The Government of India has released a draft ISM Circular aimed at establishing minimum qualification and experience requirements for Designated Persons Ashore (DPA) and Alternate Designated Persons Ashore (ADPA). The draft has been made available on the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) website for review by shipping companies and stakeholders.
Direct access to top management is a critical requirement under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which mandates that each company appoint a DPA to ensure the safe operation of vessels and act as a vital communication link between company management and onboard personnel. The proposed rules emerge in the context of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Management) Rules of 2026, which obligate companies to designate these key roles.
Scope and Applicability
This circular applies to all companies that must adhere to both the Merchant Shipping (Safety Management) Rules and the ISM Code. Specifically, it encompasses various types of vessels such as:
- Passenger ships, including high-speed crafts, regardless of size.
- Oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers, and cargo high-speed crafts over 500 gross tonnage.
- Other cargo vessels and mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage or more.
- Domestic vessels exceeding 500 gross tonnage.
The necessary qualifications for the DPA role will be commensurate with the complexity and operational specifics of the vessels under the Company’s Document of Compliance (DOC) or Domestic Document of Compliance (DDOC).
Minimum Qualifications Set Forth
The draft circular specifies that the DPA must possess qualifications and experience as delineated in Annexure-I of the circular, relevant to the vessel category they oversee. This initiative seeks to standardize the implementation of the ISM Code across the maritime sector, ensuring that personnel tasked with critical safety roles are adequately qualified and trained.
Behind the Headline
The introduction of minimum qualification requirements for Designated Persons Ashore underscores the Indian government’s commitment to enhancing maritime safety through regulatory clarity. Shipping companies are encouraged to engage with this process, providing input that could shape the final policy. Companies should prepare for compliance should these regulations be adopted, as adherence will not only be essential for legal operations but also critical in establishing a safety-first culture on vessels. Monitoring feedback and the finalization of this circular will be key for industry stakeholders as they adjust their operational protocols.
