India: Addendum 2 to DGS Circular No. 23 of 2022 on the BSID

The Directorate General of Shipping, India on 30 May published a circular amending DGS Circular No. 23 of 2022 regarding the issuance of Bio-metric Seafarers Identity Documents (BSID) to Indian seafarers.

This document is Addendum 2 to DGS Crew Circular No. 23 of 2022 that came into effect on 1 April 2023.

Indian seafarers must obtain Bio-metric Seafarer's Identity Documents (BSID) to access services provided by the Directorate General of Shipping and its allied offices.

This requirement was introduced through DGS Crew Circular No. 23 of 2022 on 02.12.2022.

The Directorate has received representations from stakeholders, institutes, and seafarers regarding the following issues:

a. Seafarers with expired Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDC) or CDC errors face difficulties in renewing, replacing, or duplicating their CDC due to the requirement of a valid BSID Card (as per DGS Circular No. 03 of 2023). This hinders their ability to obtain necessary CDC-related services.
b. Non-seafarers who intend to pursue GMDSS courses, specifically GOC and ROC, cannot enroll in institutes without a valid BSID Card.
c. Trainers intending to enroll in VICT/AECS/TSTA courses for facilitating maritime training sessions face difficulties without a valid BSID Card. These courses are designed for trainers at approved MTIs.

After consultation and scrutiny, the Directorate General of Shipping has decided to provide relaxation to institutes for enrolling non-seafarer candidates in GMDSS (GOC & ROC) courses and the Vertical Integration Course for Trainers (VICT), which includes Train the Simulator Trainer and Assessor (TSTA) and Assessment, Examination, and Certificate of Seafarers (AECS) courses.

The Directorate General of Shipping has granted a one-time extension until 31.07.2023 for seafarers without BSID Cards who wish to renew, replace, or duplicate their CDC, as CDC is a mandatory document for obtaining BSID Cards.