What documents do I need for CDC application for the first time? DGS portal is confusing.
The Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) is a statutory document issued by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Government of India, serving as the official record of a seafarer's sea service and professional identity. Under the Merchant Shipping (Continuous Discharge Certificate-cum-Seafarer’s Identity Document) Rules, 2017, and in strict alignment with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, every seafarer must possess a valid CDC to be eligible for employment on board a merchant vessel. To initiate a first-time CDC application through the DGS E-Governance portal, the applicant must ensure their Seafarer’s Profile is fully updated and that they possess the following mandatory documentation: 1. **Indian National Database of Seafarers (INDos) Number**: This is the foundational identification number for all Indian seafarers. No application for a CDC can be processed without a valid INDos number, which links all training and certification records. 2. **Valid Indian Passport**: A scanned copy of the personal particulars pages (first and last pages) is required. The passport serves as the primary evidence of nationality and identity as per the Merchant Shipping Act. 3. **STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) Certificates**: In accordance with Regulation VI/1 of the STCW Convention (Manila Amendments), applicants must have successfully completed the four basic safety courses: - Personal Survival Techniques (PST) - Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) - Elementary First Aid (EFA) - Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) These certificates must be issued by a DGS-approved maritime training institute and must be reflected in the DGS master checker. 4. **Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (STSDSD)**: Under STCW Regulation VI/6, this certificate is a mandatory requirement for all seafarers to ensure compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. 5. **Medical Fitness Certificate**: Applicants must undergo a comprehensive medical examination by a DGS-approved medical examiner. The certificate must be issued in the prescribed format (Annexure IV and V) and must confirm that the seafarer is fit for sea service, adhering to the standards set by the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, and the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Rules. 6. **Educational Qualification Proof**: A scanned copy of the 10th Standard (SSC) or 12th Standard (HSC) passing certificate or mark sheet is required to verify age and basic educational eligibility. 7. **Pre-Sea Training Certificate**: For candidates entering as trainees, ratings, or cadets, a certificate of completion from a DGS-approved pre-sea training program is essential. 8. **Digital Photographs and Signature**: A recent passport-sized photograph (3.5 cm x 3.5 cm) with a white background, in formal attire, along with a scanned signature, must be uploaded according to the technical specifications mentioned on the portal. All documents must be uploaded in PDF format (except for the photograph and signature) to the seafarer’s profile. It is imperative that all data across the BST certificates, Passport, and INDos details are identical. Discrepancies in names or dates of birth will result in the application being queried or rejected by the Shipping Master’s Office. Compliance with these requirements is a prerequisite for maintaining the safety and security standards mandated by the ISM Code and MLC 2006.
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💬 Community Answers(4)
For your first CDC application, the DGS portal can be a maze, but it’s manageable. The most crucial documents are your **10th Marksheet/Passing Certificate**, **Medical Fitness Certificate (DGS Approved Doctor)**, and **INDOS Certificate**. These are mandatory. Additionally, you'll need scanned copies of your **Passport** (first and last pages), your **Aadhaar Card**, and a **recent passport-sized photograph** with a white background. Ensure your signature is also uploaded separately. Make sure all scanned documents are clear and within the specified file size limits mentioned on the DGS website. From my experience, when I applied for my CDC after training at Anglo-Eastern in Mumbai, I made sure my medical was from a DGS-approved doctor in Colaba. Bhai, double-check the doctor list on the DGS website before you go. A practical tip: Keep all original documents handy for verification if required by the MMD (Mumbai, Chennai, or Kolkata depending on your jurisdiction). Start by getting your INDOS and Medical done first.
Ahoy brother, I completely get your frustration. The DGS e-governance portal has given many of us a headache over the years, but don't worry, getting your first Continuous Discharge Certificate is simpler than it looks once you have your paperwork sorted. First, you absolutely need your INDoS number and a valid passport. Make sure the name on your passport matches your certificates exactly, down to the last letter, or they will reject it instantly. Next, you need your basic STCW course certificates, namely Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, and Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties. You will also need a valid medical fitness certificate from a DGS-approved doctor; do not go to a regular GP for this. For the online upload, scan your tenth-standard mark sheet as proof of age, along with your passport and course certificates. The biggest trap is the photograph and signature scan. Make sure your photo has a clear white background and matches the exact pixel dimensions specified on the portal, otherwise the system keeps throwing errors. Keep these PDFs ready on your desktop, log into your Seafarer Profile, and you will sail through the application.
Ah, the DGS portal. It has given me more headaches than a dragging anchor in a gale, so I completely feel your pain. When I was applying for my first CDC, I almost pulled my hair out trying to navigate that interface. To get through it without your application getting queried, you need to have a few absolute essentials ready in scanned PDF format. First, make sure your INDOS number is generated and active. You will need your matriculation or tenth-standard passing certificate to prove your date of birth, and every single letter of your name there must match your valid passport exactly. I once had a junior cadet on my last product tanker whose joining got delayed by a month just because of a minor spelling mismatch between his passport and school certificate. For training, you need your five basic STCW certificates, which are PST, PSSR, EFA, FPFF, and STSDSD. Do not forget a valid medical fitness certificate from a DGS-approved doctor; make sure they have actually uploaded it to the DGS profile on their end too. Finally, keep a digital passport-size photo with a white background and your scanned signature ready. Upload these carefully, pay the fees, and you will be good to go.
I completely get your frustration, mate. That DGS portal gave me a massive headache back when I was applying for my first CDC before my first sail as a cadet. Don't worry, once you have the right files ready, it’s just a matter of uploading them. First, make sure you have your INDOS number handy because nothing moves without it. You will need your scanned passport, specifically the first and last pages, and your tenth-grade pass certificate for age proof. Then come your basic STCW safety course certificates—PST, PSSR, FPFF, and EFA—along with your security training or STSDSD. Do not forget the medical fitness certificate from a DGS-approved doctor; make sure it is valid and clearly scanned. The trickiest part that always gets rejected is the photo and signature, so crop them exactly to the portal's specified dimensions and keep the background plain white. When I did mine, I had to resize my signature three times because the portal kept throwing errors. Just compress all your PDFs to under three hundred kilobytes, keep your patience handy, and you will get through it. Let me know if the portal glitches on you again.
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