1. The Government of India has promulgated Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules, 2005 vide notification No. G.S.R. 182 (E) dated 18.3.2005, which were further amended by notification No. G. S. R. 580 dated 14th September, 2005 and vide Notification G.S.R. 318(E) dated 30.04.2007.
2. These rules provide a mechanism for protection of Indian Seafarers working on Indian and Foreign Flag Vessels and the necessary safeguards for their repatriation in the event of their being stranded, or during such other exigencies, when the ship owner fails to discharge the duty of repatriating the seafarers to the home port of the seaman.
3. The said rules also provide a mechanism for necessary registration of the manning agents (agents for Indian and Foreign Flag Vessels). Till date, 113 manning companies have registered as RPS providers.
4. However, this Directorate has been receiving information that many unregistered RPS providers continue to engage Indian seafarers and place them on board vessels. On receipt of such specific complaints, the Directorate has filed FIR with Police against such companies.
5. Now, in order to further deter unregistered RPS providers for engaging Indian seafarers for placement on vessels and also to restrict Indian seafarers from taking employment through such unregistered RPS providers, it has been decided that no recognition will be given to sea service completed on ships where placement is done through an unregistered RPS provider i.e. such sea service would not be considered for eligibility for (a) competency examination (b) issuance of any endorsements such as DCE, GMDSS etc or (c) endorsement for rating forming a part of navigation/engineering watch.
6. All RPS providers are requested to indicate their RPSL No. on all sea-service related certificates issued by them. Indian ship-owners who are engaging seafarers from their own offices for their own vessels are requested to indicate their user ID allotted by DGS e.g. SC.xxxxx.
7. Publishers of all seafaring magazines and Governing Councils / Controlling Committees of Seamen�s clubs are advised not to print / display employment notices received from un-registered RPS providers.
8. The aforesaid provision would be applicable to all seafarers joining vessels after 15.10.2007.
9. All seafarers, Indian ship-owners, FOSMA, MASSA, Seafarers Unions, Training institute and all registered RPS providers are hereby advised to take note of this Circular and also disseminate this information through wide publicity. The list of duly registered RPS providers, is available on the DGS website should be widely circulated to all candidates & aspiring seafarers.

Sd/-
(Capt. Harish Khatri)
Dy. Director General of Shipping