India Joins ISF Verify for Digital Certification of Its Seafarers
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- international chamber of shipppingIndia joins ISF Verify, bringing trusted digital certification within reach of 30 per cent of the global seafarer workforce
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- Hellenics Shipping newsIndia joins ISF Verify, bringing trusted digital certification within reach of 30 per cent of the global seafarer workforce
India's Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has joined ISF Verify, the digital seafarer certification platform developed by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Lloyd's Register OneOcean (LROO). The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the International Maritime Organization Council meeting at IMO headquarters in London.
India contributes approximately 312,000 seafarers, making it the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, according to the 2026 ICS/BIMCO Seafarer Workforce Report. Together with the Philippines, which had already completed a proof of concept with its Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the two countries account for around 30 percent of the global maritime workforce, estimated at 2.57 million people.
How the Integration Will Work
Under the agreement, DGMA, ICS and LROO will develop a pilot program to explore integrating the Indian platform with ISF Verify through an application programming interface (API). The parties will complete technical discovery work, define requirements and agree on a development plan and roadmap. A core principle of the system is that seafarers retain control over who accesses their data, while original certificates remain under the jurisdiction of the issuing authority, which can respond to inquiries in real time.
Expected Benefits
For Indian seafarers, a successful integration would allow certificates issued by DGMA to be synchronized with ISF Verify, improving their mobility and employment prospects. For issuing administrations, the platform facilitates faster endorsements by foreign flag states, reduces administrative burden and costs, lowers the risk of fraudulent certificates, and can shorten verification and inspection times at ports.
Statements from Key Stakeholders
Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of ICS, described India's participation as a major milestone for ISF Verify and for the shipping industry's transition to trusted digital certification, noting that together with the Philippines, agreements now cover countries representing nearly 30 percent of the world's seafarers. Sushil Khopde of DGMA said the initiative aims to reduce administrative burden and improve security against fraudulent documentation while maintaining strict national control over data. Andy McKeran of Lloyd's Register OneOcean stated that India's inclusion brings the industry closer to a turning point where digital certification can become the global standard.
