Prohibition on Conduct of Maritime Training in India by Foreign Maritime Administrations or Authorized Entities Without Prior Approval of the Director General of Shipping - reg.

ffi ..,"::"" #* 1"ta qT((t (f6K, GOVERNf,ENT OF INDIA cffi' md qft{6{ SRq-dqrtfitcq H-.M SfITuY O F PORlrs, 3}IIPPSIG AT{O IXAT IE Ff,VTAYS rerfrsiTroilE, MUMBAI GENERAL OF SHIP^=PING' DIRECTORATE Date: 01.08.2025 - DGS File No.: 23-POL/6/2025-CREW DGS Order No. 08 of 2025 S Mu ab ri itim P Aro dmhib init lsio trn ao lon nC s o orn Adu uc tht o rt7fM , a Erl nti tm itie T wra iin horn ug t Pin rt oIn rd Aia b rv aF lo ore f i the Di or en ral f shi ln TheDirectorateGeneralofShipping(DGS),MinistryofPorts,shippingand Waterways, Govemment of India, is the central authority for the regulation of maritime training and certification in India under the Merchant Shipping Act' 1958' the MS (STCW) Rules, 2014, and other instruments framed under the Govemment of India (Allocation of Business) Rules' 2. Maritime education and training provided to lndian seafarers are required to meet strict national and intemational standards as prescribed by the Intemational Maritime Organization (IMO) and enforced by the Directorate' The Directorate ensures compliance withtheSTCWConvention,lgT8asamended'andisresponsibleforsafeguardingthe quality and credibility of seafarer training in lndia' 3. It has been brought to the attention of this Directorate that certain foreign governments, maritime administrations' and their representatives have authorized private training centers for conducting maritime training courses leading to issuance of STCW certificate of competencies [coc] and certificate of proficiencies [coP] within Indian territory. However, many of the private training centers claiming to have authorization of from foreign maritime administrations do not have approval of the Director General Shipping. H sdt {fun, Aa Rkr, qri Ri6 aq(, 6tqf 'fiqk,6ig*I't ft{) fc{- +ooo+z fr{nel Nog .:t h 19 F 1-lo 22o -r 2, 5B 7E 5IA 2m B ou nll nd nin g ih' el F-T /Fh oin r'k : +T 9e 1c -2h 2n -2o 5 7C 5a 2m 0p 2u sls 3, 5 K {a in Oju lr e V t*il rl ta 'g oe ssR tto tpa dd g, p @Ka nin c.i u ir nm ta {Tr fg { e( /E w) e, bM Bu itm e: b \a ""i /4 tv0 'd0 gs0 h4 ip2 pi ng'g(4.Suchactivitiesareunauthorizedandincontraventionoflndianlawand intemational obligations, and they undermine the regulatory authority of the Indian Maritime Administration. section 86 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 clearly provides that the training of seafarers shall be such as may be prescribed' and further emphasizes that: ,,No training shall be deemed to be valid unless it is of such standard and type as may be approvedbytheCentralGovemmentandinnocaseinferiortothatprovidedunderthe authority of the Central Govemment or its recognized institutions'" 5. In view ofthe above, it is hereby directed that: NoforeignGovemment,MaritimeAdministration,Agency,Institution,orrepresentatlve shallconduct,promote'authorize,ordelivermaritimetrainingwithintheterritoryof IndialeadingtoissuanceofCoCandCoP'sunderprovisionsoftheSTCWConvention, asamended-includingonlineordistanceleamingaccessibleinlndia-withoutprior written approval ofthe Director General of Shipping' 6. Any entity found in violation of this directive shall be liable for regulatory and legal action, including but not limited to: 6.1 Blacklisting oflndian institutions or agents or seafarers involved 6.2ReferraltoenforcementauthoritiesundertheMSActandthelnformation Technology Act. 6.3 Rejection of certifications or training outcomes arising from such unauthorized courses. 7. All DG Shipping Ship owners, Ship Managers, approved Maritime Training Institutes(MTIs),RPSLCompaniesandrelatedstakeholdersareadvisednotto collaborate with any unapproved foreign training providers and to report any such offers or attempts to the Directorate without delay' 8. Any foreign administration intending to conduct maritime training in lndia must submit a formal ProPosal to the Directorate seeking prior approval, with full details of: qT{fti6H*q(' sff{'kd, +aRfH'I, 6ig( ,frd trs, 6i-gtqFt(T0 f+{- +ooo+z gth Floor, BEIA Buildlng, l-Think Techno Campus, Kanjur V:llage Road, Kanjurmarg (E), Mumbai400M2 dl{nei No,: +91-22-2575 2040/1ru3 ihim/F ax.: +91-2-2575 2omf35 t*(lemait: dsehlPds@nic tn t(II{cMebsite: www.dgshiPping.go!8.1 Course outline and compliance with STCW standards 8.2 Institutional and trainer credentials 8.3 Location and mode ofdelivery (in-person or online) 8.4 Partnership details with any DGS approved institutes' g. Any institution who is already conducting STCW Courses leading to the issuance ofSTCWCertificateofCompetencyorCertificateofProficiencyincludingshortduration modularcoursesonbehalfofForeignMaritimeAdministrationmuststopallsuch raining with immediate effect and submit all required details to DGS for scrutiny and further investigation. l0.ThisOrderisissuedintheinterestofmaintainingthesanctity'sovereignty'and intemational credibility of India's maritime training system' and to ensure that no Indian seafarer receives substandard or unregulated training from 'nauthorized foreign sources. V (ShYam Jagannathan) Director General of ShiPPing ($) eff {Fd, ftzrRH'r, qr{Ri-62dAq(, 6r-g(.fiq irs, dig({Ft f+{- +ooo+z 9th Floor, BEIA Building' l-ThinkTechno CamPUs, Kaniur Village Road, Kanjurmarg (E), Mumbai-400042 go! shnel No.: €1-22'2t15 z(/(,nn3 frfif"x': +s1-2-2575 mis,Bs t*t/Emait: osshipdgs@nic ln art(Ir{e/websit€: www.dgshipping