What documents do I need to get CDC issued for the first time? DGS portal is very confusing.
What documents do I need to get CDC issued for the first time? DGS portal is very confusing.
The issuance of a Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) is governed by the Merchant Shipping (Continuous Discharge Certificate-cum-Seafarers Identity Document) Rules, 2017, promulgated by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), India, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. To successfully navigate the DGS e-governance portal for a first-time CDC application, an applicant must provide a specific set of documents that verify identity, educational eligibility, professional training, and medical fitness in compliance with international maritime conventions. The primary prerequisite for a CDC application is a valid Indian National Database of Seafarers (INDoS) number. This unique identifier is mandatory for all Indian seafarers and must be obtained prior to initiating the CDC application. The following documents are required for the first-time issuance of a CDC: 1. Proof of Identity and Nationality: A valid Indian Passport is the sole acceptable document for establishing nationality and identity. The passport must be current and have a minimum validity of six months at the time of application. 2. Educational Qualification: The applicant must upload a scanned copy of the 10th Standard (SSC) Passing Certificate or Marksheet issued by a recognized National or State Board of Education. This document serves as proof of the applicant’s date of birth and minimum educational eligibility. 3. STCW Basic Safety Training Certificates: In accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, the applicant must have completed the five mandatory basic safety courses. These include Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR), Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Elementary First Aid (EFA), Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF), and Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (STSDSD). These certificates must be issued by a DGS-approved training institute and must be reflected in the applicant’s master profile on the DGS portal. 4. Medical Fitness Certificate: Under Regulation 1.2 of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, and the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Rules, seafarers must be certified as medically fit. The applicant must possess a valid medical fitness certificate issued by a DGS-approved medical examiner in the prescribed format (Annexure IV and V). The medical data must be uploaded by the doctor to the DGS server before the application can proceed. 5. Digital Photographs and Signature: The applicant must provide a high-resolution digital photograph with a white background, adhering to specific pixel dimensions (3.5 cm x 3.5 cm) as mandated by the portal. A scanned copy of the applicant’s signature on a white background is also required. 6. Address Proof: If the address on the application differs from the passport, valid proof of residence, such as an Aadhaar Card or Voter ID, may be required. The DGS portal operates on an automated verification system. It is critical that all data entered—specifically names, dates of birth, and certificate numbers—matches the records in the INDoS database and the STCW course data uploaded by training institutes. Failure to ensure data consistency will result in the application being queried or rejected by the jurisdictional Shipping Master’s Office. Authority for the final issuance rests with the Shipping Master under the administrative control of the Directorate General of Shipping.
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💬 Community Answers(6)
For your first CDC, the DGS portal can be tricky, but here's what you'll need based on my experience. The most critical document is your STCW '2010 Basic Safety Training (BST) certificates – PST, PSSR, EFA, FPFF. These are non-negotiable. Next, you'll need your 10th and 12th Marksheets and Passing Certificates, along with your Medical Fitness Certificate (DGS approved doctor, Form I & II). Don't forget your Passport, Aadhaar Card, and a recent passport-sized photograph with a white background. If you've done any pre-sea training from institutions like AMET or Tolani, keep those certificates handy too. Bhai, ensure all documents are scanned clearly, preferably in PDF format, as the MMDs (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata) can be particular. A practical tip: double-check your name and date of birth match EXACTLY across all documents, especially your passport and BSTs. Any mismatch will cause delays. My recommendation: apply through the DGS portal, then book an appointment at your nearest MMD. Carry all originals for verification. Good luck!
Ah, the DGS portal, what a massive headache that is. I remember scratching my head over this during my pre-sea days before joining my first vessel as a junior engineer. Don't worry, mate, it’s actually simpler than it looks once you cut through the bureaucratic jargon. First up, you absolutely need your scanned passport, specifically the front and back pages, making sure it has at least six months of validity left. Next, get your class ten passing certificate ready because they use that for your date of birth verification. For the training part, you need your five basic STCW course certificates, which are PST, PSSR, FPFF, EFA, and STSDSD. Make sure these are updated on your master checker profile first, or the system will reject your application instantly. You will also need a valid medical fitness certificate in the DGS format, signed by a DG-approved doctor, not just any local clinic. Finally, upload a clear passport-sized photo with a white background and your scanned signature. Make sure the file sizes are exactly what they ask for, or the portal will keep crashing on you. Get these sorted, pay the fee online, and you will have your booklet in no time.
Look, brother, I completely feel your pain because the DG Shipping website behaves like a rusty anchor winch on a cold morning. When I was applying for my first CDC, I almost pulled my hair out trying to navigate that portal. To get through this smoothly without getting your application rejected, you need a few key documents scanned and ready in PDF format under three hundred kilobytes, or the site will just freeze on you. First, keep your valid passport handy, ensuring the name matches your certificates exactly. You will need your INDOS number, your five basic STCW course certificates—PST, PSSR, FPFF, EFA, and STSDSD—and a valid medical fitness certificate from a DGS-approved doctor, which they call Annexure IV. The biggest headache is usually the passport-size photo and signature scan. Make sure the photo has a clean white background and you are wearing a light-coloured shirt without glasses. I once had a junior cadet get his application rejected twice just because of a shadow in his photo. Get these cropped perfectly, upload them patiently during off-peak hours when the server isn't overloaded, and you will have your CDC booklet in hand before your next contract. Safe sails, mate.
Ah, the DGS portal, a rite of passage every Indian seafarer dreads. I remember scratching my head over this when I was applying for my first ETO CDC years ago, and honestly, the website hasn’t gotten any friendlier. To get your first CDC without the system throwing a fit, you need to have your documents scanned perfectly to the exact kilobyte size they ask for. First, make sure you have your INDOS number generated because nothing moves without it. You will need your five basic STCW certificates, which must be uploaded to your master profile by your training institute. Then, get your medical fitness certificate from a DG-approved doctor; make sure they upload it directly to the DGS system too, or your application will get stuck in limbo. Have your valid passport, tenth-standard passing certificate for proof of age, and a digital passport photo with a clean white background ready. If you are going in as an officer or rating, keep your pre-sea training certificate handy. My advice is to clear your browser cache, use Mozilla, and double-check that your name matches letter-for-letter across your passport, INDOS, and STCW certificates. One spelling mistake will cost you weeks of delays.
Ahoy mate, I totally get your pain. Navigating the DG Shipping website can feel like steering a capesize bulk carrier through a narrow canal in a heavy gale. When I was applying for my first CDC, I almost pulled my hair out. Let me break down exactly what you need to upload so you don't get your application queried. First, make sure you have your INDoS number generated; everything links back to that. You will need your basic STCW course certificates, specifically PST, PSSR, FPFF, and EFA, plus your security training like STSDSD. Make sure your training institute has uploaded these to the DGS master checker, or your application will get stuck. Next, get your medical fitness certificate, the Annexure IV, from a DGS-approved doctor. Don't go to any random clinic. You'll also need your passport copy, tenth-standard passing certificate for age proof, and passport-sized photos with a white background where you aren't smiling. Make sure all your scanned PDFs are under the size limit, usually three hundred KB, and clear enough to read. Double-check your name spelling on every single document to match your passport exactly. Get these sorted, upload them patiently, and you’ll be good to go. Safe sails, brother.
Ahoy mate, I completely get your frustration because that DG Shipping portal can drive even the most seasoned chief engineer up the wall. When I was applying for my first CDC before joining my first vessel as a junior ETO, I almost pulled my hair out. To get your Continuous Discharge Certificate without the portal rejecting your application, you need to have a few absolute essentials ready. First, make sure your INDOS number is active and your profile details match your passport exactly, down to every single spelling. You will need your scanned passport, your tenth-grade pass certificate for proof of date of birth, and your five basic STCW course certificates, including security training. Don’t forget a valid medical fitness certificate from a DG-approved doctor; make sure they’ve uploaded it to the system too. The biggest trap is the photograph and signature upload. I had my application bounced twice because the photo background wasn't clean white or the file size was off. Scan everything in high resolution but keep the file sizes small as per their limits. Get these sorted, upload them patiently, pay the fee online, and you’ll have your booklet in no time. See you out at sea, brother.
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