How the Coastal Act 2025 Powers India’s Shipping Vision

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India’s vast coastline and inland waterways hold immense potential for transforming the country’s logistics and trade landscape. Recognizing this, the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 mandates the creation of the National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan, a visionary framework designed to steer India’s maritime future toward sustainable growth, economic prosperity, and national security. This blog … Read more

New DGMA Rules Regarding Form-I For Indian Seafarers

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Indian seafarers have long been the backbone of global shipping, yet many of them have faced unnecessary stress at Indian airports – missed flights, delays, and even denial of boarding, despite holding all valid documents. The root cause was confusion around Form-I and its incorrect demand by airlines and immigration authorities for every category of … Read more

Step by Step Guide for Indian COC (Nautical) Revalidation

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For Indian seafarers holding a Certificate of Competency (COC) in the nautical discipline, revalidating the certificate periodically is crucial to continue professional maritime service under theDirector General of Maritime Administration (DGMA ) regulations. This guide walks you through the comprehensive steps required for COC revalidation in India, ensuring regulatory compliance with STCW (Standards of Training, … Read more

DGMA Draft Order on Vessel Age Relaxation Explained

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The Director General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) of India has introduced a draft order in late 2025 to revise the age norms for vessels operating under the Indian flag andforeign flagged vessels seeking licenses as per the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. This draft order, born out of extensive stakeholder consultations and independent studies, aims to … Read more

List of Vessels Blacklisted by DGMA for Indian Seafarers

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The safety and dignity of seafarers are paramount in the maritime industry, yet numerous cases of abandonment, unpaid wages, and unsafe working conditions continue to plague many Indian seafarers aboard foreign vessels. Recognizing this distressing reality, the Director General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), India, has issued a powerful directive to blacklist vessels repeatedly involved in … Read more

Coastal Shipping Act 2025: Trade License Rules Explained

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Recently the Indian government passed Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 which lists out the trade license rules so it is essential to understand for anyone, whether for RPSL license holders or seafarers involved in India’s maritime logistics and coastal transportation sectors. This act governs coasting trade by creating a structured licensing system that regulates which vessels … Read more