DG Shipping Implements New Seafarer Identity Document Rules and Fees
India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DG Shipping) in Mumbai has issued DGS Circular No. 73 of 2026, dated 2 November, to put the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers’ Identity Document) Rules, 2026 into practice. The new rules were notified on 6 July 2026 as G.S.R. 584(E) and replace the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers’ Bio-metric Identity Document) Rules, 2016.
The Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID) is the biometric identity card issued to Indian seafarers. It is based on the International Labour Organization’s seafarers’ identity standard and is meant to make shore leave, transit and crew changes easier.
Under Rule 13 of the new rules, the fee schedule attached to the circular lists Rs 3,000 each for a new SID, a renewal, a duplicate, and a replacement or alteration. The fee structure applies from 6 July 2026, and the revised fee now applies in the SID e-module with immediate effect for all applications, including those submitted on or after the date of the circular. Fees are paid online through the SID e-module when the application is submitted.
The circular also notes that no fee will be charged for a duplicate SID if the original is lost in a fire on board or another marine peril. An SID issued under the new rules will be valid for five years from the date of issue or renewal. Shipping masters, issuing authorities, seafarers and other stakeholders have been asked to follow the new rules.
The circular brings the SID process fully online under one clear set of rules. Indian seafarers planning a new SID, renewal or correction should apply through the e-module and budget for the revised fee, and those who lose their SID in a shipboard fire or other casualty can obtain a duplicate free of charge.
Disclaimer: This news brief is a simplified summary for general information only. For full details, readers should refer to the official DGMA Circular No. 73 of 2026 and should always check the current information from that source before making any decision. CrewMirror and its owners and operators will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused by the use of information published on CrewMirror pages and posts.
