The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) of India has released a circular aimed at curbing the use of fraudulent seafarer certificates, a practice raising concerns over maritime safety and regulatory compliance.
The directive, dated 18 July, was issued in response to several incidents involving Indian seafarers presenting falsified documentation to secure employment on foreign-flagged vessels.
Investigations have revealed instances where individuals sailing as ratings were misled with assurances of eligibility for higher-grade Certificates of Competency (CoCs) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) issued by foreign authorities through fraudulent channels. These cases often involved the use of counterfeit course certificates purportedly issued by training institutes that were either unapproved or did not exist at their stated locations.
Port State Control inspections have identified ships operating with personnel holding such credentials, prompting enforcement action and drawing international attention to the issue. Indian authorities have since confiscated several CoCs that were issued by foreign administrations under questionable circumstances.
Given that an estimated 80% of Indian seafarers are employed on vessels under foreign flags, the DGS has emphasised the accountability of Recruitment and Placement Service License (RPSL) agencies in validating the legitimacy of all certification. The new directive stipulates that officers and engineers must possess valid certification issued either by the Government of India or by foreign administrations recognised under mutual agreements. Watchkeeping ratings and other crew members are also required to hold Certificates of Proficiency from approved institutions.
To ensure compliance, stakeholders have been instructed to verify certificate authenticity via the Directorate’s official website. In cases of uncertainty, verification must be obtained from the nearest Mercantile Marine Department.
Penalties for non-compliance include a minimum two-year sailing ban for seafarers found in possession of fraudulent documents, immediate suspension of their Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), and deactivation of their Indian National Database of Seafarers (INDoS) number.
The circular reinforces India’s commitment to the STCW Convention, which requires that seafarers are properly qualified and competent to perform their duties to uphold safety at sea and protect the marine environment.
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