Annual Report of the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan on work accomplished during year of 2017

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    During the period of Report the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan ensured the implementation of measures on state regulation and policy in the maritime field by taking into consideration of Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, laws, decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, international conventions that the Republic of Azerbaijan is a party and “Statute of the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan” adopted by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 20 April 2006, decree no 395.

    With the purpose of evaluating the implementation of the requirements of the international conventions in maritime field, during 28 may-06 June of current year the Audit Expert Team of the International Maritime Organization conducted an audit at the State Maritime Administration in relation with verifying and evaluating the implementation level of the International Conventions by the International Maritime Organization which the Republic of Azerbaijan is a party, the maritime safety provision in all territorial waters of the Republic of Azerbaijan including port water areas, control mechanism the requirements applied to vessels, vessels traffic control, in accordance with the requirements of the International Conventions to inspect the vessels entering and departing the ports and issue entry/exit permits, protection of human life and marine environment as well as evaluation process of proficiency level of the professionals in this field have been examined accurately and punctually, it’s been highly valued the qualification requirements reflected in the legislation that inspectors should be formed only by the seafarers that carry out inspections of the vessels in compliance with the requirements of International Conventions, these requirements and other mechanisms established at the maritime transport field can be the Best Practice for the maritime countries, it is specially defined in accordance with the results of the audit that measures implemented in maritime field of our Republic, adopted normative legal acts comply with all requirements of International Maritime Organization and control on ships standards and inspections by the surveyors, harbor master activities under State Maritime Administration, control of vessel traffic system in the territorial waters of the Republic of Azerbaijan and port water areas have been settled in high level and in accordance with complete results of an audit The Republic of Azerbaijan held the highest place on statistical list by passing ahead the European and countries that take leading part in 172 world maritime States.

    In accordance with requirements of the International Conventions that the Republic of Azerbaijan is a party and resolutions on International Maritime Organization Member States Scheme (IMSAS) of A.1070(28) dated on 10 December 2013 and A.1105(29) dated on 10 December 2015, “Amendments to the Administrative Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was adopted on 16 may 2017 in order to prepare IMO Audit processes in the Republic of Azerbaijan, with considering the offers and opinions of the related government bodies.

    Also in order to adjust the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976, that adopted by the law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 16 December 2016, No 446-VQ, prepared legislation draft of “Amendments to the Merchant Shipping Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been submitted in accordance with the Constitutional Law on Normative Legal Acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan and adopted on 20 October 2017 at the Plenary session of the National Assembly.

    On the basis of offers and opinions of the related governmental bodies “Agreement on Cooperation in the field of merchant shipping between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Turkmenistan” was prepared and signed on 08 august 2017.

    During the 2017, wide inspections were held on 140 vessels flying the State flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan and 59 vessels flying the flag of the foreign states. During the inspections overall 1365 deficiencies were found on the vessels flying the State flag of Azerbaijan which are 811 of them relate to SOLAS Convention, 333 to STCW Convention, 156 to MARPOL Convention, 7 to COLREG, and 58 are violations of requirements of other conventions. At the same time 466 deficiencies were found on the vessels flying the flag of foreign countries due to violations of international conventions. 370 of deficiencies relate to SOLAS, 27 MARPOL, 35 Load Lines, 3 COLREG, and 29 of them are the violations of requirements of other conventions. Elimination of deficiencies was under control and all deficiencies were eliminated.

    During the mentioned period 16219 vessels’ entrance and 16259 departures from/to the Azerbaijani ports were documented, and also 3624 ship journal were confirmed and submitted and pilotage service was rendered to the 1418 vessels flying the flag of foreign States.

    Apart from this by the Long Range Identification and Tracking National Center under the Administration, 13175 vessels were assisted, 788 forecast information and 1164 storm information were transmitted, as well as 440 vessel towing operation were controlled and safe towing operation carried out, also 5 sick seafarers information onboard of vessels was received and their evacuation measures were appropriately arranged and at the same time deviation cases from recommended routes were found out at from channels, sea ports, waterways at the territorial waters of the Republic of Azerbaijan and direction of 4 vessels were coordinated in order to avoid any possible accident.

    During the period of report certificates of entitlement to fly the flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ownership certificates, minimum safe manning certificates, certificates of financial security in respect of civil liability for oil pollution damage, safe management certificates, certificates of insurance or other financial security in respect of civil liability of bunker oil pollution damage, extracts from bareboat charter registry and ship registry of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Continuous synopsis record document were issued by the Administration.

    Also in accordance with requirements of Safe Management International Code, compliance certificates were given to shipping companies, various type of vessels were registered in bareboat registry and ship registry of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and vessels reregistered at the mentioned registry and appropriate certificates were issued.

    At the same time Guidelines on training of Safety of Life at Sea, Guidelines on cargo consolidation, fire protection scheme, ships towing operation plan, Guidelines on fire protection training, extraordinary protection plan of oil pollution, ship’s efficiency management plan, and response plan on prevention of pollution of marine environment from vessels have been confirmed.

    During the aforementioned period, 38 renewals, initial at 11 vessels, intermediate survey carried out at 19 vessels by the specialists of Administration in accordance with requirements of International Ships and Port Facility Security Code. Also inspection was held at two sea port and compliance certificates were issued in accordance with requirements of International Ships and Port Facility Security Code.

    During the mentioned period of time seafarers identity documents and seafarers record book prepared and presented to its’ owners.

    In accordance with the requirements of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping and Statute on certification of vessel crew in the transport fleet of the Republic of Azerbaijan, certificates (diplomas) and special training certificates were issued.

    As well as in accordance with requirements of Code on Recognized Organizations (RO), assessment of RO and Class Society activities, with purpose of defining its compliance to international convention and domestic legislations’ requirements, “Bureau Veritas” and “Croatian Shipping Registry” Classification Societies were inspected accordingly.

    Also Guidelines on cooperation between the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Defense and Action plan on cooperation between Ministry of Extraordinary Situations and the State Maritime Administration were signed.

    Apart from this, special attention was given for training and education issues for civil servants working at State Maritime Administration. Staff of Administration participated at international meetings and trainings, and all these ensured to gain extensive practice of maritime field in advanced countries and recognition of Azerbaijan in international level. Once they were in business trip their service functions and language knowledge were taken into consideration.

    In the framework of the Twinning Project on supporting to the State Maritime Administration to improve liability in Maritime Transport in the Republic of Azerbaijan which considers normative legal acts on administrative liability in the shipping sector and relevant parts of the Merchant Shipping Code and Administrative codes reviewed, amended and prepares new administrative procedures, International Convention on civil liability convention for oil pollution damage, 1992 and the International oil pollution compensation fund, Truly cases on administrative sanction procedure about different kinds of ships International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker oil pollution, The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, Honk Kong convention on effective utilization for ships in compliance with safe and marine environment, EU parliament directive 2005/35/EC, seminar on elimination of findings during the audit of IMSAS for the Republic of Azerbaijan, review of International Maritime Organization Conventions and Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 – Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships training seminars with participation of Spanish specialists, seminars on maritime safety implementation in Italy which held by Italian specialists, and also together with Ministry of Extraordinary Situations, International Code on Carriage of dangerous goods by sea and implementation of MARPOL convention training courses were held.

    With purpose of improving practical knowledge, the staff of Long Range Identification and Tracking National Center of Maritime Safety Center participated in training courses at the Centro Jovellanos training education center in Kingdom of Spain for vessel traffic service operators accredited by the International Lighthouse Association

    At the same time on 08 December 2017, final meeting of Twinning Project on supporting to the State Maritime Administration to improve liability in Maritime Transport in the Republic of Azerbaijan was held. As such, all expected goals were achieved within this project framework which is the main direction in adjusting national legislation to International Standards for the our Republic.

    During the mentioned period, in accordance with Law on citizens appeals dated on 30 September 2015 with No1308-IVQ and article 8.13 of the Statute of the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 20 April 2006, No395, at the State Maritime Administration, arrangement the of reception of citizens carried out as per days indicated on the schedule of reception of citizens for Management of the State Maritime Administration and heads of structural departments of Administration and also in necessary cases reception of citizens carried out in non-reception days by the Management of Administration and Heads of structural departments.

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