Nautical Wing — Offshore Safety
Offshore Safety: Training & Competency Framework
India's offshore oil and gas sector accounts for 46.22% of upstream hydrocarbon revenue in 2025 and is expanding rapidly into deepwater and ultra-deepwater basins. The Directorate General of Shipping is developing an India-specific offshore safety and competency framework under the Merchant Shipping Act 2025, addressing critical gaps in training standards, qualification criteria, and regulatory oversight for the offshore workforce.
Fixed Platform Operations
Jack-Up & MODU Drilling
Workforce Competency
MS Act 2025 Compliance
Sector Context & DGS Mandate
India's offshore oil and gas sector has expanded significantly over the past several decades, with offshore operations now accounting for 46.22% of upstream oil and gas revenue as of 2025, rising from 39.39% in 2024. The sector encompasses complex technical systems operating in remote environments, including fixed platforms, jack-up rigs, semi-submersible production units, FPSOs, tension leg platforms, and a diverse flotilla of offshore support vessels operating across the Mumbai Offshore Basin, the Krishna-Godavari Basin, and emerging frontier areas in the Andaman region.
The Merchant Shipping Act 2025 expands the regulatory mandate of the Directorate General of Shipping over vessels supporting offshore operations within India's maritime zones, including offshore supply vessels, anchor handling vessels, mobile offshore drilling units, accommodation barges, and offshore construction vessels. The evolving Maritime Safety and Security Wing structure specifically includes "Navigational Safety in Ports and Offshore Areas" as a dedicated functional responsibility, providing the institutional basis for developing structured offshore safety and competency frameworks.
India's Offshore Basins
India's Principal Offshore Basins
3 Major Basins7,171
Mumbai Offshore Basin
Category-I basin with 7,171 MMTOE total hydrocarbon in-place, comprising 4,795 MMTOE discovered and 2,376 MMTOE undiscovered risked reserves. Home to Mumbai High Field and Heera Oil Fields. India's most developed and prolific offshore region, serving as the technological benchmark for all offshore operations nationally.
4,772
Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin
Category-I basin with 4,772 MMTOE total hydrocarbon in-place. Located along the east coast between the Mahanadi and Cauvery Basins. Deepwater developments including major gas discoveries at Razole, Mandapeta, and Chintalapalli are reinforcing its role as the primary frontier for India's deepwater hydrocarbon growth. FPSOs are increasingly deployed in this basin.
Cat. II
Andaman Basin
Category-II frontier basin with significant prospective resources in deepwater and ultra-deepwater settings. Characterised by thick sedimentary sequences within the Andaman-Nicobar island arc tectonic system. Increasing exploration interest driven by deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling programmes. Viewed as a long-term strategic frontier for India's offshore hydrocarbon development.
Regulatory Framework & Governance
Multi-Institutional Regulatory Architecture
5 AuthoritiesDirectorate General of ShippingMaritime Regulation and Offshore Vessels
Expanded Mandate Under MS Act 2025
- DGS regulates offshore support vessels, accommodation barges, MODUs, and offshore construction vessels operating in India's maritime zones under DGS Order No. 20 of 2022 and the Merchant Shipping Act 2025.
- The MSS Wing's dedicated responsibility for "Navigational Safety in Ports and Offshore Areas" provides the institutional basis for developing structured offshore safety frameworks.
- DGS Order 01 of 2026 prescribes age norms for offshore vessels, prohibiting acquisition of second-hand vessels beyond 20 years of age, with existing vessels permitted to operate until March 2029, extendable to 2031 subject to Sustainability Indexing of Ships (SIS) compliance.
- MS Notice 18 of 2009 mandates heightened caution during the Southwest Monsoon, forming the regulatory basis for industry-adopted working season cut-offs.
Key Instruments
OISD & DGHPetroleum Safety and Upstream Regulation
- OISD is designated as the Competent Authority under the Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules 2008, responsible for approvals, compliance supervision, and safety investigations. It issues OISD-139 standards referencing IMCA for offshore operations.
- DGH oversees upstream exploration and production activities, reviews drilling programmes, monitors production performance, and ensures compliance with Production Sharing Contracts under NELP and HELP licensing frameworks.
OISD Coverage
MoPNG & ODAGPolicy and Offshore Defence Security
- MoPNG formulates upstream sector policies, oversees the National Data Repository, and supervises institutions responsible for upstream regulatory and safety oversight across the petroleum sector.
- ODAG, established in 1983 under the Indian Navy and headed by a Rear Admiral under Western Naval Command, coordinates offshore security of oil and gas assets within India's maritime zones through the Offshore Security Coordination Committee (OSCC) and JVOPAC.
Key Incidents and Safety Lessons
Key Offshore Incidents and Safety Lessons
Indian and Global ContextIndian Incident — 27 July 2005
Mumbai High North Platform Fire
Most Severe Offshore Accident in India
- The support vessel Samudra Suraksha collided with gas export risers attached to the platform during an evacuation operation, triggering a gas leak that ignited and caused a major fire, resulting in 22 fatalities and destruction of the platform.
- India strengthened offshore safety oversight following the accident, improving platform evacuation procedures, vessel movement controls around offshore installations, and emergency response protocols.
Systemic Findings
Indian Incident — May 2021
Cyclone Tauktae — Papaa-305 Barge Disaster
Weather Risk Management Failure
- Cyclone Tauktae, one of the most intense Arabian Sea cyclonic storms in recent decades, struck during ONGC offshore construction operations. The accommodation barge Papaa-305 broke free from moorings and sank, while the tug Varapradha was also affected.
- The incident triggered comprehensive review of offshore weather monitoring, station-keeping protocols, and evacuation procedures, and directly influenced the DGS monsoon advisory and working-season regulatory framework.
Systemic Findings
Global Benchmark — 1988 / 2010
Piper Alpha & Deepwater Horizon
Global Safety Regime Transformation
- Piper Alpha (1988), the deadliest offshore accident in history with 167 fatalities, identified systemic failures in permit-to-work procedures and emergency evacuation, leading to the UK Safety Case regulatory regime and ALARP-based risk management.
- Deepwater Horizon (2010), with 11 fatalities and environmental losses exceeding USD 60 billion, resulted from well design failures, inadequate risk assessment, and deficient operational decision-making, prompting the establishment of BSEE and strengthened well control requirements.
Recurring Systemic Issues
International Standards and Industry Bodies
International Standards Applicable to Indian Offshore Operations
6 Key FrameworksOPITOOffshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation
- OPITO establishes competency standards and training frameworks for offshore personnel globally. Key mandated programmes include BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training), FOET (Further Offshore Emergency Training, the 4-year refresher), and HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training).
- BOSIET was developed for North Sea cold-water conditions and does not address Arabian Sea hazards, tropical cyclone preparedness, or monsoon-season operating protocols. The Tropical BOSIET variant, appropriate for Indian conditions, has no OPITO or DGS-approved centre in India, requiring personnel to travel to the UAE or Singapore.
- OPITO also administers the OIM Competency Assurance Programme for Offshore Installation Managers, the most safety-critical offshore leadership role, which has no Indian statutory equivalent.
OPITO Programmes
IMCAInternational Marine Contractors Association
- IMCA publishes technical guidance and competency frameworks for offshore marine contracting, covering diving operations (IMCA D014), dynamic positioning assurance, marine operations, ROV activities, and subsea construction. Widely used by offshore contractors in Indian waters for IMR, subsea construction, and specialist vessel operations.
- DGS is pursuing Associate Membership with IMCA to gain institutional access to global incident databases, safety alerts, and technical guidance covering offshore construction, DP operations, and diving activities.
Key IMCA Guidance
OCIMFOil Companies International Marine Forum
- OCIMF provides operational assurance frameworks for tanker, barge, and offshore support vessel operations. SIRE 2.0 (introduced 2024) provides risk-based tanker inspection. OVID (Offshore Vessel Inspection Database) enables inspection report review for offshore support vessels before engagement.
- OVMSA (Offshore Vessel Management and Self-Assessment) evaluates vessel management systems across safety, security, environmental management, and operational integrity. MEG4 prescribes structured Mooring System Management Plans for mooring risk management.
- DGS has initiated engagement with OCIMF to strengthen offshore vessel inspection and assurance frameworks, including inspector accreditation pathways and familiarisation with SIRE and OVID inspection methodologies.
OCIMF Programmes
Nautical Institute & DP CertificationDynamic Positioning Operator Scheme
- The Nautical Institute administers the globally recognised Dynamic Positioning (DP) Operator Certification Scheme, including structured training requirements, sea-time experience on DP-equipped vessels, simulator training, and competency assessments. DP vessels underpin all major offshore construction, pipeline laying, IRM, and diving support operations in India.
- DGS has not issued any circular or regulation mandating DPO certification for vessels operating in the Indian EEZ, meaning DP operators conducting critical offshore work have no verified, independently assessed competency requirement under Indian statute.
DP Certification Levels
IMO Conventions & CodesSOLAS, STCW, ISM, IP Code, MODU Code
- In November 2022, IMO adopted SOLAS Chapter XV and the International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code), which entered into force on 1 July 2024, establishing safety requirements for vessels transporting offshore workers including training, transfer arrangements, and life-saving appliances.
- The STCW Convention provides a globally accepted baseline for maritime training but is largely restricted to shipboard operations and does not adequately address helicopter underwater escape, offshore installation safety, subsea and diving operations, or emergency evacuation from offshore platforms.
- The ISM Code requires offshore vessel operators to maintain a Document of Compliance (DOC) and Safety Management Certificate (SMC), ensuring structured safety management oversight.
Applicable IMO Instruments
IOGP, ISO & GOMOAdditional Industry Safety Frameworks
- IOGP Life-Saving Rules identify nine critical safety practices aimed at preventing fatalities in high-risk activities including working at height, confined space entry, lifting operations, and energy isolation, widely adopted across Indian offshore projects.
- ISO 19900 series covers offshore structure design requirements including fixed steel structures, mooring and station-keeping systems. ISO 16530-1 governs well integrity management and ISO 13628-1 addresses subsea production systems.
- Guidelines for Offshore Marine Operations (GOMO) provide operational guidance for anchor handling, cargo transfer, emergency response planning, and marine logistics coordination.
ISO Offshore Standards
Critical Competency Gaps
Critical Gaps in Qualification Criteria and Training Standards
The report identifies significant systemic gaps in India's offshore safety training and workforce competency framework. Many offshore safety certifications currently applied in India originate from international frameworks such as OPITO, IMCA, and the Nautical Institute but are not uniformly mandated through Indian statutory instruments. Several critical offshore operational roles lack nationally defined competency standards entirely.
Critical Gap 01 — OIM Standard Absent
No Statutory Competency Standard for Offshore Installation Manager
India has no statutory competency framework for Offshore Installation Managers (OIMs), the persons with ultimate offshore emergency authority. OPITO's OIM Competency Assurance Programme, the international benchmark, is not referenced in any DGS or OISD instrument. The Master Certificate of Competency is designed for merchant navy operations, not offshore installation management.
Critical Gap 02 — DP Certification Unregulated
Dynamic Positioning Operator Certification Voluntary and Unverified
DP vessels underpin all major offshore construction, pipeline laying, IRM, and diving support operations in India. Despite near-universal use, DGS has issued no circular or regulation mandating DPO certification for vessels operating in the Indian EEZ. DP operators conducting critical offshore work have no verified, independently assessed competency requirement under Indian statute.
Critical Gap 03 — No Safety Officer Standard
HSE Officer Qualification Entirely Operator-Dependent
Every offshore installation deploys HSE Officers, yet no Indian regulation defines minimum qualification criteria. The quality of safety oversight is entirely dependent on individual operator preference, with no independent audit or certification requirement. OPITO's Offshore Safety Representative standard provides a benchmark that India has not adopted.
Critical Gap 04 — Crane Operations Unregulated
Offshore Crane Operator Competency Entirely Unstandardised
Offshore crane operations are among the highest-risk activities on any installation or vessel, involving heavy lifts in dynamic sea conditions often in proximity to personnel. No Indian regulatory body has issued competency standards for offshore crane operators. This is in stark contrast to onshore construction practice where industrial crane operator licensing is required.
Critical Gap 05 — No India-Contextualised Training
Tropical BOSIET and Arabian Sea-Specific Training Not Available in India
BOSIET was developed for North Sea cold-water conditions and does not address Arabian Sea hazards, tropical cyclone preparedness, or monsoon-season operating protocols. Tropical BOSIET, the appropriate variant for Indian offshore conditions, has no OPITO or DGS-approved centre in India. Personnel must travel to the UAE or Singapore at significant cost.
Critical Gap 06 — Limited Training Infrastructure
Single HUET Facility; Insufficient Capacity for Offshore Workforce Scale
India's approximately 50 DGS-approved Maritime Training Institutes primarily deliver STCW-aligned training with limited offshore safety capacity. Only NAMAC Mumbai offers DGS-approved offshore courses (BOSIET, HUET, H2S, OERTM, OERTL, HLO). Only one HUET tank facility exists nationally at ISTC Mumbai, creating severe capacity constraints for the growing offshore workforce.
DGS Initiatives and Strategic Partnerships
DGS Offshore Safety Initiatives & Strategic Partnerships
4 Active WorkstreamsIndia-Specific Offshore Safety and Competency FrameworkSpecialist Consultancy Engagement
Consultancy Onboarding in Progress
- DGS is onboarding a specialised offshore consultancy firm to develop an India-specific offshore safety, training, and competency framework that is legally coherent, operationally practical, and aligned with international best practices while contextualised to Indian offshore conditions, including the Arabian Sea environment, monsoon season, and cyclone risk.
- The framework will translate regulatory intent into implementable standards that can be enforced consistently across India's offshore industry, covering vessel operations, installation management, diving, dynamic positioning, and emergency response.
- The engagement with L&T is developing a modular HSE training programme for critical offshore operational roles, incorporating audio-visual and virtual-reality training modules based on India-specific case studies including Cyclone Tauktae and the Mumbai High North platform accident.
Objectives
Strategic Institutional PartnershipsIMCA, OCIMF, L&T and ONGC
Engagement Active
- DGS is pursuing Associate Membership with IMCA to gain institutional access to global incident databases, safety alerts, and technical guidance for offshore construction, DP operations, and diving activities.
- DGS has initiated engagement with OCIMF to strengthen offshore vessel inspection and assurance frameworks in India, enabling reference to SIRE 2.0, OVID, and OVMSA systems, and supporting inspector accreditation and familiarisation programmes.
- DGS is exploring collaboration with L&T to develop a modular HSE training programme incorporating India-specific case studies in audio-visual and virtual-reality formats, contextualised to Arabian Sea and Western Offshore operational conditions.
- DGS is initiating engagement with ONGC as India's principal offshore operator to examine the applicability of OVID, OVMSA, and OPITO training standards, facilitating knowledge exchange between the regulator and the primary operational stakeholder.
Engagement Partners
Offshore Installation Types and Support Vessels
Offshore Installation Classifications & Support Vessel Categories
ReferenceFixed PlatformsShallow to Intermediate Depth
- Rigid structures anchored to the seabed, deployed up to 300-400 metres depth. Comprehensive topside production facilities including separation, treatment, compression, and storage equipment.
- Mumbai High Field and Heera Oil Fields incorporate numerous fixed platforms, forming the operational foundation of India's offshore production network.
Jack-Up Rigs & MODUsUp to 120-200 Metres Depth
- Mobile Offshore Drilling Units with independently operated legs providing a stable drilling platform in shallow to intermediate water depths. ONGC has re-tendered four jackup rigs for 2025-2027, with approximately 10 expected to be operationally deployed and 45 wells drilled annually.
Semi-Submersibles & FPSOsDeepwater Production
- Semi-submersibles combine submersible hull designs with deepwater operability. FPSOs integrate production processing, crude oil storage, and cargo offloading within a single floating structure. Predominant deepwater production platform type globally, increasingly deployed in KG Basin deepwater blocks.
Offshore Support VesselsOSVs, AHTS, Accommodation Barges
- Offshore supply vessels (OSVs), anchor handling tug-supply (AHTS) vessels, accommodation barges, and specialised response and diving support vessels constitute essential offshore operational support infrastructure, all subject to DGS regulatory oversight under the MS Act 2025.
