The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on March 11, 2026, issued Order No. 02 of 2026 prescribing regulatory requirements for the use, authorization, declaration, and reporting of satellite communication equipment by ships and seafarers operating in Indian coastal waters under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
The order reiterates that Iridium-based satellite communication equipment may be used only for distress and safety communications under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), while the use of Thuraya satellite equipment remains prohibited in Indian waters. It also mandates that all portable satellite communication devices carried on board must be declared in the Pre-Arrival Notification of Security (PANS) along with complete device details such as make, model, and IMEI/ESN numbers.
The directive further requires that satellite communication equipment be properly licensed and authorized, and any personal satellite devices carried by crew members must remain under the custody of the ship’s master and may be sealed by Indian authorities upon arrival. Non-compliance may lead to penal action under the Indian Telecommunications Act, 2023 and relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
[Notification No. 02 of 2026 – File No. 25-25/1/2022-NT-DGS]
