🇮🇳 India — DGMA tracker
India — DGMA tracker
Urgent Official
DGMA lists 40 approved doctors who are suspended or no longer approved
Check your doctor before your next medical. DGMA has published its list of suspended DGS-approved doctors as on 9 October 2026. The list has 40 names in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kerala, Goa, Kolkata and other places. For most, the reason given is that no seafarer medicals were done in the last few years. A few others are suspended until a stated date, and in one case approval was discontinued.
What to do: Before you book your next medical, make sure your doctor is not on this list. A medical from a suspended doctor may not be accepted.
Affects: All Indian seafarers due for a medical; crewing offices When: 9 Oct 2026
India — DGMA tracker
Urgent Official
GP ratings: how to get both deck and engine watch CoPs (Circular 53)
GP ratings can now hold both watch CoPs. DGMA Circular 53 of 2026 (31 Aug, not covered here before) sets out dual certification as a rating in the navigational watch (II/4) and the engine-room watch (III/4). After the 6-month GP Rating course, you need 8 months approved sea service. At least 4 must be on deck and 4 in the engine room. Without approved training, it is 24 months, 12 in each. Able Seafarer Deck and Engine (II/5 and III/5) then need more service. For example, it is 18 months (12 deck, 6 engine) after GP training, with a combined TAR book.
What to do: GP ratings and trainees: ask for the combined TAR book when you sign on, and log deck and engine-room service separately. Apply to your MMD on completion; it is a manual application until the online system is ready.
Affects: GP Rating trainees; ratings holding II/4 or III/4 When: 31 Aug 2026
India — DGMA tracker
Urgent Official
Indian coastal ships: no immigration for sign-on, sign-off or shore leave pass (Circular 48)
On Indian coastal runs, immigration is no longer part of sign-on and sign-off. DGMA Circular 48 of 2026 (10 Aug, not covered here before) passes on a Home Ministry decision. Indian crew and supernumeraries on Indian-flag coastal-run vessels no longer go through immigration for sign-on, sign-off or a shore leave pass. This includes research vessels, dredgers and barges. Shore access is now controlled by the port authority, which keeps crew records. Immigration may still make surprise checks and ask for crew lists.
What to do: On an Indian coastal ship, follow the port authority's shore-access rules and keep the crew list ready for any immigration check.
Affects: Indian crew on Indian-flag coastal-run vessels; agents and RPSL companies When: 10 Aug 2026
India — DGMA tracker
Urgent Official
Reminder: paper medicals end on 1 December
Under Addendum 01 to DGMA Circular 57 of 2026, approved doctors may issue paper medical fitness certificates only until 1 December 2026. After that, your certificate is issued through e-Samudra.
What to do: Medical due in December or later? Check that your doctor already issues through e-Samudra before you book.
Affects: All seafarers When: 1 Dec 2026
🎓 Exams & certificates
Exams & certificates
Official
MMD Mumbai engineering written exams: new venue, and other centres for MEO Class IV
If you sit engineering CoC written exams at MMD Mumbai, note the new address. A DGMA notice of 10 October gives the new venue. From October 2026 onwards, all these exams are held at 1st Floor, Nav Bhavan, R.K. Kamani Road, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400001. Some MEO Class IV Part B candidates assessed at Mumbai could not get a written-exam seat in October. They can ask to sit at MMD Kandla, Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai or Visakhapatnam, where seats are free. This is a one-time measure and is not open to those who have already booked.
What to do: No seat in October? Fill the Annexure-A form in the notice and email it by 17:00 on 13 October. Booked only some papers? Email the extra papers you want by 09:00 on 14 October. Then watch for the 48-hour booking window that follows.
Affects: Engineers sitting CoC exams at MMD Mumbai; MEO Class IV Part B candidates with no October seat When: 10 Oct 2026
Exams & certificates
Official
Reminder: GP Rating and CCMC exit-exam fee rises on 1 November
DGMA Order 24 of 2026 raises the GP Rating and CCMC exit-exam fee from ₹1,700 to ₹2,500 per candidate, plus GST, from 1 November 2026.
What to do: Ask your institute which fee applies to your exam date.
Affects: GP Rating and CCMC candidates When: 1 Nov 2026
⚠️ Safety lesson
Safety lesson
Urgent Official
Lesson: crew member killed inside a lift shaft before the lift was under control
A crew member died because the lift was not under control before he went in. MAIB Report 20/2026 (8 October) covers the death on the passenger ship Arvia on 26 October 2025. A crew member inspecting a passenger lift entered the shaft before control of the lift had been established. MAIB found poor planning and communication. The crew relied on self-resetting door interlocks to stop the lift moving. The permit to work did not catch the job going beyond its approved scope.
What to do: Before anyone enters a lift shaft, isolate and lock out the lift and prove it cannot move; door interlocks alone are not enough. If the job grows beyond the permit, stop and re-permit.
Affects: Engine, ETO and technical crew who maintain lifts, hoists and similar machinery When: 8 Oct 2026
Safety lesson
Urgent Reported
Container fire on HMM Platinum, sailing from Kattupalli to Brazil
Another container-ship fire at sea. Splash247 reported on 10 October a fire on the Liberian-flag, 5,593 teu HMM Platinum. The ship was carrying about 2,300 containers from Kattupalli, India to Santos, Brazil. The fire reportedly began in a container off southern Madagascar. SMIT has been appointed as salvor and a port of refuge in South Africa is being sought. The report did not give the cause or the state of the crew.
What to do: On a container ship, know where the dangerous-goods boxes are stowed. Check that fire hoses and water monitors can reach the upper tiers. Practise boundary cooling in your fire drills.
Affects: Container-ship crews When: 10 Oct 2026
Safety lesson
Urgent Reported
Back and joint pain behind 28% of crew repatriations, says ship-doctor data
Back pain sends more seafarers home than many people expect. According to data from VIKAND's OneHealth programme, reported by Splash247 on 8 October, muscle and joint problems were 13% of clinical visits on board but 28% of repatriations. Low-back problems made up 60% of those repatriations. 72% of these cases were treated successfully on board.
What to do: Report back or joint pain early, before it gets worse. Lift with your legs, ask for help with heavy loads, and use the ship's telemedical advice if the pain lasts.
Affects: All seafarers When: 8 Oct 2026
📜 IMO & rules
IMO & rules
Official
IMO climate rules: next attempt to adopt them is set for 4 December
IMO has set the next meetings on the Net-Zero Framework, the planned global fuel standard and greenhouse-gas price for ships. A working group meets 23 to 27 November. MEPC 85 meets 30 November to 3 December. The resumed extraordinary session to adopt it is set for 4 December, subject to MEPC 85 confirming it. Trade press reported that the 1 to 4 September talks ended without an agreed text.
What to do: Nothing changes on board yet. If it is adopted, expect new fuel-reporting and fuel-mix duties for ships of 5,000 GT and above from about 2028. C/Es: keep your fuel records (DCS) clean now.
Affects: Masters, C/Es, shore staff; ships of 5,000 GT and above When: Vote 4 Dec 2026 (if confirmed)
IMO & rules
Official
North-East Atlantic becomes a new emission control area from 2027
Trading to north-west Europe? A big new ECA is coming. IMO adopted the North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area at MEPC 84. It enters into force on 1 September 2027, and its limits take effect 12 months later, in 2028. It is the largest such area so far, next to the existing North Sea and Baltic areas.
What to do: C/Es on ships trading to north-west Europe: plan for 0.10% sulphur fuel (or an approved scrubber) in the area from 2028, and update your fuel change-over procedures in good time.
Affects: Engine officers, Masters; ships trading the North-East Atlantic When: In force 1 Sep 2027; limits apply 2028
IMO & rules
Official
First IMO code for autonomous ships in use; VDES may replace AIS from 2028
MSC 111 adopted a voluntary code for autonomous and remotely operated cargo ships, in effect from 1 July 2026. A mandatory version is planned by 1 July 2030, to enter into force on 1 January 2032. MSC 111 also brought in VDES, a newer VHF data system, which ships may carry instead of AIS from 1 January 2028.
What to do: No action on board now. OOWs and GMDSS operators: expect to see VDES on newbuilds and in your refresher courses over the next few years.
Affects: Navigating officers, ETOs, shore staff When: MASS Code 1 Jul 2026; VDES 1 Jan 2028 💡 Ship types: All ship types
IMO & rules
Reported
Coming 1 Jan 2028: new pilot ladder rules apply to every ship
Amendments to SOLAS V/23, adopted at MSC 110, set new performance standards for pilot transfer arrangements, according to DNV. Gear installed from 1 January 2028 must meet them, and existing gear by the first survey on or after 1 January 2029. From 1 January 2028, the inspection, stowage, maintenance, replacement and familiarisation rules apply to all ships.
What to do: Deck officers and Bosuns: start keeping clear pilot ladder inspection and replacement records now. Ask the company whether your ladders and securing points will need changing.
Affects: Deck officers, Bosuns, ABs; all SOLAS ships When: 1 Jan 2028
IMO & rules
Reported
In force since 1 Jan: PSSR training now covers harassment and bullying
An STCW Code amendment (Table A-VI/1-4) adds training on preventing and responding to violence, harassment, bullying and sexual assault to the PSSR basic course, according to the UK P&I Club. It recommends crews get the updated training at their normal five-yearly refresher.
What to do: If your PSSR refresher is due, check that the institute uses the updated course. Know your company's reporting route for harassment on board.
Affects: All seafarers; training institutes When: 1 Jan 2026
💼 Jobs & wages
Jobs & wages
Official
ILO minimum wage for an AB rises to US$704 on 1 January
Check your basic pay at your next sign-on. The ILO minimum basic wage for an able seafarer is US$690 a month in 2026. It rises to US$704 on 1 January 2027 and to US$715 on 1 January 2028.
What to do: Ratings: check your next contract's basic wage against the new minimum before you sign. Crewing offices: update wage scales before January.
Affects: Ratings, crewing and manning offices When: 1 Jan 2027
Jobs & wages
Reported
Big Hormuz bonuses on offer, but unions say some crews are pressured to sail
Your consent for a Hormuz transit is yours to give. ABC News reports that owners offer double or more pay for Strait of Hormuz transits. The Forward Seamen's Union of India said some unwilling crews were threatened with replacement and charged repatriation costs. India's External Affairs ministry says more than 4,500 Indians serve on ships in the Gulf.
What to do: Indian seafarers: under DGMA Circular 47 of 2026, owners and RPSL agencies must get your own consent for a Hormuz voyage. They must also inform the DG Comm Centre (+91 86575 49760, dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in). Get any bonus and the war-risk terms in writing before you sail.
Affects: Indian seafarers on ships trading to the Gulf; RPSL agencies When: Now
