**Executive Summary**
DGS Order No. 06 of 2024 addresses issues with e-migrations of Indian seafarers due to technical upgrades to the e-Migrate portal. The e-Migrate services were temporarily suspended from March 18 to March 24, 2024. The order implements a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to mitigate the disruption caused by the e-Migrate portal upgrade.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **E-Migrate System and Suspension**
* The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) launched an E-Migrate system for Indian seafarers via Merchant Shipping Notice No. 07 of 2017.
* The Ministry of External Affairs informed that e-Migration services would be suspended from March 18, 2024, to March 24, 2024, for technical upgrades (e-Migrate V1 to V2).
* **Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)**
* A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is issued to mitigate e-migration issues until the system is fully restored.
* The SOP is applicable to all Protectorate of Emigrants (POEs), Foreign Regional Registration Offices (FRROs), and Immigration Authorities.
* **Temporary Manual Implementation**
* e-Migration of seafarers will be temporarily implemented or carried out manually until the system is restored.
* Companies are requested to organize and employ seafarers with urgent joining needs.
* **Documentation Requirements**
* Companies must provide seafarers with hard copies of specified documents for verification by Immigration Authorities, including FORM I or Article of Agreement, Sea Service Details, Employment Contract, Insurance Coverage, Valid Passport/CDC/BSID, Flight Tickets, and other applicable travel documents.
* Companies must submit a comprehensive list of seafarers in EXCEL format one day before the scheduled journey by 1500 Hrs to crews-dgs@nic.in, manish.kumar-dgs@gov.in and danieljohn-dgs@gov.in.
* Companies must submit an Undertaking to the DGS in the format outlined in Annexure III.
**Impact Analysis**
**Shipping Companies / RPSL Companies**
* **Impact**
* Need to manually organize e-migrations during the system downtime.
* Responsible for providing hard copies of documents to seafarers.
* Must submit the list of seafarers to the Directorate in the prescribed format one day before the scheduled journey.
* Requirement to submit an Undertaking
* **Action Required**
* Provide hard copies of documents to seafarers.
* Submit the list of seafarers to the Directorate.
* Submit the Undertaking in the format outlined in Annexure III.
**Seafarers**
* **Impact**
* Process of e-Migration is temporarily done manually and may require furnishing hard copies of documents.
* Relies on companies to provide necessary documentation for immigration verification.
* **Action Required**
* Present hard copies of documents to Immigration Authorities as required.
**Protectorate of Emigrants (POEs); Foreign Regional Registration Offices (FRROs); Immigration Authorities**
* **Impact**
* Must adhere to the SOP for seafarer e-migrations during the system downtime.
* **Action Required**
* Implement the SOP for manual verification and processing.
Key Entities Referenced
e-Migrate Portal: An online system for the emigration of Indian seafarers, undergoing technical upgradation which prompts this order.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: The issuer of the order, responsible for shipping regulations and seafarer emigration.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): A procedure created to mitigate issues arising from the e-Migrate portal's technical upgrade, applicable to Protectorates of Emigrants and other authorities.
Ministry of External Affairs: Involved in the technical upgradation of the e-Migrate portal and coordinating the suspension of its services.
Protectorate of Emigrants (POEs): Organizations responsible for protecting the interests of emigrants, particularly seafarers in this context, and subject to the SOP.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL O- F SHIPPING, MumlTai
F. No.23-MISC12112021-CREW - DGS (C. No.27991) Date: 20.03.2024
DGS Order No. 06 of 2024
Subiect: Issue of E-Migrations of lndian Seafarers due to the Technicul Ll radation of E-Mierate
Portal - Res.
Whereas. the Directorate General of Shipping. Mumbai vide Merchant Shipping Notice No. 07 of
20 I 7 dated I I .08.201 7 had launched an E-Migrate system for Indian Seafarers.
2. And whereas, the e-Migrate system provides several benefits to both, the companies and the
seafarers. For companies. it ensures compliance with regulations by facilitating recruitment through licensed
entities. thus reducing legal risks associated with unlicensed recruitment. It also streamlines the immigration
process by allowing immigration authorities to verify seafarers' details electronically, enhancing efficiency
at immigration checkpoints. For seafarers, the system offers increased protection by ensuring that they are
recruited through legitimate channels, minimizing the risk of exploitation or mistreatment associated with
unauthorized recruitment practices. Additionally, seafarers can verify their registration details through the e-
Migrate website or SMS service, providing them r,',ith greater transparency and control over their
recruitment process.
3. And whereas, the Ministry of External Affairs (OE& PGE Division) vide letter No. Z-
I1025i I l/2015-OE-III dated 16.03.2024 has informed that due to the ongoing technical upgradation tiom e-
Migrate V 1 to e-Migrate V2, the services of e-Migration would be suspended from March 18, 2024, to
March 24,2024. This suspension might contribute to the technical dilficulties encountered during the e-
Migration process. Copy of letter of Ministry of Extemal Affairs (OE& PGE Division) is annexed herewith
as Annexure L
4.
And whereas, the Directorate has received numerous representations via various channels, including
phone calls, emails. and messages, hightighting issues encountered during the e-migration of seafarers due
to ongoing technical upgradation olthe e-Migrate Portal.
5. Therefbre, after a thorough examination and discussions with the Protectorate of Emigrants in
Mumbai, it has been decided to issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to mitigate the ongoing e-
Migration issues until the system is lully restored. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is annexed herewith
as Annexure ll. The SOP will be wplicable to dll the Prolectorate of Emigrants (POEy); Foreipn
Regionol Repislratiott O/fices (FRROs): Imntisr liotr Anthoriti':s.
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will temporarily implemented or carried out manually. Companies are requested to organize and employ
sealarers with urgentjoining needs until the system is reinstated/restored.
7.
The Companies are required to provide a hard copy of all the following documents to the seafarers,
so as to enable them to fumish the same to the Immigration Authorities/Officials for verification before e-
Migration, if required.
l. FORM I (for Foreign Flagged vessel) or Article of Agreement (for Indian Flagged vessel)
ii. Sea Service Details ol Seafarers Online Profile.
iii. Employment Contract.
iv. Insurance Coverage.
Valid Passport; CDC; BSID.
vi. Flight Tickets.
vii. Any other travel documents, as applicable.
8.
The Conrpanies are required to submit an Un&rtaking along with the details as mentioned in the
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The format of the undertaking is annexed herewith as Annexure III.
Only, the authorized signatory ofthe Company is permitted to sign the undertaking.
9.
This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping, Mumbai.
9@
(Capt. Manish Kumar)
Nautical Surveyor -cum-
Dy. Director General of Shipping (Crew Branch).
To,
i. All FRROs.
ii. All Stakeholders through DGS Website.
iii. All Mercantile Marine Departments.
iv. All Govt. Shipping Offices.
All Seamen's Employment Offices.
vi. Computer Cel[ for uploading of the same to the DGS Website
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Z
No Z-1 1025/1 1/201 S-OE-lll
Minrstry of E xlernal Affarrs
OE&PGE Dtvision
Akbar Bhawan. Chankyapurr. New Delhr
SaturrJay 16 March 2024
Subject: lntimation regarding technical upgradc to lre carried out in the oMigrate portal
(https:/remig rate. gov.in) starting 1 8l 03t 2024
The eMigrete portal (htlps://emigrate gov rn) is under revamp lor qurte some hme and
the new upgraded version eMigrate V 2 0 is to Go Live soon
2. ln view of the upcoming Go Live of eMigrate V 2 0, the portal wrll be under
maintenance starting '18/03/2024. As a result the eMigrate portal & related seryrces such as
Submtssion of Emrgration Clearance(Eo), Raise Demand, CSOS, RA I FE rcEsralon &
Registraton of Grievances etc would not be available for few days starting 1810312024
3
Ail stakeholders are requested to bear with the scheduled technlcal upgtade ptcce",.'
Dunng the period. Recruiting Agenls / emrgrants are requested to book f|ght trckets onrl
after the EC rs granted and not to book flight tickets tn anticipation of granl of Emrgratjc.
Clearances so that emigrant workers do not face any difficulties in boarding the flrghts
4
Pravasr Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) services would conlrnue to pro',i de
24 X 7 suppon to emigrants/their family members & other stakeholders during thrs pelcd
ihrough the following:
.
Toll free helpline 1800 11 3090.
. Additional contact numbers (chargeable)
& 01'1-49556800
. Assrstance over Whatsapp - +91 74283 21144
.
Assistance over E-Mail - heloline@mea.qov in
.
Twrtter - @helplinePBSK
5 Tnrs rssues with approval of JS(OE) & Protector General of Emigrants(PcEr rc'
eCtatice irilrrnatron of all stakeholder --
.i\r
'- -Mo".p
Kaushr[]
Under Secretary to the Govt of lndia
Email usoe3@mea qov r,r
To : All Protector of Emigrants (PoEs) - Please share a copy of this circular suitably
with local RAs and other stakeholders, immigration and other relevant stattr Govt
deparlmentJaulhorities with request to extend all necessary assistance Io the
emigrants tr av elling abt oad
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Annexure
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
The RPSL Companies or the Shipping Company shall submit the details of the seafarers in the online
profile of the seafarers even if the reference no. is not generating.
2 A comprehensive list of all seafarers must be submitted to the Directorate in EXCEL FORMAT,
one day before the scheduled journey, by 1500 Hrs. The said comprehensive list must be submitted
to the Directorate in the following format.
Sr. RPSL Name of INDoS Passport CDC Port of Travelling Date of Vessel
No. Company/ the No. No. No. Departure to the Journel Details
I
Shipping Seafarer Country
I
Company
3.
As mentioned in the Order, physical copies of all the requisite documents shall be provided to the
seafarers prior to their e-Migration lor verification, if deemed necessary.
4.
Companies are obliged to provide an Undertaking containing the specified details outlined at Point
No. 2 above. The lormat for this undertaking is annexed herewith as Annexure III. Only, the authorized
representative ofthe Company must sign the undertaking.
5.
The abovementioned details and the documents shall be furnished to the Directorate on following
email Ids:--
crervs-dgs@nic.in
manish. k umar-d gs(al gov - in
daniel ohn-d gs'ii)gor'. in
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Annexure
UNDERTAKING
We the RPSL CompanlTShipping Company
M/s ..................with
hereby the
RPSL No. declare that Seafarer
and Passport No.
.... has been recruited through our organization lor vessel
registered under the Flag ol .......... with IMO No................. duly owned by
M/s
under lhe P&l Club of M/s.. . . . . . .. . ..
We also hereby declare that the documents and information provided to the seafarer and the Directorate are
ture and correct to the best ofour knowledge and beliei We also understand that in case, it is detected at any
stage of recruitment of seafarer that the information/documents fumished by us are incorrect/false or that we
have suppressed and material fact(s), the Company shall be liable to the applicable proceeding under the
Merchant Shipping Act 1958 and the Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules
2016.
Given under our signature with Official Seal of the Comoanv.
Name of the Official:
Designation:
Address:
Contact Details (Mobile No.)
Email Address:
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