The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) on September 23, 2026, notified the Implementation of the Merchant Shipping (Continuous Discharge Certificate) Rules, 2026, and the Revised CDC Application Procedure.
The following has been stated:
• The notice prescribes the eligibility criteria and online application procedure for obtaining, renewing, replacing, or obtaining duplicate Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDCs). Applicants must be Indian citizens, at least 16 years of age, hold a valid medical certificate and the prescribed maritime training certificates, and have passed Class 10 or an equivalent qualification. The application system under the 2017 Rules ceased accepting applications from October 2, 2026.
• Further, the notice prescribes a uniform fee of ₹3,000 for fresh, renewal, duplicate, replacement or alteration applications, payable online through the CDC e-module/Billdesk. CDCs issued under the 2026 Rules will be valid for 10 years and carry a uniform ‘BH’ series across the Shipping Master offices at Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Manual signatures on CDC booklets and renewal stickers will be replaced with digitally printed facsimile signatures.
• A fee exemption applies to duplicate CDCs lost due to fire onboard a vessel or other marine peril. Existing CDCs issued under the 2017 Rules or earlier will continue to remain valid without mandatory replacement.
• The notice also specifies category-wise supporting documents for pre-sea trainees, Agniveer candidates, hospitality and cruise-vessel personnel, ex-Indian Navy personnel, certified cooks and Certificate of Competency holders.
[Notification No. - 23-CDC/2/2026-CREW-DGS(C.No.38805)]
