The maritime administration can be defined as that branch, department or organ of the Government which deals with Maritime matters. The role and function can be categorised under the distinct heading:
1) Function and obligations of a Coastal State.
2) Port State functions and obligations.
3) Role of flag state.
4) Maritime treaties and protocols of IMO/ILO
5) Requirement of survey/audit/certification and other documents.
6) Phasing in and implementation of revised STCW 2010 from STCW 95
7) Conducting examination of navigating and engineering officers.
Sadly, when I pen this article our maritime administration is virtually dysfunctional without surveyors and examiners to comply with IMO/ILO conventions, The Maritime Safety Committee of IMO meeting in May, 2014 has made IMO Audit mandatory from January 2015, Pakistan was not even represented. We, are at high risk of being removed from white list, thus jeopardising the employment of Pak Seafarers, unless we act now to put our system in order. Our Academy Cadet Officers are wandering for jobs and certification in absence of qualified Surveyors / Examiners. Sadly, there is no permanent Director General of Ports and Shipping to act as focal point of International Maritime Organisation and ILO. I, recall that I inherited Directorate of Ports and Shipping as Director General in partly dysfunctional state in 2003, but I was able to convince the Minister of Communication, who incidentally was Ivy League MBA, who comprehended the issue and agreed despite opposition by Secretary of Police cadre thus, we manned the Directorate and won international recognition and appreciation by accession of civil liability convention of 92 and OPRC ratification and also ISPS code being amongst the first ten countries. Unfortunately the Directorate declined from 2007 to-date it is in shambles. The plight of Marine Academy Cadet Officers remain unnoticed, despite protest and press conferences in civilised manner. It is a wake-up call for Ministry to resolve the issue by giving due recognition to plight of sufferers by appointing a qualified Director General, Examiners and Surveyors to meet IMO/ILO obligation.
The word "Administration" ordinarily means the conduct and execution of the role and functions of an office project or institution and in broader terms it normally refers to the Government. The work "Maritime Administration" would refer to that department, Directorate or agency of the Government that oversees the shipping and maritime activities. When we say "Maritime Safety Administration" we mean the Administration that looks after the safety at sea and protection of the marine environment. In this case the word "Safety" relates to safety of life, property and environment at sea. However, when we refer to maritime administration we cover a broader range of subjects that will also include economic and developmental aspects of shipping. In Pakistan, Director General of Ports and Shipping was established in 1962, is responsible for Maritime administration being signatory to 27 IMO conventions and to act as regulator for Ports and Shipping industry based at Karachi.
I, now try to identify the range of activities that will fall under the purview of maritime administration. They can be summarised as: (1) Registration of Ships, (2) Tonnage measurement, (3) Registration/deletion of mortgage and issue of transcript, (4) Survey and certification of ships including of approval of plans and manuals ( L. L. SOLAS, MARPOL, etc; (5) Examination and certification of marine personnel (STCW 95), (6) Article of Agreement (Crew Agreement), health, hygiene and safety at work, (7) Registration, survey and certification of fishing vessels, (8) Examination and certification of fishing vessel personnel (STCW-F) (9)Registration of yachts and pleasure craft, regulate pleasure industry as required for safety including training requirement for persons serving on yachts, (10) Safety of inland shipping (rivers and lakes), (11) Type-test and approval of locally manufactured marine equipment and safety appliances including approval of life raft service stations and workshop that services and certifies fire fighting installations and appliances, (12) Safety of offshore rigs and mobile units, (13) Recognition of classification societies and delegation of certain functions with monitoring provisions, (14) casualty investigation, (15) Representation and co-ordination with IMO/ILO/ITU/ INMARSAT/IALA/IHO/UNCTAD and other international bodies, (16) promotional aspects such as training facilities, ship building and repair facilities, ship breaking industry, acquisition policy, protection, incentive, subsidy etc; (17) Port state control (inspection of safety standards of foreign flag ships) and random inspection of own ships, (18) regulate handling of dangerous goods in ports and harbours, (19) Survey coastal water and provide charts and data for own waters, (20) Provide necessary navigational aids and facilities along the coast, (21) Develop VTS, broadcast weather and navigational warnings and provide radio medical service, (22) Provide (humanitarian) SAR along the coast, (23) Combat accidental pollution with legal measures to recover damages, (24) removal of wrecks with legal measures for recovery of cost, (25) Prevent unlawful activities such as slave trade, human trade in illegal immigrants, piracy, terrorism, drug trafficking etc; (26) Intervene in certain cases, (27) Protect and preserve living, mineral and other resources within the EEZ or Continental shelf.
The State is also expected to operate safe and efficient port facilities in its own interest to meet the needs of trade and commerce. The primary role of the Port Authority (the administration of the port) is to provide service to the Port users. Though the Port Authority shall control all movements within the port and look after safety of all such operations, the ultimate responsibility of maritime safety and protection of the environment will still rest with the national Maritime Administration ie Directorate General of Ports and Shipping. The Port authorities do not approve intervention and acts as independent authority in contravention of IMO conventions, thus side lining the role of Directorate as regulator of Ports and Shipping and merely reducing the role as non-entity with support of Ministry at Islamabad.
In order to accomplish the role as a coastal state, specially those relating to SAR, contingency plan to combat pollution, prevention of unlawful acts and intervention etc, it is necessary to have a disciplined multiple role organisation in line with Defence services. Most countries have recognised this factor and developed "Coastguard"/MSA as a paramilitary organisation. Normally in peacetime the Coastguard will work under the transport (ministry or department) but as a law enforcing agency will also maintain link and co-ordination with police, justice, treasury, fishery, etc. The Coastguard/MSA is essential for protection of fisheries and other economic interest within the EEZ, However in case of war the Coastguard/MSA often becomes a part of the navy and may be used for coastal defence and port security. In Pakistan the role is assigned to MSA, which also do not co-0rdinate with Directorate.
The role and responsibility of an administration must not be mixed up with that of a commercial company (even though it may be state-owned). All efforts should be made to keep the company free of bureaucratic controls and interference. The success of any commercial venture will depend on the autonomy and freedom to take its own business decisions. The Government ( the Minister as well as the civil servants) or man in uniform should not get involved in the management and operation of the company if they become a party to the management and operation of the company, the chain of accountability will be lost. The Minister being the public representative and acting in the public interest, he should appoint a capable and competent person having commercial shipping background as the Director General. The Director General should be directly responsible to the Minister for the performance of the Directorate and the minister will remain answerable to the public through the parliament.
