The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has issued a sweeping directive that could reshape India’s maritime training landscape and send ripples through global seafarer recruitment. The order, effective immediately, bars foreign governments, agencies, and institutions from offering STCW-certified training in India—whether in-person, online, or via distance learning—without prior DGS approval. The move is a direct challenge to unregulated foreign influence in Indian maritime education and a bold step to fortify the country’s training standards.
The DGS isn’t just tightening the rules—it’s laying down the law. Violations will trigger regulatory and legal consequences, including blacklisting of Indian institutions, agents, or seafarers involved. Certifications from non-compliant programs will be rejected outright. This isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about credibility. The DGS is making it clear that India’s maritime training system won’t be a playground for unapproved foreign entities.
The order extends beyond training providers. Ship owners, managers, maritime training institutions, and Recruitment and Placement Service License (RPSL) companies are now on notice: collaborate with unapproved foreign training entities at your own risk. The DGS has instructed Indian institutes running STCW courses on behalf of foreign entities to halt operations immediately and submit details of such programs for review. Foreign entities wishing to conduct training in India must now submit formal proposals and seek prior approval—a significant shift from the previous laissez-faire approach.
The DGS’s stance is rooted in the STCW Convention’s stringent standards, which mandate rigorous criteria for seafarer certification, including service experience, age, professional training, examinations, and health standards. By enforcing this directive, India is asserting its sovereignty over maritime training standards and ensuring that Indian seafarers receive world-class, regulated education.
But the story doesn’t end there. On July 18, 2025, the DGS issued another circular barring Indian seafarers with certificates from non-recognised foreign maritime administrations from sailing on foreign-flagged ships. The move, aimed at upholding India’s training credibility, has sparked backlash. Seafarers fear job losses, and some have taken their grievances to the Bombay High Court, pleading for the order’s rescission. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has even staged protests outside the DGS office, arguing that the directive threatens thousands of careers and financial stability.
The DGS’s actions are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they reinforce India’s commitment to high-quality, regulated maritime training. On the other, they risk disrupting the livelihoods of seafarers who rely on foreign-issued certificates. The tension between safeguarding standards and ensuring employment opportunities is palpable.
The maritime industry is watching closely. This isn’t just about India—it’s about setting a precedent for how nations balance global standards with local control. The DGS’s directive could inspire other countries to tighten their own training regulations, reshaping the global maritime education landscape. But it also raises questions: Will the DGS’s approach lead to a brain drain of seafarers seeking certificates elsewhere? How will foreign entities adapt to India’s stricter rules? And most importantly, can India strike a balance between protecting its training integrity and supporting its seafarers’ careers?
One thing is certain: the maritime world is in for a bumpy ride. The DGS’s moves are a wake-up call to the industry, forcing stakeholders to confront the complexities of global standards in a rapidly evolving sector. As the debate unfolds, one thing is clear—India’s maritime training system is no longer business as usual. The question is, will the rest of the world follow suit?