www.dos.gov.bd

Guidance to the Services of the
Department of Shipping | Ministry of Shipping

This charter is the declaration of our commitments to achieve excellence in the implementation of policies and procedures of the Department of Shipping for the benefit of shipping in general and for the seafarers, ship owners, passengers and public at large.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE

Administer the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1983, and the Inland Shipping Ordinance, 1976. For this reason a 2- tier structure of survey and certification at four district level has been set up to provide speedy and inexpensive service to the ship owners, seafarers, passenger and others related to shipping;

Administer the national and international standards of shipping to the inland and seagoing ships through survey and inspection.

Administer the standards for the seafarers by conducting examination and certification for various grades of examination for inland and international shipping;

Monitor after survey conditions of the vessels and take appropriate steps to check any unlawful practices and ensure safe operation of watercraft across the country; and

Administer the Bangladesh Flag Vessels (Protection) Ordinance 1982 and the rules made there under.

Commitments

We are committed to:

Making each and every watercraft safe and secured for carrying passengers and goods across the rivers and oceans;

Dealing with all applications received under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance and Inland Shipping Ordinance and the Rules made there under;

Giving prompt attention to public grievances and dispose them off with-in the time frame set out in the Annexure;

Taking all possible steps, including amendment of the Inland Shipping and Merchant Shipping ordinance and Rules made there under wherever required facilitating the speedy disposal of cases filed;

Providing on the department's website, all information that may be useful to the public including information relating to the various laws administered by the Department, Passenger Welfare Fund, fax/telephone/E-mail address of officers dealing with various subjects in the Department and to regularly update such information;

Dealing with the representations made by or on behalf of any seafarers, ship owners, passenger and public; and

Providing every possible assistance to seafarers, ship owners, passengers and public at the Service Counter of the Department at the BIWTA Bhaban Dhaka.

Interface with attached/subordinate offices on the issue of:
1. Seafarers dispute with ship owners
2. Unseaworthy ships

Subordinate Offices:

Mercantile Marine Department, Chittagong

Directorate of Seamen and Emigration Welfare, Chittagong

Government Shipping Office, Chittagong

National Maritime Institute, Chittagong

Marine Academy, Chittagong (for training matters)

Inspectorate of Inland Ships, Dhaka.

Our Expectations

We expect the applicants to file their applications with all necessary information to enable expeditious processing of their requests.
We expect the passengers to be aware of their responsibilities and rights and exercise them while travelling by ships.

HELP LINES

Contact Service Counter of the Department of Shipping at BIWTA Bhaban, 141-143 Motijheel C/A Dhaka 1000:

Chief Nautical Surveyor, Tel. No.9553584, Mob: 01713110138 for nautical matters relating to inland and oceangoing ships and for matters relating to any service provided by the Department of Shipping.
Chief Engineer and Ship Surveyor, Tel. No. 9550867 for engineering matters relating to inland and oceangoing ships
Director, Tel. No. 9551158 for other matters relating to inland and oceangoing ships.

For further information regarding service provided by the Department of Shipping contact Department's website http://www.dos.gov.bd.
In case the services mentioned in the charter are not provided within the prescribed time frame, users/clients may contact the Director General, Department of Shipping (Telephone Number: 9555128-9).

ANNEXURE

Time frame for dealing with applications under the MSO and ISO and Rules made thereunder.

1.	(a) Registration of ships under the MSO and ISO.	Within 15 days from the date of receipt of a complete application.
1.	(b) Return of incomplete application forms for removal of deficiencies.	Within 7 days from the date of receipt.
2.	Application for plan approval under the provisions of plan Approval Rules.
	(a) Initial processing of application and return of incomplete application.	Within 45 days from the date of receipt of the application.
	(b) Return of incomplete application	Within 10 days
3.	(a) Application for revalidation of certificate.	Within 3 days from the date of receipt of complete application.
3.	(b) Return of incomplete application form for removal of deficiencies.	Within 2 days from the date of receipt of the application.
4.	(a) Application for any other matters	Within 10 days from the receipt of the application.
4.	(b) Return of incomplete Application Form or application not routed through properly	Within 5 days from the date of receipt of the application.