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Issue 7 · Past issue

Foreign ships in Indian waters get till 1 Apr 2027, two ships sink near Hormuz, US fee on Spanish ships

Thursday, 15 October 2026 · free, no ads · a new issue Tuesday to Saturday

  • 9items
  • 4official sources
  • 5to act on
  • 5 minto read

In 60 seconds

  • India: foreign ships have until 1 April 2027 to meet the Coastal Waters Entry Rules (class + salvage and pollution contracts) — Circular 69.
  • India: new RPSL portal module is live; e-Migrate consent and digital SEA planned from 1 Nov — check with your agent before sign-on (Circular 68).
  • Hormuz: container ship GFS Pride sinks (21 crew safe); bulker Cape Dao also lost.
  • Safety lesson: Arvia crew member killed in a lift shaft — lock out the power yourself, never trust a door interlock.
  • IMO & rules: US proposes $200,000 per voyage on Spanish-flag ships; ILO AB minimum wage goes to US$704 from 1 Jan 2027.
  • Industry: lines expected back through Suez by Q1 2027; India's Aegis buys tanker group Tristar.
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🚨 Act on these first

  1. Foreign ships in Indian waters have until 1 April 2027 to meet the new entry rules (Circular 69) · 🇮🇳 India — DGMA tracker
  2. New RPSL portal module goes live; e-Migrate consent and digital SEA from 1 November (Circular 68) · 🇮🇳 India — DGMA tracker
  3. Hormuz: container ship GFS Pride sinks after a strike; bulker Cape Dao also lost · 🛡️ Security
  4. Hackers claim data from 38 shipping lines, ports and terminals; threat to publish on 19 October · 🛡️ Security
  5. Lesson: crew member killed while inspecting a passenger lift on the cruise ship Arvia · ⚠️ Safety lesson

India — DGMA tracker

India — DGMA tracker Urgent Official

Foreign ships in Indian waters have until 1 April 2027 to meet the new entry rules (Circular 69)

If you sail on a foreign ship already working in Indian coastal waters, you have until 1 April 2027 to meet the extra requirements. They come from the new Merchant Shipping (Regulation of Entry of Ships into Coastal Waters) Rules, 2026 — DGMA Circular 69 of 2026 (14 Oct). The rules cover every foreign ship in those waters, even one only passing through. Foreign ships over the Rule 5 age limit need class from an IACS member or a Recognised Organisation. The limit is more than 10 years (LNG and LPG carriers: more than 15). Every foreign ship must also hold a salvage contract and a marine pollution response contract (Rule 6(1)(c)). Approved salvors are not yet notified, hence the extra time.

What to do: Masters and superintendents of foreign-flag ships trading to India: check that your class certificate meets Rule 5. Ask your manager when the salvage and pollution response contracts will be on board, before 1 April 2027. Agents: send the compliance documents to the port at least 48 hours before entry (Rule 6(2)).
Affects: Masters, ship managers, superintendents and agents of foreign-flag ships entering or transiting Indian coastal waters When: 14 Oct 2026; full compliance by 1 Apr 2027
Source: DGMA Circular No. 69 of 2026 ↗
India — DGMA tracker Urgent Official

New RPSL portal module goes live; e-Migrate consent and digital SEA from 1 November (Circular 68)

This affects every Indian seafarer at sign-on. DGMA Circular 68 of 2026 (dated 13 Oct) launches the enhanced Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) module in beta from 15 October 2026, for licence applications, renewals, inspections and profile changes. From 1 November 2026, DGMA plans e-Migrate consent for joining foreign-flag ships and a digital Seafarers' Employment Agreement for Indian-flag ships. Until further instructions, companies keep the Articles of Agreement / Form I process. Separate e-Migrate access for non-seafarers under MS Notice 02 of 2018 stops at once. Entities that held it must move to an RPSL licence within three months.

What to do: Before you sign on, ask your manning agent to show its valid RPSL on the DGMA portal. Also ask the agent to confirm how your e-Migrate consent or digital SEA will be done after 1 November. Technicians, surveyors and security guards going to foreign-flag ships: join only through a licensed RPSL agency.
Affects: All Indian seafarers signing on, RPSL agencies, shipping companies, technicians and other non-seafarers sent to ships When: 15 Oct 2026 (beta); 1 Nov 2026 (e-Migrate consent, digital SEA)
Source: DGMA Circular No. 68 of 2026 ↗

Security

Security Urgent Reported

Hormuz: container ship GFS Pride sinks after a strike; bulker Cape Dao also lost

This affects every crew bound for the Gulf. Seatrade and gCaptain (Reuters) reported on 14 October that the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride sank in the Strait of Hormuz. A projectile strike had caused damage and a fire. Singapore's MPA said all 21 crew were evacuated safely. The bulk carrier Cape Dao has also sunk near the strait. It was struck on 23 September in an attack that killed one seafarer. Two more container ships, GFS Giselle and Al Saadiyat, were attacked on 13 October. Seatrade counts 24 UKMTO warnings in October so far.

What to do: If your ship is ordered towards the Gulf or Hormuz, check the latest UKMTO / JMIC notes and the company route plan, and keep the whole crew informed. Practise fire and abandon-ship drills, with grab bags and immersion suits ready. Report any attack or suspicious approach to UKMTO at once.
Affects: All crews trading to or near the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman When: 13–14 Oct 2026
Source: Seatrade Maritime News ↗
Security Urgent Reported

Hackers claim data from 38 shipping lines, ports and terminals; threat to publish on 19 October

Take extra care with the ship's email. Splash247 reported, citing the threat-intelligence firm SOCRadar, that an extortion group called n0n added 38 maritime organisations in 18 countries to its leak site on 12 October. They include 12 port and terminal operators and 10 shipping lines. The group threatens to publish the data on 19 October. It claims to hold manifests, vessel schedules, gate records and employee accounts. None of the named companies has confirmed a breach, and SOCRadar says the claims are unverified.

What to do: On board and ashore, expect fake emails that use real schedules or manifests. Do not open links or attachments you did not expect. Check any change of bank details, port or agent by phone, and report suspicious messages to your company security officer.
Affects: Officers handling the ship's email, agents, operations and crewing staff When: 12 Oct 2026 (claim); 19 Oct 2026 (threatened leak)
Source: Splash247 ↗

Safety lesson

Safety lesson Urgent Official

Lesson: crew member killed while inspecting a passenger lift on the cruise ship Arvia

A crew member died on a routine lift job. The UK MAIB published report 20/2026 on 8 October. At about 0552 on 26 October 2025, a crew member on the Bermuda-registered passenger ship Arvia was fatally injured while inspecting a passenger lift. The MAIB found that control of the lift had not been established before he entered the lift shaft. Self-resetting door interlocks were relied on as the barrier against the lift moving. The permit to work did not show that the job had grown beyond what was authorised. Training and competence checks for lift maintenance were also inconsistent.

What to do: Before anyone enters a lift shaft or works on any machinery that can move, isolate and lock out the power yourself — never rely on a door interlock. If the job changes from what the permit says, stop and get a new permit. ETOs and engineers: check your lift procedures and who on board is trained to use them.
Affects: ETOs, engineers, lift technicians and supervisors on ships with lifts When: 8 Oct 2026 (report published)
Source: UK MAIB report 20/2026 ↗

IMO & rules

IMO & rules Reported

US regulator proposes a $200,000 fee per voyage on Spanish-flag ships calling at US ports

Seatrade reported that the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) published a proposed rule on 14 October 2026. It would charge a $200,000 per-voyage fee on all Spanish-flagged ships calling at US ports. It could also restrict some Spanish imports. The FMC says Spain blocked US-flagged ships from its ports, after Maersk Denver and Maersk Seletar were refused permission to dock in 2024. It is only a proposal for now. Comments are open for 60 days from 15 October (docket FMC-2026-0463).

What to do: Masters and operators of Spanish-flag ships with US calls: tell your company now so it can plan and comment on the docket. Other crews: nothing to do yet — watch for the final rule after the comment period.
Affects: Masters, operators and agents of Spanish-flag ships trading to the USA When: 14 Oct 2026 (proposal); comments for 60 days from 15 Oct
Source: Seatrade Maritime News ↗
IMO & rules Official

Reminder: ILO minimum wage for an Able Seafarer rises to US$704 a month on 1 January 2027

The ILO's agreed minimum monthly basic wage for an able seafarer is US$690 from 1 January 2026, US$704 from 1 January 2027 and US$715 from 1 January 2028. Remember it is the basic wage only, before overtime and other pay, and many collective agreements pay more.

What to do: Ratings: check the basic wage in your Seafarers' Employment Agreement for any contract that runs past 1 January 2027 — before you sign it. Crewing staff: update wage scales that follow the ILO figure.
Affects: Ratings (ABs), crewing and payroll staff When: 1 Jan 2027
Source: ILO ↗

Shipping industry

Shipping industry Reported

Container lines expected back through Suez in full by early 2027

Container ship crews on Asia–Europe runs should prepare for Red Sea passages again. Seatrade reported on 14 October that the consultancy Linerlytica expects a full return of container lines to the Suez route by the first quarter of 2027. ONE and HMM are likely to be the next lines to switch. BIMCO, citing Clarksons, said Red Sea and Suez container transits are above 50% of pre-Iran-war levels. According to BIMCO, 753,000 TEU a week passed Suez in early October, against 1,457,000 TEU in the same weeks of 2023. Ships are using the Bab el-Mandeb despite the Houthi threat.

What to do: Deck officers on container ships: expect Red Sea passages again. Before the voyage, refresh your Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea security plan, BMP guidance and UKMTO reporting. Check that your company's war-risk and crew-consent rules are clear.
Affects: Container ship crews on Asia–Europe services, operators When: Now; full return expected Q1 2027
Source: Seatrade Maritime News ↗
Shipping industry Reported

India's Aegis Logistics to buy Dubai tanker and logistics group Tristar for $809m

Splash247 reported that Mumbai-listed Aegis Logistics will buy 89.8% of Dubai-based Tristar for $809m. Tristar had 26 ocean-going and coastal vessels at the end of 2025. They include chemical, oil and gas tankers under its Eships arm. Four MR product tankers are on order, and the first is due in 2028. Closing is targeted for the end of March 2027, subject to approvals.

What to do: Nothing to do now. Tanker officers and ratings: watch for crewing changes or new openings once the deal closes.
Affects: Tanker and gas carrier crews, crewing staff When: Deal announced Oct 2026; closing targeted end Mar 2027
Source: Splash247 ↗

One-question check

Under the MLC, 2006, what is the maximum period of service on board after which a seafarer is entitled to repatriation?

Mariners Digest summarises public sources in its own words and links every item to its source. Items marked Official link to the regulator's own document; Reported items come from the trade press. Always check the source before acting on it. This is not legal advice. Independent — not affiliated with the Directorate General of Shipping or IMO. How to use