MMDAC
Maritime Monitoring - DGCOMMCENTRE & LRIT National Data Centre (MMDAC)
The Maritime Monitoring & Data Analysis Centre (MMDAC) comprises two key components under the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS):
- DGCOMMCENTRE - India's official Maritime Assistance Service (MAS)
- Long-Range Identification & Tracking - National Data Centre (LRIT-NDC)
DGCOMMCENTRE - Maritime Assistance and Crisis Communication Hub
Purpose and Designation
- Functions as the single point for casualty and emergency reporting.
- Designated as India's Maritime Assistance Service (MAS) under IMO Resolution A.950(23).
- Commissioned on 1st July 2004, following security reforms post 9/11 and the adoption of the ISPS Code in India via the Ministry of Shipping directive dated 4th July 2003.
Primary Objectives
- Establish a communication framework between government agencies, local authorities, ships, and port facilities.
- Facilitate early collection and exchange of safety, security, and pollution-related information.
- Act as a Crisis Monitoring & Communication Centre during natural disasters, hijacking, or piracy.
- Coordinate with MRCCs for search & rescue and pollution incidents.
- Guide ships in ISPS drills, SSAS testing, and equipment maintenance.
- Disseminate maritime security information via INSA, ICCSA.
- Coordinate with approved port facilities for security information sharing.
- Operates 24x7, staffed by Radio Officers and Master Mariners.
- Equipped with NAIS & NAVTEX modules via DGLL.
Functions
Security-related:
- Implementation and testing of ISPS Code and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)
- Handling incidents of piracy, armed robbery, hijacking, and stowaways/refugees
Safety-related:
- Dissemination of weather alerts (from IMD) to Indian ports and stakeholders during cyclones
- Maintaining records of casualties, piracy, accidents, and crew fatalities
Maritime Monitoring - DGCOMMCENTRE & LRIT National Data Centre (MMDAC)
Background
- Developed in response to global maritime threats like:
- USS Cole Bombing (2000)
- 9/11 Attack (2001)
- Mumbai Terror Attacks (26/11, 2008)
- Conceptualized in 2006 (MSC.81); mandated under SOLAS Regulation V/19-1
- Supports security, safety, environmental protection, anti-piracy, and coastal state operations
Establishment
- Commissioned in 2009 with support from DGLL, developed by ISRO’s ANTRIX (SAC Ahmedabad) & CMC (now TCS)
- Successfully tested by IMSO within 10 days (March 2009)
- Go-live:
- Interim Authorisation: 23rd April 2009
- Integrated to LRIT production: 7th August 2009
- 24x7 centre operational from 1st August 2009
- Current Tech Partner: CDAC (Go-Live from 30 Jan 2020)
- Satellite Communication Provider: Tata Communications
- Audited by IMSO for IMO compliance
- Disaster Recovery Site: IMAC, Gurgaon
Key Features & Capabilities
- Repository for Indian ships >300 GRT
- Tracks over 600 vessels (Indian, Sri Lankan, Maldivian) with 6-hourly updates
- Capacity upgraded to support up to 10,000 vessels
- Facilitates Search & Rescue (SAR) via SARSURPIC (free) and Coastal SURPIC (charged)
- Feeds raw data to IN-IMAC
- Functions as a Regional Data Centre (RDC):
- Provides LRIT services to Sri Lanka (LoIA - 18 Sep 2014) and Maldives (LoIA - 26 Feb 2020)
- Vision: Extend LRIT services to other nations
Purpose of LRIT
- Support Search & Rescue (SAR) operations
- Enhance maritime security
- Enable environmental monitoring
- Data is shared with:
- Flag States
- Naval & Coast Guard authorities
- Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs)
Current Scenario at MMDAC
Uses MarineTraffic subscription for:
- AIS tracking
- Weather data
- Global vessel coverage
Integrated systems include:
- LRIT
- NAIS
- Weather reports from IMD
