Controversy Trails Restriction Of Foreign Certificates For Indian Seafarers

 

Seafarer unions have kicked against a circular from the Indian Directorate General of Shipping limiting recognition of foreign Certificates of Competency (COC).

A circular issued by the Indian Directorate General of Shipping -Circular 31 of July 2025-that imposes strict restrictions on Indian seafarers working with foreign certificates of competency (CoCs), is creating quite a storm in the maritime community across India, according to reports by Indian media.

“The regulation, now under heavy fire, is being labelled as arbitrary, unjust, and damaging to thousands of Indian seafarers,” said Mumbai-based Maritime News.

The Global Seafarers’ Union of India and the All India Seafarers Union (AISU) as well as the Sailors’ Union of India (SUI) and the FSUI (Federation of Seafarers’ Union of India) have staged protests and called for revision of the DGS’ circular, they said, was not consulted with the guilds.

The Directorate General of Shipping has cited a rising number of complaints and questions about the authenticity of CoCs issued by flag-of-convenience nations as the cause for issuing the circular.

It states that Indian seafarers may only be recruited via Recruitment and Placement Services License RPSL agencies if they possess: Indian CoCs, or CoCs from countries that have bilateral agreements with India for mutual recognition.

These countries currently include Malaysia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom, Iran.

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Additionally, Indian seafarers with CoC, Certificate of Proficiency (COP), or Modular Course certificates from Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland may be accepted for employment, provided training was physically undertaken in those countries. The certificates are verified online from the issuing Maritime Administration before recruitment.

India is one of the largest providers of seafarers to international shipping, with around 200,000 employed with 85% on foreign vessels and 15%on India-flagged ships.

India’s Directorate General of Shipping circular had prompted an immediate statement by Panama’s Maritime Authority that “clarifies that it has no restrictions or prohibitions on the recognition of Certificates of Competence or Proficiency Certificates issued by the Maritime Administration of the Republic of India. On the contrary, it recognises and values the professionalism, experience, and quality of officers and seafarers of Indian nationality.”

“Panama promotes international co-operation and reciprocity and maintains open collaboration with all States Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW´78 Convention, as amended), in accordance with Circular MSC.1/Circ. 1163 of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).”

Panama highlights that it ensures “seafarers serving on Panama-flagged vessels receive appropriate training, assessment, and certification from qualified instructors, in accordance with Regulation 1/6 and Section A-1/6 of the STCW´78 Convention, as amended, and its STCW Code, considering that the human factor is fundamental to maritime safety, the protection of life at sea, and the marine environment.”

And last but not the least, the Panamanian authority reinforced its commitment to prevent fraudulent practices in the issuance of certificates, endorsements, and related technical documentation, in full compliance with the STCW´78 Convention, as amended, and the STCW Code.