To , 

Director General of Shipping, Government of India
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

We, the proud citizens and maritime professionals of India, stand in full and unwavering support of DG Shipping Circular No. 31 dated 18 July 2025, which takes a bold and necessary step to uphold the integrity, safety, and global reputation of Indian seafarers.

For decades, Indian seafarers have been recognized globally for their discipline, professionalism, and competency. Our officers and crew are in high demand by foreign shipowners and managers, many of whom place their trust in the stringent assessment system of the Directorate General of Shipping — a system that reflects India’s commitment to excellence in maritime standards.

But this proud legacy is now under threat.

An increasing number of Indian nationals are obtaining Certificates of Competency (COCs) from non-compliant maritime administrations such as Honduras, Belize, Panama, and similar flags of convenience. These COCs are often issued without proper training, assessment, or sea-time verification, and are being used to bypass India’s regulated certification system.

As a result, we are seeing a disturbing rise in unsafe incidents — including collisions, grounding, and unprofessional conduct at sea — involving such underqualified seafarers. These reckless acts not only endanger lives and property but also tarnish the global reputation of the Indian maritime community.

Foreign employers do not distinguish between a DG-approved Indian COC holder and someone with a paper certificate from a questionable registry. The entire Indian seafaring community suffers the consequences, losing respect, trust, and opportunities.

We must also recognize that our neighboring maritime nations such as Pakistan and Bangladesh have not allowed such non-compliant practices to take root. Why should India — a nation with one of the largest and most respected maritime workforces — allow this to happen?

We have a duty to protect our image.
We have a responsibility to honor the hard work of lakhs of genuine Indian seafarers.
We have an obligation to uphold the maritime values of our nation.

We respectfully urge the Directorate General of Shipping and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to:

Strictly enforce a ban on Indian nationals sailing with non-compliant foreign COCs.

Blacklist and take action against agents, training institutes, and companies that promote or facilitate such certificates.

Promote and prioritize Indian COC holders, trained under DG-approved systems.

Run awareness campaigns to educate seafarers on the risks and illegality of using such shortcuts.

Protect India’s maritime reputation and uphold global confidence in our shipping workforce.

Let us preserve the dignity, strength, and honor of the Indian seafarer.
Let us ensure the world continues to look at Indian mariners with pride and respect.

Jai Hind. Jai Bharat. Jai Maritime India.