**Executive Summary**
DGS Crew Circular No. 23 of 2022, issued on December 2, 2022, addresses the issuance of Seafarer's Identity Documents (SID) to Indian seafarers. It emphasizes the need for full utilization of available data collection slots at designated centers and mandates that seafarers possess a BSID before applying for specific activities. This circular will come into effect from April 1, 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Background:**
* India has ratified ILO convention No. 185 on Seafarer's Identity Documents (SID).
* The Merchant Shipping (Seafarer's Bio-metric Identity Document) Rules, 2016, were notified on April 11, 2016, and SID issuance began on April 5, 2019.
* **Data Collection Centers:**
* Data collection is currently conducted at 9 centers, each with a specified number of slots available per day:
* Government Shipping Office, Mumbai (200 slots)
* Mercantile Marine Department, Noida (200 slots)
* Mercantile Marine Department, Goa (200 slots)
* Mercantile Marine Department, Kandla (50 slots)
* Government Shipping Office, Chennai (100 slots)
* Mercantile Marine Department, Mangalore (75 slots)
* Mercantile Marine Department, Kochi (75 slots)
* Mercantile Marine Department, Vizag (75 slots)
* Government Shipping Office, Kolkata (200 slots)
* **BSID Requirement:**
* Seafarers must possess a BSID before applying for:
* Issuance/Renewal/Duplicate/Replacement of CDCs.
* Issuance/Revalidation of all CoCs & CoPs.
* Admission to all Competency, Simulator & Modular Courses (except Basic Safety Training (BST) and Security Training for Seafarer with Designated Security Duties (STSDSD) required for CDC and BSID issuance).
* **Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs):**
* MTIs must strictly follow the BSID requirements outlined in the circular.
* Admission taken in violation will be considered a major non-compliance, potentially leading to action against the MTI.
* **Effective Date:**
* The circular takes effect from April 1, 2023.
**Impact Analysis**
**Seafarers**
* **Impact**
* Seafarers are requested to fully utilize the available slots for BSID data collection. They are now required to obtain a BSID before applying for certain documents and courses.
* **Action Required**
* Book slots for BSID data collection at the nearest data collection center. Ensure BSID possession before applying for CDCs, CoCs/CoPs, and certain courses.
**Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs)**
* **Impact**
* MTIs are required to follow the BSID requirements strictly. Non-compliance may lead to action against MTIs.
* **Action Required**
* Inform seafarers and trainees. Facilitate them to book slots for data collection at the nearest data collection centers.
**Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers (RPS) Companies, Shipping Companies, and Unions**
* **Impact**
* Expected to disseminate the circular’s information to seafarers.
* **Action Required**
* Inform seafarers and trainees. Facilitate them to book slots for data collection at the nearest data collection centers.
Key Entities Referenced
Seafarer's Identity Documents (SID): A document to identify seafarers, regulated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention No. 185 and the Merchant Shipping (Seafarer's Bio-metric Identity Document) Rules, 2016. Issuance of SIDs to Indian seafarers
Merchant Shipping (Seafarer's Bio-metric Identity Document) Rules, 2016: Rules relating to the issuance of biometric identity documents to seafarers, enacted under the Merchant Shipping Act
Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): The issuing authority of the circular and the body responsible for enforcing the Merchant Shipping Rules regarding seafarers' identity documents
Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs): Institutions responsible for training seafarers, required to ensure compliance with the regulations regarding Seafarer Identity Documents
Government Shipping Office/Mercantile Marine Department: Locations where seafarers can have data collected for Seafarer Identity Documents
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COVERNMENT OF INDIA
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MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
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DIRECTORA'I'E GENERAL OI. SHIPPTNG. MUMBAI
F. No. 23-M[SC|23/2021-CREW - DGS Date: 02.12.2022
DGS Crew Cirgular No.23 of 2022
Whereas, India has ratified the convention No. 185 of the International Labour
Organization (ILO) on Seafarer,s Identity Documents (SID).
2'
Whereas, the Merchant Shipping (Seafarer's Bio-metric Identity Document) Rules, 2016
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(F.No.CR/SID-
CDAC( I y14(lV) dated 09.04.2019).
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Whereas collection of data is presently being done at the following 9 centers with slots
indicated against each: -
S.No. Name of Centers Slots available per day
0l Government Shipping Office, Mumbai 200
02 \4ercantile Marine Department, Noida 200
03 Mercant le Marine Department, Goa 200
04 Mercant le Marine Department, Kandla 50
05 Government Shipping Office, Chennai 100
06 \4ercanti le Marine Department, Mangalore
75
07 Mercantile Mar ne Department, Kochi
75
08 Mercantile Mar ne Department,Yizag
75
09 Government Shipping Office, Kolkata 200
4.
Whereas it has been observed that these slots are not being fully utilized by the seafarers.
Therefore, in order to utilize full slots available at these data collection centers and to issue
BSIDs to all the seafarers, it has been decided that the seafarers should be in possession of BSID
prior applying for the following activities : --
a)
Issuance of Renewal/Duplicate/Replacement of CDCs;
b)
Issuance/Revalidation of all CoCs & Cops.
c) Admission to all Competency, Simulator & Modular Courses exce 'sp et cB ua rs iti yc Safety
Training (BST), Security Training for Seafarer with Designated Duties
(STSDSD) which are required for issuance of CDC and BSID.
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5.
Whereas, the seafarers are requested to fully utilize all the available slots. The Maritime
Training Institutes (MTIs); Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers (RPS) Companies; Shipping
Companies; Unions etc are requested to disseminate the said information amongst seafareri
and advise & facilitate the Seafarers/Trainees for booking slots for data collection at the nearest
data collection centers.
6.
Whereas, it shall be mandatory for MTIs to strictly follow the instructions in para 4 (c)
above. Admission taken in violation of above instruction will consider as major non compliance
and necessary action shall be initiated against MTIs as per the issued DGS Order i.e. DGS Order
05 and 07 of2016.
7.
This circular will come into effect from 0l .04.2023.
8.
T'his issues with the approval of Director General of Shipping and Additional Secretary to
the Govt. of India.
(Ashish Sinha)
Deputy Director General of Shipping.
To,
i. All
stakeholders (owners/employers/recruiters/seafarers unions etc) through DGS
Website.
ii.
All other non-member Shipping companies to any associations.
iii.
Shipping Offices, Mumbai/Kolkata/Chennai/
iv.
MercantileMarineDepartments.
v.
Hindi Cell for Translation
vi.
E-Gov. Cell.
vii.
Computer Cell for uploading at DGS Website.
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