Mumbai, July 20 India’s maritime regulatory authority, DG Shipping, is preparing to impose stricter controls on the operations of foreign maritime training institutes. According to sources, a new circular is expected to be issued soon, which will mandate that any foreign training institute wishing to open a branch in India must obtain prior approval from DG Shipping.
This step is being taken at a time when, in recent years, several fake or paper-based training institutes have come to light, offering online or informal training and certification. These institutes neither have any physical presence nor regulatory approval. This has not only misled seafarers but also raised questions about the credibility of India’s maritime training system.
According to the proposed circular:
Any foreign training institution will be required to obtain registration and approval from DG Shipping before commencing operations in India.
The training centers must submit complete details of their curriculum, examination process, and certificate recognition to DG Shipping in advance.
Moreover, such foreign training centers operating in India will be subject to regular inspections to ensure quality and transparency.
According to a senior DG Shipping official, The objective of this proposed circular is to protect Indian seafarers from fraudulent training and fake certification, and to uphold India’s credibility in the international maritime domain.
The circular is currently in draft stage and is likely to be issued in the coming days.
