DG Shipping strengthens collaboration with INSA

MUMBAI : Directorate General of Shipping announced the strengthening Collaboration with INSA for Indian Seafarer Welfare and Maritime Reforms.

The Crew Branch, Directorate General of Shipping, held a constructive meeting with representatives from the Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA). The discussions focused on critical issues concerning the Indian seafarers employed onboard on Indian vessels and seafarer welfare.

The key points of the discussions were :-

1.Taxation challenges faced by Indian seafarers.
2. Addressing procedural challenges in visa processing and documentation, with emphasis on alignment with Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID) Conventions.
3. Reviewing technical and procedural issues in the Approval of Articles (AOA) module, including restricted editability of key fields such as the shipowners’ column, redundancy in form fields, and the requirement for six copies of the AOA.
4. Examining the need for immigration clearance for coastal vessels operating within harbour limits or along the Indian coast, to ensure smoother compliance and operational efficiency.
5. Considering INSA’s proposal to adopt a merit-based approach—rather than one based solely on nationality—for the engagement of foreign seafarers on Indian vessels.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment of DG Shipping and INSA to work jointly towards streamlined regulatory frameworks, improved digital systems, and holistic welfare measures for India’s seafarer community.