(a) Power of commissioned officers of the Indian Navy regarding forfeiture to the Government of any colours hoisted by ships contrary to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 are given in section 63 (2) of the Act.
(b) Power of a Senior Officer of any ship of the Indian Navy regarding convening of Boards of Marine Enquiry outside India under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, are given in section 373 of that Act.
(c) Powers of a commissioned officer of the Indian Navy regarding detention of a ship under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, are given in sections 444 and 446 of that Act.
(d) Persons acting under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, who shall be deemed to public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code are given in section 453 of the Merchant Shipping Act.
(e) Powers of persons authorised to investigate, etc., under the Merchant Shipping Act are given in Section 454 of that Act.
CHAPTER 3 INSTRUCTIONS TO CAPTAINS Section Regulation I. General 0301 – 0325 II. Fitting out and Maintenance 0326 – 0344 III. Organisation 0345 – 0353 IV. NBCD Organisation, Ventilation, 0354 – 0361 Watertight Integrity and fire V. Armament 0362 VI. Logistics Duties 0363 – 0370 VII. Loss of Ship 0371 VIII. Mails-Arrangements for Delivery and 0372 – 0375 Despatch in I.N.Ships and Establishments IX. Naval Air Arm 0376 – 0394 SECTION 1 GENERAL (See also chapter 13 – Navigation and Direction)
0301. On Succession to Command. (1) An officer appointed to succeed another in command of one of Indian Naval Ships shall, so far as possible, make himself acquainted with the state of the ship by going round her with the officer he is relieving.
(2) He shall be furnished with a report, prepared by the head of each department, and approved by the officer he is relieving in the command, showing all existing defects in the respective departments; and he shall see the latest Form IN 378, Report of Examination of Structure.
(3) Should he be dissatisfied with the general state eof the ship, or any part of her, he shall report the mater to the Administrative Authority or Senior Officer.
0302. First Inspection. On appointment to the command of a ship, the Captain shall visit the various compartments with the appropriate departmental and specialist officers. In a newly completed ship in one of Indian naval dockyards, he shall be accompanied by the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard or such other officer as the latter may appoint, and in a private yard by the Warship Production Superintendent (WPS) or his representative of Control Built Ships. These officers shall afford him such general information in regard to the ship and equipment as he may require, and shall acquaint him with any alterations which the Chief of the Naval Staff may have authorised.
0303. Station and Port Orders. On commissioning, and during the commission on arrival from sea, the Captain shall take care to obtain or complete from the office of the Flag or other officer in command of the port or station or Senior Officer, his copies of the standing orders of the port or station.
0304. Reporting Proceedings. (1) The Captain of a ship operating independently shall report his proceedings by letter to the Administrative Authority, who shall forward it to the Chief of the Naval Staff with any comments he may wish to add. In the case of ship placed under the operational control of an authority other than the Administrative Authority, a copy will be forwarded to the authority under whom the ship is operating.
(2) Survey ships. Letter of proceedings from ships employed on survey duties shall be forwarded to the Administrative Authority with a copy to the Chief Hydrographer. The Administrative Authority shall forward them to the Chief of the Naval Staff with any comments he may wish to add. These reports shall be rendered as above, with the exception that during the Surveying season the letters shall be forwarded so as to cover a particular hydrographic instruction/instructions covering a period of not less than 2 months. In no case, however, shall more than 3 months pass without a Letter of Proceedings being submitted.
(3) For details regarding procedure for reporting of proceedings, see regulation
0207.
0305. Economical Speed. (1) The Captain shall take the earliest opportunity, when engaged on ordinary service in calm weather, of ascertaining or verifying the most economical speed for the ship, that is to say, the speed at which the greatest distance can be run per ton of fuel.
(2) The conditions under which these trials should be carried out are laid down in orders issued by the Chief of the Naval Staff from time to time.
0306. Charge of Ship. (1) The Captain shall not entrust the charge of the ship when under way to any officer, nor to any other person, unless he has satisfied himself that such officer or person is acquainted with the regulations for preventing collisions at sea (See Chapter 42).
(2) He shall take care that an officer whom he judges not to be fully competent is never left in sole charge of an Indian Naval Ship, but shall be supervised by an officer of experience who, while not taking the ship out of the hands of the officer of the watch except in case of emergency, shall see that all orders given by him are correct and safe.
(3) He shall never allow an officer of a foreign Navy, who may be borne as a supernumerary, to be placed in charge of a watch.
0307. Safety of Life. (1) The Captain shall see that the Executive officer and the officer of the watch are aware of their responsibilities for preventing any persons going on the weather decks when the weather conditions are such as to make it dangerous. See regulations 0406 (2) and 1026 (16).
(2) In any ship in which half-rails only are fitted, he shall take care that life lines are rigged to bring the rails to the normal height.
I.
(3) If practicable, boats’ crews should not include any non-swimmers. If it is necessary to include a non-swimmer the precautions laid down in regulation 1027 (6) shall be observed.
0308. Captain’s Rounds. The Captain shall visit periodically the engine rooms, boiler rooms, and machinery spaces, as well as other ordinarily accessible parts of the ship.
0309. Engineering Master Log. The Captain shall inspect the Engineering Master Log weekly, taking care to satisfy himself that all the information required is fully and properly noted, so that a complete record of work done and changes made may be preserved.
0310. Log Books. (1) The captain shall examine weekly the Ship’s Log and the Magazine Log. He is responsible that the Top Secret message logs, and other message logs are properly kept and that the instructions for their custody and disposal are complied with.
(2) The Captain shall examine monthly and countersign the Electrical Radio Equipment Log, the Electrical Log and Progress Book, the Anti Submarine Warfare Log and Progress Book and the Gunnery Log and Progress Book.
(3) Night Order Book. When the ship is at sea, and at such other times as he may think necessary, the Captain shall leave his orders for the night in the book supplied for the purpose.
0311. Confidential Books. The Captain is responsible for the correction and safe-keeping of all secret and confidential books and documents, and books “For Official Use Only” and that the instructions laid down by the Chief of the Naval Stall are complied with. See regulation 3706 regarding handling of classified documents.
0312. Moorings (1) When a ship is lying at moorings, the Captain shall take care to observe every precaution with regard to them, which the appropriate authority may deem necessary.
(2) He shall also be careful that, so far as he is concerned, no moorings of any descriptions are laid down at any of Indian Naval ports without the permission of the appropriate authority.
(3) The appropriate authority for the purpose of this regulation is in the case of
(a) Bombay and Visakhapatanam. The Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard.
(b) At other Ports. The local Naval authority unless another authority is specified in this behalf by the Chief of the Naval Staff.
0313. Anchors and Cables. (1) The Captain shall attend most carefully to the state and preservation of the chain cables to ensure every precaution is taken to keep them from undue wear or corrosion, and he shall see that the Navigating officer and the commissioned Boatswain pay the same attention to this very important subject.
He shall see that the regulations for the survey and test of cables laid down in regulation 4358 are complied with. See also regulations 1315 and 1603.
(2) He shall never cut or slip a cable while there is a possibility of weighing the anchor, except in a case of emergency such as casing an enemy or for the safety of the ship, but if it is necessary to do so or if the cable is parted, he shall use his utmost endeavour to recover it and the anchor immediately, if the weather and other circumstances admit of the attempt being made. If the ship should be sent to sea, the Senior Officer left at the anchorage shall take steps to recover them if possible.
(3) On every occasion of the parting of a cable or the loss or breakage of an anchor, a report on Form S. 541 shall at once be made to the Chief of the Naval Staff through the Administrative Authority or Senior Officer, and to the Admiral Superintendent of the nearest dockyard, giving full information as to the cause of the parting or breakage, the circumstances in which it occurred, and steps being taken to recover the lost articles. The report shall be accompanied by a plan showing the spot where the anchor is supposed to lie with any transits, bearings and distances of any shore objects or navigational marks that may have been taken from the spot, similar particulars shall be left with the Indian Consular Authority at the place for the guidance of the Captain of any Indian Naval Ship calling there who, if consistent with his orders, shall endeavour to recover an anchor or cable which has not been recovered.
0314. Captain’s Ship’s Books. A Captain’s Ship’s book will be supplied to the Captain of each ship on commissioning. While the ship is in commission, the book and its supplement, or the Captain’s ship’s (Guard Book), shall be kept under the immediate supervision of the Captain as directed therein, and they shall be produced for examination by the inspecting officer at the periodical inspection of the ship.
(2) When a ship is paid off, a shore establishment is decommissioned, or a depot is closed down, the Ship’s Book, its supplement and the Captain’s Ship’s (Guard Book) in respect of Indian Navy ships, Ship’s Book in respect of shore establishments and depots shall be sent to Naval Headquarters for retention.
0315. Bridge and Engine Room Clocks. (1) On all occasions immediately before proceeding to sea, Commanding officers of ships shall ensure that the bridge clock and engine room clocks are synchronised. See regulation 1026 (18).
(2) In the event of any unusual occurrence taking place concerning or likely to concern the engine room department, such as grounding, the Commanding officer is responsible that a check is made between the Bridge and engine room clocks as soon as practicable after the occurrence.
0316. Important Keys. (1) He shall cause important keys in the ship, except those issued personally to individual officers, to be kept in a box having a glass front, supplied for the purpose and provided with two keys. In time of war, the glass front shall be replaced by stout woven wire of a suitable mesh to enable the contents to be identified. The box shall be fixed outside the door of the Captain’s cabin and shall be in the charge of a sentry. In ships where there is no sentry, the box shall be placed inside the door of the Captain’s cabin or, if more convenient, of the Executive officer’s cabin.
(2) The keys of the important key box shall be kept by the Captain or Executive officer, who may, at his discretion, place one key under the charge of the officer of the watch or sentry. In the latter case, the officer of the watch or sentry shall be furnished with a list of persons to whom access to the key box is authorised.
(3) The name of each key will be marked distinctly over its hook in the box, so that the absence of a key from its hook will show that the key is in use.
(4) When it is necessary to open the box, the authorised person to whom the keys contained therein may be entrusted, shall himself obtain the key of the box from the Captain, Executive officer, officer of the watch or sentry, as the circumstances may require. When the purpose for which the keys were removed from the box is accomplished, he shall carefully lock the compartment, at the same time ensuring that the compartment is clear personnel; return the keys to the box, and the keys of the box to the Captain, Executive officer, officer of the watch or sentry. The issue and return of the keys shall be entered by the sentry in the book kept for the purpose and initialled by the persons receiving the keys. When there is no sentry, the person receiving the keys shall enter in the book the time of receipt and return, and initial the entry.
(5) In ships where separate keyboards are provided for each department, the head of the department is to cause all-important keys of the department to be kept therein. The keyboard is to be secured to a bulkhead inside the head of the department’s cabin or, if more convenient, in the departmental office. Instructions given in sub regulations 1 to 4 will apply in their entirety to these keys, except that the key of the keyboard is to be held by head of the department or an officer or a senior sailor nominated by him. The duplicate key of the departmental keyboard is to be stowed on the ship’s main keyboard.
0317. Magazine Keyboard. (1) The keys of the magazines, shell rooms and all compartments containing explosives, shall be kept in a box having a glass front, provided with lock and duplicate keys. This box is hereinafter referred to as ‘the magazine keyboard’.
(2) The magazine keyboard shall be fixed near the door of the Commanding officer’s cabin, and is to be in the charge of a sentry. In ships where there is no sentry, the board shall be fixed inside the Commanding officer’s cabin.
(3) The keys of the magazine keyboard shall be kept by the Captain, who may at his discretion issue one key to be kept in the personal possession of the sentry, or, where there is no sentry, a commissioned officer.
(4) A system of grouping g and bunching the keys of the several quarters as laid down in the Naval Magazine and Explosives regulations shall be adopted, and the names of the quarters and the group number of the keys shall be marked distinctly over their hooks in the box, so that the absence of a bunch of keys from its hook will show that the bunch is in use and the compartments to which the keys give access are to be assumed to be open.
(5) A board shall be hung above or below the box, and shall be printed red on one side, with the words ‘Magazine Open” and black on the other side, with the words “Magazine Closed” and every time any No.1 key (see Naval magazine and explosives regulations) is taken away or returned, the board shall be turned accordingly. When the box is placed inside the Commanding officer’s cabin , this board shall be hung up outside in a conspicuous position.
(6) When the magazine keyboard is under the charge of a sentry, the key of the board shall not leave his possession; he is personally to lock and unlock the board and issue and return the keys kept on it. Persons to whom keys are issued shall retain them in their possession until the compartments concerned are again locked; the keys are then to be returned to the magazine keyboard.
(7) The sentry, or, where there is no sentry, the persons removing the keys from the board, shall be responsible that the indicator board is turned, and shall see that all indicating lamps are burning correctly. If at any time the indicating lamps do not agree with the state of the key board, he shall immediately cause the officer of the watch or officer of the day to be informed, who shall take steps at once to have the matter investigated.
(8) When there is no sentry, the Captain shall make the necessary arrangements for the indicating lamps to be inspected frequently and for an immediate investigation to be made if they are at variance with the state of the keyboard.
0318. Poisonous Substances. No poisonous substance shall be used to clean mess traps, mess utensils and galley implements; nor shall poisonous or other substances, for the extermination of rats and other pests, be used without the prior concurrence of the Medical Officer.
0319. Relics-Preservation. (1) Whenever a ship is about to be broken up or used for any purpose that will preclude her further service as a commissioned unit in the Indian navy, the ship’s bell and history scroll shall be removed and carefully preserved for issue to any future ship of the same name. At Bombay and Visakhapatnam, the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard and at other ports, the local Naval authority, shall be responsible for their removal from the ship and for despatch for safe custody to the Commodore Naval barracks, Bombay. The Commodore Naval Barracks, Bombay, shall be responsible for the custody , accounting and maintenance of these , obtaining if necessary , the assistance of the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard for their maintenance .
(2) In the event of a ship’s name being changed, the bell, scroll and other relics shall be preserved as in sub regulation (1) above.
(3) Every ship in commission shall keep in the Captain’s Ship’s Book a list of the articles of historical interest, relics, plate, pictures, etc. on board, that are to be preserved on paying off. Particulars of any additions, deletions, other modifications made in the list shall be sent at the first opportunity to the Chief of the Naval Staff.
(4) A place shall be set apart in the Naval Barracks where articles approved for preservation can be stored and taken care of until the name is re-introduced.
0320. Execution of Will. (1) Then failure of officers and sailors to make the wills often causes considerable hardship to their dependents. Every encouragement should therefore be given to them to perform this duty towards relatives and dependents and, if they have not already made a will, they should be advised to make one in accordance with law.
(2) This will be in the best interest of not only the individual, as he would thus be ensuring the disposal of his property after his death in accordance with his wishes, but also of his dependents who would be saved the trouble and expense involved in taking various legal steps necessary for establishing their title to the estate.
(3) Execution of a will is a compulsory requirement in the case of officers/subordinate officers and sailor detailed for flying training and air crew duties and is to be complied with before commencement of flying.
(4) For detailed instructions see orders promulgated on the subject by the Chief of the Naval Staff from time to time.
0321. On Supersession. When the Captain is superseded, he shall transfer to his successor the originals of all unexecuted orders.
0322 to 0325. Blank.
SECTION II – FITTING OUT AND MAINTENANCE (See also Chapters 43 and 44)
0326. Preparing for Service. (1) When a ship is first commissioned, as well as at all other times, the Captain shall be very diligent in getting the ship ready for sea or for any other service ordered; he shall inspect continually, so far as he is able, all work on board.
(2) The Captain of a ship in commission is responsible for keeping his Administrative Authority informed of any work taken in hand, or proposed to be taken in hand by the dockyard, which would affect the date on which his ship would be ready for service.
(3) Should it be found necessary to extend the date originally fixed for being ready, he shall forthwith report the reasons by letter to the Administrative Authority for the information of the chief of the Naval Staff. In the event of their being any neglect or delay in her fitting on the part of the dockyard, he shall represent the same, when no Senior Officer is present, to the Admiral Superintendent or to the Chief of the Naval Staff as circumstance may require.
0327. Local Regulations. The Captain shall make himself acquainted with the local regulations of the dockyard, armament supply depot, armament inspection organisation, victualling yards and naval stores depots in respect of matters pertaining to his ship
0328. Applications to the Admiral Superintendent. The Captain shall make to the Admiral Superintendent of the dockyard all applications relating to the ship which require the approval of that officer; he shall render every assistance to the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard or other dockyard officers whenever these officers may visit the ship under the directions of the Admiral Superintendent to inspect and report on defects or any proposed alteration or addition to her fittings.
0329. External Valves. When fitting out while commissioning, the Captain shall make himself acquainted with the position, dimensions, and uses of the external valves, more especially of those under water, and the Admiral Superintendent of the dockyard shall, on application, furnish any information on the subject, which may be required.
0330. Colour of Weather Work of Indian Naval Ships in time of Peace.
The formulae for the dark grey, light grey, and white paints used for the weather work of Indian Naval Ships in time of peace have been standardized, and only paints mixed to these formulae shall be used. The colour, or combination of colours, which Indian Naval Ships are painted in time of peace is left to the discretion of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
0331. Drawing of Bottom Plating. (1) On commissioning a ship, the Captain shall receive from the Admiral Superintendent of the dockyard a copy of the expanded drawing to scale of the outside as well as of the inside bottom plating of each side of the ship, showing the joints and butts and the exact thickness of each plate written thereon.
(2) If the ship is surveyed or repaired during her commission, and the thickness of any of the plates ascertained, such thickness shall in each case be written in words upon the copy, with a view to estimating deterioration from past records.
(3) On Paying off, the copy of the drawings, signed by the engineer officer and the shipwright officer, and approved by the Captain, shall be returned to the dockyard.
(4) In addition to the plans and drawings referred to above, he shall be furnished with the previous reports of the ship’s stowage, trim, and qualities.
0332. Position of Pumps, Cocks and Valves. (1) The Captain shall receive in writing from the Admiral Superintendent of of the Dockyard/builders on commissioning, clear drawings showing the position and lead of all pumps, pipes, cocks and valves connected with the fire service and flooding arrangements, etc.
accompanied by full directions for their use.
(2) Whenever a vessel comes out of the hands of the dockyard after repair, fitting or refitting, the drawings, shall be amended, as the case may be, by the dockyard officers, and shall be handed by them to the Captain, to be preserved carefully, and retained on board for use; and they shall be returned to the dockyard officers on the ship being paid off. The officers of the dockyard shall be required to state in their reports on the examination of ships after trial whether these directions have been complied with.
(3) The Captain shall also be furnished by the Admiral superintendent of the Dockyard/builders with a plan of the stowage of the ship. During the refit, the Captain shall cause to be noted on this plan such alterations and correction as may be found necessary.
0333.Negligence, etc., of Dockyard Personnel and Base Repair Staff. (1) The Captain shall report to the Admiral Superintendent or Captain of the establishment, as the case may be, any negligent workmanship, idleness, or any other irregularity on the part of the dockyard personnel or base staff employed on board which he observes, or which is brought to his notice be the ship’s officers.
(2) Every facility shall be afforded to the workman for the rapid and efficient performance of their work, and the ship’s officers shall co-operate with the dockyard and base officers in the furtherance thereof.
0334. Dockyard Inspection. (1) As soon the dockyard have made good the defects, or completed additions or alternations duly sanctioned, the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard shall appoint a day for the inspection of the ship by the dockyard officers. The Captain shall ensure that the dockyard officers are accompanied on their inspection by the respective heads of Departments in the ship.
The Captain is to assist the dockyard officers to ascertain whether his ship is in all respects complete as regards her sea-going and fighting efficiency.
(2) Report on Completion. The report, on form IN 477 or NSO 266 will be made to the Admiral Superintendent of the dockyard, and a duplicate sent to Naval Headquarters. If the Captain does not fully concur in the report, he shall represent it in writing to his Senior Officer/Administrative Authority the point on which he dissents, and his reasons for doing so, bearing in mind that the object of the inspection is to ensure that the ship is ready and properly fitted for the service on which she is employed.