India Strengthens Seafarer Safety Training with New Competence on Violence and Harassment Prevention

MUMBAI: The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has taken a significant step toward enhancing crew welfare and workplace safety at sea by issuing Circular No. 53 of 2025, introducing a new training competence to address violence, harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual assault in the maritime sector.

As part of this new mandate, a three-hour module has been incorporated into the Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (PSSR) course under Basic Safety Training, aligning with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.

The module will be implemented across all Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) from 15 December 2025, becoming mandatory from 1 January 2026 for all seafarers.

To ensure smooth transition and compliance:

• MTIs must update their training curriculum to include the new competency module.
• Seafarers currently ashore are required to complete an e-learning course identified as Course ID 957, as specified by DGS.

The initiative reinforces India’s commitment to global maritime safety norms and aims to foster a workplace culture where seafarers feel safe, respected, and protected against any form of abuse onboard ships.

Industry stakeholders have welcomed the move, noting that stronger behavioural awareness and preventive training are critical in addressing a growing global concern in maritime operations.

With this measure, India continues to uphold its leadership in seafarer welfare while strengthening safeguards for those serving at sea.