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🇮🇳 India — DGMA tracker
India — DGMA trackerUrgentOfficial
Up to 3 RPSL agencies may now crew one cargo ship; no limit on cruise ships
DGMA Order No. 26 of 2026, dated 26 Oct 2026, changes para 6.5 of Order 08 of 2026 on preventing the abandonment of Indian seafarers. Before, only 2 authorised RPSL companies could engage seafarers on one vessel. Now up to 3 may do so on any vessel other than a cruise or passenger ship. Cruise and passenger vessels have no limit, because they need crew that one agency cannot supply. This applies to Indian and foreign-flag ships. All other terms of Order 08/2026 stay the same, including the lists of 278 restricted and 88 blacklisted vessels.
What to do: Before you sign a contract, check that your RPSL agency is authorised and that the ship is not on DGMA's restricted or blacklisted list. RPSL companies: check how many other agencies already crew the ship before you engage anyone.
Affects: All Indian seafarers; RPSL companies; crewing officesWhen: DGMA Order 26/2026, dated 26 Oct 2026
Jaipur training institute loses all DGMA course approvals after complaints of job-for-cash offers
DGMA has withdrawn all course approvals of M/s R.R. Marines Academy, Jaipur (MTI No. 104026). Its courses included Basic Safety Training, PSCRB and the PST, FPFF and PSCRB refreshers. DGMA says the institute admitted new batches after it was told not to. Three seafarers complained that the promoter promised shipboard jobs for lakhs of rupees in service charges. The order, posted 26 Oct 2026, gives two dates: withdrawal on e-Governance from 26 Mar 2026, and all approvals withdrawn from 26 Sep 2026.
What to do: If you trained at this institute, check on e-Governance that your certificates are valid before you rely on them. Never pay an institute or agent for a promised job on board. Report such offers to DGMA.
Affects: Seafarers and trainees who studied at R.R. Marines Academy, Jaipur; anyone choosing a training instituteWhen: Order posted 26 Oct 2026
Booked the November signal exam at MMD Noida? It is on Fri 30 Oct at 13:00
MMD Noida has published its November 2026 signal exam notice for nautical candidates (2MFG), dated 27 Oct. The exam is on 30 Oct 2026 at 13:00 at the MMD Noida exam centre. Candidates must report by 12:50, and late arrivals will not be allowed in. The signal exam must be booked on exams.dgma.gov.in for the same month. The published notice is a scan.
What to do: Bring the colour admit card (or the payment receipt if you have no admit card), your original CDC and your passport. Plan to arrive well before 12:50.
Affects: Second Mate (FG) candidates booked at MMD NoidaWhen: 30 Oct 2026, report by 12:50
Hormuz: Iran's strait authority says it will act against all Sinokor ships from 1 Nov
Reported by gCaptain (Bloomberg) on 27 Oct: Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) says it will take legal action against all Sinokor ships from 1 November. It says Sinokor ships made the most crossing violations in the last 3 months. It says it has already acted against at least 7 of them, without saying how. Sinokor ships carried nearly 40% of the crude leaving Hormuz last month. Sinokor did not reply to a request for comment.
What to do: Masters and crews on Sinokor tankers due in the Gulf: ask the office for its Hormuz plan before 1 Nov, and follow the latest flag and JMIC advice. Crew due to join these ships: ask your manning agent about the routing.
Affects: Masters and crews of Sinokor tankers; manning agents; all ships transiting HormuzWhen: Reported 27 Oct 2026; action announced from 1 Nov 2026
Singapore Strait: robbers board a tug and barge in the eastbound lane and steal scrap metal
The ReCAAP ISC weekly report for 20-26 Oct 2026 lists one armed-robbery incident. On 17 Oct at 1523 hrs, 6 unarmed robbers boarded a tug and barge underway in the eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait TSS, 4.3 nm off Pulau Nongsa, Indonesia. The crew were not hurt, and scrap metal was stolen. This is the 25th incident in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore since January 2026.
What to do: OOWs in the Singapore Strait: keep a sharp lookout for small craft near the stern and barges, also in daylight. Report any boarding at once to the coastal State and the flag State, using the ReCAAP Regional Guide 2.
Affects: Crews of tugs, barges and ships transiting the Straits of Malacca and SingaporeWhen: Incident 17 Oct 2026; report for 20-26 Oct 2026
Lesson: a small uncrewed survey boat that radar, AIS and the eye could not pick up
NTSB report MIR-26-32 (27 Oct 2026) covers a collision on Lake Erie near Monroe, Michigan, on 10 Aug 2024. A 45-ft recreational boat ran over a 15.7-ft uncrewed survey vessel (USV) operated for NOAA. The USV had only about 1 foot of hull above water. Other boats were unlikely to see it on radar or AIS. Its shore pilot was only monitoring passively. One person had a minor injury, and the USV was a total loss. The NTSB made 6 recommendations, including national USV safety standards from the US Coast Guard.
What to do: OOWs: expect small uncrewed survey craft near ports, research areas and offshore sites. Keep a proper visual lookout and do not rely on radar or AIS alone. Treat a small low object as a vessel that may not keep clear.
Affects: OOWs, masters and lookouts; crews working near survey or research areasWhen: Report published 27 Oct 2026
Singapore flag: an extended certificate is for the voyage to the survey port, not for more trading
MPA Shipping Advisory No. 24 of 2026 (27 Oct 2026) passes on Tokyo MOU Safety Bulletin 05/2026. Some ships keep trading on statutory certificates extended for a special survey or dry-docking. They should go directly to the port of survey. PSC may detain such a ship, and the RO that issued the extension may be held responsible. Under the bulletin, an extension may only cover the voyage to the final discharge port and then directly to the survey port.
What to do: Masters and C/Es: check the expiry and survey windows on every statutory certificate now. If an extension is issued, read its conditions and do not accept new cargo orders that break them. Ask the office early about dry-dock plans.
Affects: Owners, managers and masters of Singapore-registered ships; ROs; all crews on ships near a dry-dock dateWhen: MPA Shipping Advisory 24/2026, 27 Oct 2026
UK ETS for ships: the first emissions report must be verified by 31 Mar 2027
Reported by DNV on 27 Oct: the first UK ETS reporting period for shipping runs from 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2026. The first Annual Emissions Report must be verified by 31 Mar 2027. A site visit by the verifier is required first, normally at the ISM company. DNV recommends finishing it by the end of Feb 2027. A virtual visit needs the regulator's approval. Ship data needs supporting evidence such as Bunker Delivery Notes.
What to do: C/Es and masters on ships calling at UK ports: keep every BDN and fuel record complete and easy to find. The office will need them for the UK ETS report, as for EU MRV.
Affects: ISM companies and DPAs; masters and C/Es of ships trading to the UKWhen: Reporting period 1 Jul 2026 to 31 Dec 2026; verified report due 31 Mar 2027
Cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey laid up in Cambodia; the crew stay on board
Reported by gCaptain on 27 Oct: the residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey has stopped its world cruise in Cambodia because of fuel costs. Residents were told on 26 Oct to leave the ship the same day. The crew stay on board during the lay-up to keep essential systems running. The company says it is reviewing restructuring options over the next 60 days and that no outcome is assured.
What to do: Crew on this ship: keep copies of your contract, wage slips and leave records. If wages stop, contact your flag State, your P&I contact or the ITF. Under MLC, unpaid wages and repatriation are covered by the shipowner's financial security.
Affects: Crew of Villa Vie Odyssey; crewing agencies; cruise crewsWhen: Reported 27 Oct 2026
Northern Sea Route: transit cargo set to nearly double in 2026
Reported by gCaptain on 27 Oct: Rosatom forecasts over 7 million tonnes of transit cargo on the Northern Sea Route in 2026. The independent CHNL counted 3.7 million tonnes and 104 transits by 30 Sep. That compares with 3.2 million tonnes and 103 transits in all of 2025. Container transits are projected at 46, up from 23. Russia relies more and more on sanctioned and shadow-fleet ships on this route.
What to do: Offered an Arctic voyage? Check that the ship is ice-classed, has a Polar Ship Certificate and a Polar Water Operational Manual, and that officers hold polar training. Check the ship is not on a sanctions list before you sign.
Affects: Officers and crews offered Arctic voyages; crewing officesWhen: Reported 27 Oct 2026
Ship power without DC breakers: ABS verifies the concept of a 30 MW MVDC system
Reported by ABS on 26 Oct: HD KSOE and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have developed a breakerless medium-voltage DC (MVDC) power distribution system rated at about 30 MW. Advanced controls and fault management clear faults in place of DC circuit breakers. It has passed the concept verification stage of ABS New Technology Qualification. Prototype validation comes next. It is not yet on any ship.
What to do: ETOs and electrical engineers: DC switchboards and converter-based fault protection are coming to large electric-drive ships. Ask your company about MVDC and high-voltage training before you are posted to one.
Affects: ETOs, electrical and marine engineers; technical superintendentsWhen: Reported 26 Oct 2026; concept stage💡 Ship types: All ship types
Methane slip on LNG engines: catalyst trials show early results, reported by LR
Reported by Lloyd's Register on 27 Oct: SEA-LNG and the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) have signed a 4-year technical partnership. MAMII will advise SEA-LNG's IMO delegation on how to measure methane slip and how to cut it. MAMII says trials of plasma-catalytic and methane-oxidation catalysts showed promising early results. This comes ahead of the IMO MEPC meeting in November. Nothing changes on board yet.
What to do: Engineers on LNG dual-fuel ships: expect more methane-slip measurement and, later, after-treatment units on the exhaust. Keep gas-mode running hours and engine-load records accurate.
Affects: Engineers on LNG-fuelled ships; technical superintendentsWhen: Reported 27 Oct 2026💡 Ship types: All ship types
Under DGMA Order 26 of 2026, how many authorised RPSL companies may engage seafarers on one cargo ship (not a cruise or passenger ship)?
DGMA Order 26 of 2026 (26 Oct 2026), para 4.1, amends para 6.5 of DGMA Order 08 of 2026: on any one vessel other than a cruise or passenger ship, seafarers may be engaged by a maximum of 3 authorised RPSL companies. The tempting wrong answer is 2 - that was the old limit in Order 08/2026. 'No limit' applies only to cruise and passenger vessels (para 4.2). Both rules apply to Indian and foreign-flag ships (para 4.3). Read the source ↗
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.
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