Indian Seafarers Employment Trends (2010–2025)

India has long been one of the world’s largest suppliers of maritime manpower. To understand how this workforce has evolved over time, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued Circular 06 of 2026, presenting official statistics on the engagement of Indian seafarers on Indian-flag and foreign-flag merchant ships from 2010 to 2025. This blog analyses … Read more

Tug Capsizing in Port Waters: Key Safety Lessons

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

How Does DGS Star System Rate Seafarer Compliance?

How Does DGS Star System Rate Seafarer Compliance?

The DGS 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 DGS Order No. 10 of 2025 … Read more

Chartered Vessels and Licensing Under the Coastal Shipping Act

India’s maritime ecosystem supports critical sectors such as trade, offshore energy, logistics, and national security. To maintain regulatory oversight when Indian interests charter foreign vessels, the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 establishes a structured licensing and compliance framework for vessels operating beyond domestic coastal trade. This framework ensures that international maritime operations connected to India remain … Read more

New DGS Rules Regarding Form-I For Indian Seafarers

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