International Organisations, NGO and GO Engagements
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration engages with intergovernmental organisations (GOs) and non-governmental maritime organisations (NGOs) across the full spectrum of its regulatory mandate, covering safety, security, liability, seafarer welfare, environmental protection, and capacity building. These engagements position India as an active and constructive participant in the global maritime governance architecture.
India's international maritime engagement is orchestrated at two complementary levels. At the intergovernmental level, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration represents India within the organs and committees of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), coordinates with the International Labour Organization (ILO) on seafarer welfare conventions, interfaces with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on radio communications and GMDSS frequency governance, participates in the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Funds as a major contributing Member State, and supports the World Maritime University (WMU) through sponsorship of Indian candidates.
At the level of non-governmental maritime organisations (NGOs), DGMA maintains structured partnerships with the International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I), INTERTANKO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). These partnerships encompass policy alignment, joint guidance publications, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and cooperative frameworks that directly inform India's regulatory practice under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
Intergovernmental Organisations (GO)
5 OrganisationsInternational Maritime Organization (IMO)
The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. India joined IMO in 1959 and has maintained an unbroken presence in its governance and technical bodies ever since. The IMO Council, the executive organ of IMO, is responsible for supervising the organisation's work between sessions of the Assembly. India is a member of the IMO Council under Category B, the category for states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade, and has topped the vote tally in Category B in both the 2024 and 2026 elections, a consecutive achievement that reflects the strength of India's international maritime diplomacy. The Indian delegation to IMO elections and sessions is led by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, with the Director General of Maritime Administration serving as a key technical member of the delegation.
DGMA's technical participation at IMO spans the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the Legal Committee, the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), and the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE), among others. India actively submits working papers and information papers to IMO sessions on matters including GMDSS modernisation, STCW amendments, maritime security (including the 2025 consolidated BMP Maritime Security publication), decarbonisation under the IMO Net-Zero Framework, and the ISPS Code. DGMA also participates in the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), through which India has undergone audit and provided trained auditors to assist other Member States, including in the Timor-Leste IMSAS audit.
International Labour Organization (ILO)
India is a Member State of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and has ratified the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006), the comprehensive instrument that consolidates international standards for seafarers' rights, including working conditions, rest hours, medical care, repatriation, and social security. DGMA's Maritime Health Branch administers India's MLC obligations, including the maintenance of a register of approved Medical Examiners of Seafarers and the issuance of Maritime Labour Certificates and Declarations of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLCs) for Indian-flag vessels. India participates in ILO's Special Tripartite Committee (STC) on the MLC, which reviews amendments to the Convention and monitors its implementation across Member States.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
India's participation in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is particularly significant to the Nautical Wing's Communication and Tracking Systems Branch, which administers GMDSS obligations under SOLAS Chapter IV. The ITU Radio Regulations govern the allocation of maritime frequencies, the issuance of the General Operator Certificate (GOC), and the international licensing framework for ship stations. DGMA coordinates with the ITU on frequency planning, GMDSS modernisation (including the integration of VDES and Iridium satellite systems into the GMDSS framework), and India's participation in World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC). India participated in WRC-23 and is preparing positions for WRC-27, which will address maritime frequency allocations relevant to e-navigation technologies.
IOPC Funds — International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds
India is a Member State of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds), the two intergovernmental organisations (the 1992 Fund and the Supplementary Fund) that provide compensation for pollution damage resulting from spills of persistent oil from tankers. The IOPC Funds are financed by levies on entities that receive oil after sea transport. India, as one of the world's largest crude oil importers, occupies the position of a major contributor to the 1992 Fund, with major Indian oil-receiving entities including Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, and the Indian Oil Corporation among the largest individual contributors globally. DGMA coordinates India's reporting and contribution obligations with these entities in conjunction with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
India's institutional engagement is formalised through active representation in the governing bodies of the IOPC Funds. An officer of DGMA serves as India's representative to the 1992 Fund Assembly and has held membership of the Joint Audit Body of the IOPC Funds, which meets three times a year to review the adequacy and effectiveness of the organisations' financial management, internal controls, and risk management systems. DGMA also participates in the Oil Spill India conference series, through which the IOPC Funds, the International Group of P&I Clubs, and Indian industry stakeholders engage on the practical application of the 1992 CLC and Fund Convention to Indian claimants and contributors.
World Maritime University (WMU)
The World Maritime University (WMU), based in Malmö, Sweden, is an international postgraduate institution established by IMO in 1983 to support capacity building and the advancement of maritime education, research, and professional development globally. India supports WMU through the sponsorship of Indian maritime officials and seafarers for postgraduate programmes, contributing to the broader objective under the Maritime India Vision 2030 of deepening India's expertise base within the international maritime administration community. WMU and IMO have collaborated on the development of e-learning resources for IMSAS auditor training, which is directly relevant to DGMA's participation in the IMO Member State Audit Scheme.
Non-Governmental Maritime Organisations (NGO)
6 OrganisationsInternational Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (IGP&I)
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) in 2025, at the national maritime conference "Jalasya Raksha, Janasya Suraksha: Ocean Sentinel", an event that also launched the DGS 75th Year Commemorative Events. The IGP&I comprises twelve member clubs that collectively provide third-party liability cover for approximately 90 per cent of the world's ocean-going tonnage. P&I cover insures shipowners against liabilities including loss of life, personal injury to crew and passengers, cargo damage, pollution by oil and hazardous substances, wreck removal, and collision. The MoU establishes a framework for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and joint initiatives in risk management, incident prevention, and crew welfare, reflecting a shared commitment to global best practices and evolving safety standards.
The practical significance of this partnership extends to DGMA's administration of the Merchant Shipping (Regulation of Entry of Ships into Ports, Anchorages and Offshore Facilities) Rules, 2012, under which foreign vessels of 300 GT and above calling at Indian ports must hold valid P&I cover from an IG Club or a DGMA-approved non-IG insurer. DGMA has, in cooperation with the IGP&I Secretariat, strengthened the process for online real-time verification of P&I certificate validity by Indian port authorities, replacing the earlier email-based system. The MoU also supports engagement on cyber threats, environmental protection, and emerging safety regulations.
INTERTANKO
India is engaged with the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), which represents approximately 80 per cent of the world's independent tanker fleet, to improve tanker safety, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. Given India's position as one of the world's largest importers of crude oil, the safe and environmentally responsible operation of tankers is a matter of direct national strategic importance. INTERTANKO's engagement with IMO on policy matters relating to tanker design, operational standards, and pollution prevention gives it significant influence over the international regulatory agenda to which India must align. India's engagement encompasses BMP Maritime Security (released March 2025) and tanker vetting standards under the SIRE 2.0 programme.
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
India's collaboration with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) focuses on alignment with global maritime policy across STCW, SOLAS, MARPOL, the Maritime Labour Convention, and IMO decarbonisation measures. The ICS is the principal international trade association representing shipowners and operators across all sectors and trades, covering more than 80 per cent of the world merchant fleet. It provides a collective industry voice at IMO, and India's policy positions on matters including safe manning norms, digital certificates, net-zero transition pathways, and seafarer welfare benefit from ICS expertise. India's adoption of the consolidated BMP Maritime Security publication (March 2025) co-published by ICS reflects active alignment with the ICS policy framework.
International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
India engages with the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to promote offshore safety and operational excellence in marine contracting activities relevant to India's hydrocarbon exploration and production sector. IMCA maintains a formal MoU partnership with OCIMF and produces joint technical guidance on dynamic positioning (DP) operations, marine warranty surveys, saturation diving, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) standards. These are directly applicable to India's offshore support vessel fleet, jack-up rigs, floating production units, and subsea pipeline operations. IMCA's active participation in the BMP Maritime Security 2025 publication reflects its cross-sector relevance to maritime security as well as offshore safety.
Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF)
India's cooperation with the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) centres on maritime safety, spill prevention, and environmental protection in tanker and offshore operations. OCIMF, an IMO observer organisation, develops the Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) programme and the Tanker Management and Self Assessment (TMSA) framework, which are globally adopted tools for vetting tanker safety standards applicable to vessels carrying cargo to and from Indian ports and terminals. OCIMF maintains a formal MoU with IMCA and co-authors joint technical guidance on offshore operations, floating systems, and SPM (single-point mooring) equipment. The consolidated BMP Maritime Security 2025 publication, co-authored by OCIMF alongside BIMCO, ICS, IMCA, INTERCARGO, and INTERTANKO, has been adopted by India as the reference framework for maritime security in risk areas including the Indian Ocean Region.
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
In January 2025, DGMA (then DG Shipping) partnered with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to launch a comprehensive initiative focused on seafarer wellbeing. The ITF is a global federation of transport workers' unions representing seafarers across all flags and nationalities, and is a principal voice at IMO on matters relating to crew welfare, port access rights, and the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The partnership with DGMA reflects India's commitment to the wellbeing of Indian seafarers serving on both Indian-flag and foreign-flag vessels worldwide. Indian seafarers constitute a significant share of the global maritime workforce, with approximately 80 per cent serving on foreign-flag vessels. The ITF partnership supports DGMA's broader engagement with the ILO's Special Tripartite Committee on the MLC.
