Table of Content The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) has long been the cornerstone of maritime safety, preventing accidents and ensuring safety of life at sea. It has introduced and adopted several circulars and regulations to ensure vessels, crews, and passengers operate and function under high safety standards. SOLAS has … Read more
Financial penalties under the Seafarers Code, enforced by India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), target misconduct like desertion and disobedience to ensure maritime safety and compliance. These rules, rooted in the Merchant Shipping Act and recent DGMA orders, impose fines, wage forfeitures, and more on seafarers and shipmasters. Understanding them helps avoid career-ending sanctions. … Read more
DGMA recommends judicial prosecution in serious seafarers’ code violations that threaten safety or involve fraud. This step follows administrative actions when offences warrant court involvement under the Merchant Shipping Act. Seafarers and RPSLs must understand these triggers to stay compliant. What Is Judicial Prosecution by DGMA? Judicial prosecution by DGMA means sending serious cases to … Read more
An easy breakdown of India’s STCW certification statistics for 2025, covering officer licenses, safety training, maritime trends and its impact on you.
A simplified explanation of the MS, Act 2025 covering vessel safety and security, seaworthiness, certification, reporting, & international compliance.
Maritime operations inside port waters are often considered routine. However, recent incidents like tug and crane accidents have proven that even short-duration assistance operations, if poorly planned, can quickly turn into serious marine accidents. One such case is the capsizing of a tug during clearance of a fouled anchor cable in port waters, which offers … Read more
In case a seafarer violates the DGMA Seafarers Code of Conduct, they must be able to defend themselves under necessity, due diligence, and government-caused errors. These safeguards provide a guarantee for seafarers against discrimination during investigations, as outlined in the guidelines stipulated in the Compliance Enforcement Manual. These come into force from January 1, 2026. … Read more
In maritime operations, safety and compliance are always critical. One important role that connects ships at sea with the company on shore is the Designated Person Ashore, commonly known as the DPA. This person ensures that safety management systems are followed and that communication between ship and shore remains clear at all times. Think of … Read more
The DGMA Star System assesses the compliance of seafarers through the awarding of positive stars for outstanding performance in safety standards, skills, and professionalism and the deduction of stars for non-compliance with the Seafarers’ Code of Conduct under the guidelines within the Compliance Enforcement Manual. This was introduced through DGMA Order No. 10 of 2025 … Read more
According to the DGMA Seafarers Code of Conduct Compliance Enforcement Manual, issued by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, violations are categorized into three levels of severity based on their potential for risk to safety, environment, assets, and reputation. The present framework, applicable from 1 January 2026, will ensure that proportionate penalties are imposed on … Read more
