The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), on December 13, 2025, issued the Draft improvement of Rating Seafarer Standards and Discontinuation of CDCs Issued Only on the Basis of Five Basic STCW Courses.
The following amendments have been stated:
• Directives to Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) All DG Shipping approved MTIs are instructed to cease advertising or offering standalone 5 basic STCW courses as a route to obtaining CDCs. Non-compliance may attract penal action including suspension or withdrawal of approval.
• Public Awareness Public advisory campaign would be launched through DG Shipping social media handles and other mediums to inform aspirants, students, parents and other stakeholders about this policy change and to highlight the genuine and structured career pathways in the maritime sector.
• Discontinuation of Indian CDC issuance via 5 Basic STCW courses route: The issuance of Indian CDCs based solely on the completion of the following five STCW courses such as Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (FPFF), Elementary First Aid (EFA), Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (PSSR) and Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (STSDSD) shall be discontinued.
• This order shall come into effect from April 01, 2026.
• Comments if any may kindly be sent to DGS at [email protected] with copy to [email protected] and [email protected] on or before December 22, 2025
[Notification No. 23-XX/XX/2025-CREW-DGS]
