Seafarers Recruitment

Indian Seafarers: Documents, Recognition and Jobs

Indian officers, engineers and ratings serve on tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, gas carriers and offshore vessels for Indian and international owners. India has a large maritime training system approved by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping).

Certificates and seaman’s book in India

The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), through the Mercantile Marine Departments, holds the examinations and issues Certificates of Competency.
The Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), the Indian seaman’s book, is issued by DG Shipping.
Every Indian seafarer has an INDoS number (Indian National Database of Seafarers), used for training and certificate records; DG Shipping certificates can be verified online.
Officers and cadets train at institutes approved by DG Shipping, including the campuses of the Indian Maritime University.

STCW status and recognition by foreign flags

India is a Party to the STCW Convention and appears on the IMO list of Parties confirmed as giving full and complete effect to it (the “white list”, IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1164 and its revisions). Check the latest revision before relying on it.

Foreign flags issue STCW Reg. I/10 endorsements on Indian CoCs after verification with DG Shipping. Each flag keeps its own list of recognised countries; check it before the contract.

What employers ask Indian seafarers for

Indian rules require seafarers to be recruited and placed through an agency holding a Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) under the Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules; check the current rules with DG Shipping
CoC, CDC and INDoS number, so the employer can verify the certificates on the DG Shipping system
A medical fitness certificate from a doctor approved by DG Shipping
Discharge entries in the CDC for the sea service claimed, and references from previous masters or chief engineers

Endorsements and seaman’s books for foreign flags

Our partner International Ship Registry handles flag endorsements of CoCs (STCW Reg. I/10) and seaman’s books for ratings, for example the Belize seaman’s book, on behalf of seafarers and crewing agencies.

How to register

Create a free seafarer account and confirm your email address.
Choose Indian as nationality, then add your rank, sea service, CoC, STCW certificates, medical and seaman’s book, and upload copies.
Make your profile visible to verified employers and apply to the jobs for your rank.

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Jobs by rank and ship type

Seafarers of other nationalities

Seafarers: see how Seafarers Recruitment works for seafarers. Employers and crewing agencies: post a vacancy or search crew.