The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on February 10, 2025, issued the Draft Circular on DGS Crew Branch.
The following has been stated namely: -
• The CDCs issued with the inscription Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) cum Seafarers' Identity Document (SID)' under the erstwhile Merchant Shipping (Continuous Discharge Certificate) Rules, 2001 shall now be treated solely as 'Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC)' for displaying/recording of sea service records and voyage details, etc.
• Further, the BSID Document, i.e., chip-based cards being issued under Merchant Shipping (Seafarer's Biometric Identity Document) Rules, 2016 are valid for ten (10) years, with renewal required to be carried out after the first five (05) years. Hence, the BSID issued in the year 2019 will not remain due for renewal in first five (05) years (i.e., till the year 2024). The renewal process for BSID issued in 2019 shall commence post completion of five (05) years of issuance and the concern seafarers may apply for renewal within six (06) months prior to the expiry of their BSIDs.
• The seafarer may apply for Renewal of their BSIDs to any Shipping Master Office (SMOs) of their choice irrespective of the SMO from which BSID was initially issued to them.
Comments may be sent to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected] on or before February 25, 2025.
[Notification No. F-NO. 23-59/1/2024-CREW – DGS]
