering) work in the Mercantile Marine Department. Recruitment to Technical Posts in the Ports & Shipping Wing is made keeping in view the national & international standards and ensuring induction of experienced and qualified professionals for the pure technical jobs. However, Ports and Shipping Wing is facing acute shortage of surveyors and examiners. According to General Secretary of Marine Academy Old Boys Association (MAcOBA) this situation may determinate the good reputation of Pakistan, particularly to its listing to The White List of IMO.[5][6]

Online verification

Certificates of Competency (CoC) issued by the Ports & Shipping Wing to Deck Officers and Engineer Officers, as well as Rating Certificates by the MMD itself, are verifiable globally at the sub-portal of MMD’s official website.[7] Online verification has eliminated the chances of forgery of certificates and is a source of scrutiny without loss of time.

See also

References
  1. "Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2001 (No. LII of 2001)". International Labor Org. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  2. "Pakistan Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 2001 (Pt. 14 of 14)". Pakistan Trade Facilitation Portal. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  3. Pakistan (2001). The Gazette of Pakistan – Extra-ordinary published by Authority (3 Oct, 2001). Islamabad-Pakistan: Government of Pakistan. pp. 1228–1291 (Chapter-II to IV.
  4. Zafar Azeem (April 25, 2013). "Registration of ships and issues of tax liability". Business Recorder. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  5. Hina Mahgul Rind (May 20, 2014). "Seafarers, navy officers fear for jobs". The News. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  6. Ismail Dilawar (March 21, 2014). "'Compound effect' may deprive Pak of IMO's White List". Pakistan Today. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  7. "Online Verification System". www.mercantilemarine.gov.pk. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  • A Functional and Legal Classification of Corporations, Autonomous Bodies and Attached Departments under the Federal Government
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