The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on April 18, 2023, issued an Addendum to Circular No. 23 of 2022 regarding the issuance of Bio-metric Seafarer's Identity Documents (BSID) to Indian Seafarers.
The Directorate has received representations from MTIs stating that many seafarers have completed the process of submitting applications and bio-metric capture at designated centers and are awaiting receipt of physical BSID cards and are not able to join the maritime course at MTIS.
The DGS has considered the issue and created a facility where MTI can verify the issuance of BSID online. The MTIs can view the issuance of BSID of seafarers against INDOS number from the "SID checker" by visiting the site https://dgshippingbsid.in. The MTIs are allowed to admit candidates after confirming the issuance of BSID from the above-mentioned SID checker. It is mandatory for MTIs to strictly follow the instructions in para 5 of DGS Crew Circular No. 23 of 2022.
[File No. 23-MISC/23I202 I-CREW-DGS]
