What does UNCLOS require of a flag State for registration and control of its ships, and how does India comply?
Short answer
| UNCLOS duty | Article | India’s mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Register ships, genuine link, documents | 91, 92 | MS Act 2025 s.20 and s.22: the register and certificate of registry |
| Safety: construction, equipment, manning, training, signals | 94 | SOLAS, Load Lines, Tonnage and STCW surveys and certificates through DGMA and ROs |
| Civil and social: jurisdiction over crew, labour conditions | 94 | MLC through the Act, DMLC, Minimum Safe Manning Document |
| Pollution | Part XII, 211 | MARPOL and the liability Chapters administered by DGMA |
| Assessed by | — | III Code and the IMSAS audit |
- Registration (Article 91): each State fixes the conditions for nationality, registration and the right to fly its flag, with a genuine link and documents; Article 92: one flag, exclusive jurisdiction on the high seas.
- Control (Article 94): effective jurisdiction in administrative, technical and social matters: a register; jurisdiction over ship, master and crew; safety in construction, equipment, seaworthiness, manning, labour conditions, training, signals and communications; surveys and qualified crews; generally accepted international regulations.
- Pollution (Part XII, Article 211): rules through IMO, flag laws at least as effective and enforced.
- Discharged through: SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, MLC, Load Lines and Tonnage; the III Code and IMSAS audit the flag.
- India: the Merchant Shipping Act 2025: registration (s.20, s.22; s.7 administration); DGMA administers surveys and certification, pollution prevention, safe manning, STCW training (TEAP) and MLC conditions, with class societies as ROs; audited under IMSAS.
- Output: certificates, Minimum Safe Manning Document, CoC-qualified crew and the DMLC are how India discharges Articles 91 and 94 and Part XII.
Full answer
The full answer explains each point step by step, with the regulations and figures behind it and the discussion from other candidates. It is in the MEO Class I section of the Marine One forum, open to members enrolled for the MEO Class I exam.