The Directorate general of shipping (DGS), under the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways has rolled out an important update for all Indian Seafarers. According to the new framework, all seafarers with an INDoS number must go through a standardized set of medical examinations or officially known as “Investigations” and secure a medical fitness certificate from the DGS-approved Medical Examiners.
This official move aims to regulate healthcare examinations for the employees to ensure consistent, transparent and preventive methodologies to secure their health and make them a proper fit for the demanding life at sea.
In today’s blog we will see:
WHY ARE MEDICAL TESTS FOR INDIAN SEAFEARERS MANDATORY?
Working for the maritime industry can be challenging, the field of work demands a lot of physical and mental strength. Long hours, physical strain, isolation and limited access to healthcare can be contributing factors. The executive office noted that until recently there were inconsistencies with how the investigations were conducted, leading to several undetected health conditions, putting both seafarers and vessels at risk.
This new update aims to:
- Detect hidden or early-stage conditions
- Ensure proper and timely treatment before deployment
- Keep ships, workers and the vessels safe and functioning.
WHO IS THIS FOR AND WHO DOES THIS AFFECT?
The rules from the original curricular applies to ALL INDIAN SEAFARERS with an INDoS number, regardless of:
- The type of vessel they belong to (coastal or international)
- The flag of vessel
- Their rank or role onboard
This new framework adds to the key features of maritime labor convention, 2006, ensuring the healthcare standards for the people that work tirelessly to contribute to the industry.
It is crucial to note that only Directorate general of shipping approved examiners/professionals are allowed to conduct these tests and issue certificates.
For a doctor to be qualified of issuing these health certificates, they have meet certain requirements and if YOU are a doctor looking to become a certified examiner for the directorate of sea trade, check this link out: How to get DG Shipping Approval for Doctors? – Legal Babu
THE MANDATORY MEDICAL TESTS TO TAKE
- For pre-sea medical investigations:
| Category | Medical Investigations |
| Physical Examination | Height, Weight, Blood Pressure |
| Vision Testing | Distance, Near & Colour |
| Blood Tests | CBC, ESR, Blood Group, Fasting Blood Sugar,Lipid Profile, Liver Function Test, Renal Function Test |
| Infectious Disease | Screening HIV 1&2, Hepatitis A, HBsAg, HCV, VDRL |
| Other Pathology | Urine Routine, Stool Routine |
| Drugs of Abuse | Morphine, Barbiturates, Marijuana, Cocaine, Amphetamines |
| Other Tests | Audiometry, Spirometry, Sonography Whole Abdomen, Chest X-Ray, ECG, Psychometry Evaluation (for Psychopathology) |
| Vaccinations | As per guidelines or if required |
- For periodic medical investigations:
| Category | Investigations |
| Physical Examination | Height, Weight, Blood Pressure |
| Vision Testing | Distance, Near & Color |
| Blood Tests | CBC, Fasting Blood Sugar, SGPT, GGT, Sr. Creatinine, Sr. Cholesterol, HIV 1&2 |
| Other Pathology | Urine Routine |
| Other Tests | Audiometry, ECG |
| Additional | Any other test if required by Medical Examiner/ Shipping Company |
- For Female seafarers (Pre-Sea & Periodic) Investigations:
| Category | Investigations |
| Pregnancy | Screening History of missed periods / Urine PregnancyTest (Confirmatory test if required) |
- For seafarers above age 65:
| Category | Investigations |
| Physical Examination | Height, Weight, Blood Pressure |
| Vision Testing | Distance, Near & Colour |
| Blood Tests | CBC, Fasting Blood Sugar, SGPT, GGT, Sr.Creatinine, Sr. Cholesterol, HIV 1&2 |
| Other Pathology | Urine Routine |
| Cardiac Tests | Audiometry, TMT, 2D Echo |
| Additional | Any other test if required in consonance toSTCW. |
VALIDITY OF THE DPS CERTIFICATES AND ITS USES
- Standard validity period of the certificates would be 2 years
- For seafarers under 18 years or above 65 years the validity period would be reduced down to 1 year
- If the certificate expires during the course of a voyage, it will remain valid until the vessel reaches the next port of call where medical examiners are available
- The extension period in these cases however shall not exceed beyond 3 months under any circumstances.
Every seafarer that holds an INDoS number will benefit from the new framework in the following ways:
- Free and early detection of any kind of disease or illness
- Safer voyages for crews and ships
- Healthcare benefits for those in need through the Obligations on shipowners to provide medical care, PPE, mental health support, and insurance for death or disability.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With the new Standardization of Mandatory Minimum Medical Investigations for Indian Seafarers, the directorate general of shipping, has taken a major step towards protecting the health, welfare and safety of those who work for through the demanding life at sea.
Along with this step, the directorate has also taken an initiative to reduce the number of fake or fraudulent entries in Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDCs) used by Indian seafarers. And if you are an individual looking to start a maritime training institute and have no idea where to get started or what legal procedures to follow, we recommend going through this easy and simple to execute guide by leagalbabu.com Starting a Maritime Training Institute: Steps & Tips.
To conclude, “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” said Jacques Cousteau
Let this remind all seafarers of the awe and adventure that comes with life at sea.
FAQs
- What is an INDos number?
- An INDoS (Indian National Database of Seafarers) number is a unique ID for Indian seafarers. It stores personal, training, and certification details in a centralized database.
- When was this framework issued, and why?
- This framework was issued in the year 2025 by the official directorate office and it was issued to ensure uniformity, detect hidden medical issues early, and improve safety and welfare of both seafarers and ships.
- What happens if I fail the medical examination?
- If you fail the examination in any category or multiple categories, you might need to go through further treatment and evaluation before being declared a proper fit. The examiners will be guiding you through the process.
- Do these tests and certificates apply to international standards?
- Yes, they align with India’s obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) and other global maritime safety conventions.
- Are the certificates issued by my personal doctor valid?
- No, only the directorate approved healthcare professionals are authorized to conduct the tests and issue the certificate.
- Do female seafarers need to take different tests compared to the male ones?
- Not entirely, but women in the shippping workforce are required to take additonal pregnancy screening tests along with the standardized ones.
- What is DGS?
- The Directorate General of Shipping is an attached office of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India and deals with all executive matters, relating to merchant shipping.