India has tightened its shipping insurance rules as DGMA Order 22 adds more specific requirements for verifying the insurance protection available to Indian seafarers on foreign flag vessels.
Dated 28 August 2026, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) sets stricter P&I insurance verification requirements for recruitment and placement service licence (RPSL) companies deploying Indian seafarers on foreign vessels.
The order says non-compliance will be “viewed seriously” and can trigger action against the concerned RPSL company under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, the Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules, 2016, and other applicable DGS Orders.
DGMA Order 22 of 2026 already asked RPSL companies to comply with additional requirements regarding P&I/Insurance coverage before they engage, recruit or deploy Indian seafarers on foreign vessels.
Every RPSL company before it engages, recruits or deploys an Indian seafarer on any vessel must ensure that the vessel shall have valid and verifiable P&I/Insurance coverage through any P&I Club that is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) or an Approved Non-IG Insurance Company/P&I Club, from among the insurance companies/P&I Clubs approved and published on the official website by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration.
The RPSL company shall verify the validity and authenticity of the relevant P&I/Insurance certificate before deployment of any Indian seafarer and shall maintain the documentary evidence of such verification.
In cases where a vessel is not covered under the aforesaid P&I/insurance arrangements, the concerned RPSL company shall ensure that mandatory insurance coverage of not less than ₹I,00,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore only) per Indian seafarer is obtained from any of the IRDA approved Indian insurance companies or from DGMA approved P&I service providers for engagement of Indian seafarers onboard such vessels. The said requirement shall be applicable only for vessels which are not covered under the P&I/insurance arrangements.
No Indian seafarer shall be engaged or deployed on a vessel unless the requirements specified in the Order are duly complied with and the relevant certificates/documents are valid and verifiable.
