DG Shipping Releases Draft Ammonia Bunkering Guidelines for Indian Ports
India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DG Shipping) in Mumbai has released draft guidelines for ammonia bunkering at Indian ports and invited comments from the industry. The draft was published on the directorate’s website in early November, and comments are due by 18 November 2026.
The guidelines will apply to all ships calling at Indian ports, whatever their flag, that supply or receive ammonia as fuel. They also cover bunker suppliers, bunker barges, terminal operators, port authorities and road tanker operators. Three methods of transfer are included: ship-to-ship, truck-to-ship and shore-to-ship.
Among the key safety rules in the draft, hoses and transfer equipment must be suitable for ammonia service, and flexible hoses must be pressure-tested at least every 12 months. A safety data sheet must be available for every consignment, and documents must reach the port authority at least 24 hours before each bunkering operation. The persons in charge on both the supplying and receiving sides will be jointly responsible for the operation, and records must be kept for at least five years.
Bunker suppliers will need ISO 9001:2015 certification for ammonia bunkering from a body accredited by India’s National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies. Interim registration will be valid for six months and full registration for five years. Comments can be sent to Pravin Kumar Roy, Engineer and Ship Surveyor cum Deputy Director General (Technical), at pravin.roy-dgs@gov.in.
The draft is an important step towards making Indian ports ready for green shipping fuels. Ammonia is highly toxic, so crews on ships using it will need proper training, gas detection and emergency drills, and Indian seafarers with ammonia-handling skills are likely to be in growing demand.
Disclaimer: This news brief is a simplified summary for general information only. For full details, readers should refer to the official DGMA Draft Ammonia Bunkering Guidelines 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.
