For seafarers, building a career at sea often means meeting separate training, sea-service and competency requirements for different shipboard duties. This can make the certification process confusing, particularly for those seeking experience across both deck and engine-room functions. To address this need, DGMA Circular No. 53 of 2026 sets out an alternative pathway for eligible … Read more
For a seafarer, facing grievances and issues is very common. But when concerns go unheard or unresolved, it quickly turns into frustration, especially when the person raising the grievance is unsure of its status or what to do next. To address such challenges and make the grievance-handling process more organised and accessible, the Directorate General … Read more
A seafarer spends months away from home, working through long voyages, unpredictable weather, and demanding conditions at sea. But when a serious illness suddenly enters the picture, it also brings financial uncertainty and interruption of a seafarer’s career. This is where welfare support can make a meaningful difference. The DGMA medical support scheme provides a … Read more
The DGMA-approved bunker supplier list is the official register of companies cleared to supply marine fuel to ships at Indian ports. DGMA (Directorate General of Maritime Administration) issues the registration, but the Indian Register of Shipping carries out the audits behind it. A ship manager checks this list before fixing any bunkering call in India. … Read more
The DGMA Approved Radio Service Stations list names every workshop cleared to test and service EPIRB, SART and AIS equipment on Indian-flag ships. DGMA grants the approval, and every station’s certificate carries its own validity window, so a ship manager checks this list before booking any GMDSS equipment survey or servicing call. If you have … Read more
The MEO Class-I preparatory course syllabus, revised in Annexure III of DGMA Circular 49 of 2026, keeps its two-month, 240-hour format but updates the content for chief engineer officer candidates. Unlike the other three courses, it leans heavily on maritime law, classification society oversight, leadership and decarbonisation topics rather than hands-on engineering. This is the … Read more
DGMA’s revised MEO Class-II preparatory course syllabus, laid out in Annexure II of Circular 49 of 2026, now runs three months instead of four, or 360 contact hours, for batches starting on or after 1 January 2027. It stays aligned with STCW Regulation III/2 but adds alternative fuels, autonomous ship awareness, digital maintenance and cyber-risk … Read more
The MEO Class-IV preparatory course syllabus, set out in Annexure I of DGMA Circular 49 of 2026, runs for one month across 120 contact hours. It covers ship construction and safety, marine engineering knowledge across general, motor and steam plant, electro-technology, and workshop practice, preparing candidates for the MEO Class-IV Certificate of Competency exam. This … Read more
DGMA Circular No. 51 of 2026 defines the NCV Engine Cadet Scheme as a structured pathway that lets General Purpose (GP) Rating holders qualify for the Marine Engineer Officer Class-IV (NCV) Certificate of Competency. Candidates need a qualifying education, a completed GP rating course, and 6 to 12 months of approved seagoing service as an … Read more
Minimum safe manning for high-speed crafts in India comes from Annexure G-7 of DGMA Circular No. 54 of 2025, and it stands apart from every other scale in the circular in one important way: it is not banded by Gross Tonnage at all. A single fixed crew of 5 nautical seafarers covers every Category A … Read more
