India’s maritime regulator, the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), has prohibited 366 foreign-flagged vessels from employing Indian seafarers after serious allegations of crew abandonment, unpaid wages and failure to repatriate sailors.
In a circular issued on Thursday to Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) holders and Indian seafarers, the regulator classified 278 vessels as “restricted” and 88 vessels as “blacklisted”.
DG Shipping said the vessels were linked to multiple cases involving non-payment of wages, denial of compensation in death or missing cases, severe hardship faced by crew members and failure to assist in repatriation of Indian seafarers. The regulator termed these actions violations of both Indian maritime regulations and international maritime obligations.
The maritime authority directed all RPSL companies to stop placing Indian seafarers on these vessels with immediate effect unless full compliance with applicable rules and welfare obligations is ensured. It also ordered RPSLs to submit details within 14 days of Indian seafarers currently engaged on the identified vessels.
According to DG Shipping, the vessels were identified through abandonment-related cases recorded up to 2026, based on the severity and recurrence of violations as well as difficulties encountered during enforcement, repatriation and recovery of outstanding wages.
The regulator further stated that several RPSL holders have already been issued show-cause notices following findings by the director of the Seamen’s Employment Office in Mumbai regarding their involvement in such cases.
DG Shipping noted that authorities have faced major challenges in coordinating the repatriation of stranded Indian seafarers and securing pending dues from vessel owners involved in abandonment cases.
