The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) is proactively working to enhance global employment opportunities for Indian seafarers by reforming the Certificate of Competency (CoC) examination framework. Recently, discussions were held with Capt Sanjay Prashar, CEO of VR Maritime Services, to explore strategies for streamlining these certification processes and accelerating career advancement for maritime professionals in India.
Currently, Indian seafarers represent approximately 12 percent of the global maritime workforce, with a goal to increase this share to 20 percent within the next five years. These reforms to the CoC examination system are projected to create around 220,000 additional jobs in the seafaring sector over the next 1,800 days, all while maintaining safety, quality, and competency standards.
Key areas of focus include removing procedural hurdles within the examination framework, enhancing exam frequency, and improving transparency and timeline predictability for results and certifications. Aligning India’s certification process with international best practices, while retaining strong domestic training, is a vital aspect of this initiative. Additionally, faster issuance of CoCs and modernizing syllabi to incorporate cutting-edge shipboard technologies are prioritized.
The DGS believes that enhancing the efficiency of the examination system will expedite career progression for officers and create smoother pathways for ratings aiming for higher ranks. These reforms are anticipated to significantly impact the cargo shipping segment, where demand for skilled officers is escalating, ultimately positioning India as a key provider of maritime talent on a global scale.
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