No seafarer sails without one. The Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) is the document that proves who you are, what you’re trained for, and every ship you’ve served on. Here’s what it actually contains, who’s eligible, and the exact process to apply.
Issuing authority
Reissued when full or lost
Before joining any ship
Your national seafarer ID
A Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) is an official identity and service record book issued to every Indian seafarer by the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), under the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping). It’s often called the “seafarer’s identity document” or simply the seaman’s book, and it records your personal details, training qualifications, and the discharge entries from every ship you sail on.
The CDC is closely tied to your INDoS number — the Indian National Database of Seafarers registration that every candidate must obtain before their CDC application even begins.
Rule change from 1 August 2026: under DGS Order 12 of 2026, the five basic STCW courses alone no longer qualify a fresher for a CDC. DG Shipping now also uses the name Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA). Read what the new CDC rules mean for you.
CDC = the government-issued seafarer identity and service booklet, required to join any merchant ship, containing your personal details, INDoS number, training certificates and voyage discharge records.
The CDC isn’t just a certificate — it’s a running record book. Here’s a simplified look at what’s inside, and why each part matters to a shipping company reviewing your profile.
Photograph, date of birth, nationality, and INDoS number that links you to the national seafarer database.
STCW Basic Safety Training and other mandatory certificates get referenced against your CDC before you're cleared to sail.
Every ship, every join and discharge date, stamped and signed — building a continuous, verifiable sailing history.
The book itself doesn't "expire" like a licence — it's reissued only when pages run out, get damaged, or are lost.
Apply via DG Shipping's Sagar-Mitra portal to get your lifelong Indian Seafarers ID (INDoS).
From 1 August 2026, freshers need a DG-approved pre-sea course plus the five basic STCW courses (PST, FPFF, EFA, PSSR and STSDSD). The five courses alone no longer qualify for a CDC.
Apply through the official portal using your INDoS number, pre-sea training certificate, STCW certificates, medical certificate and ID.
MMD verifies your documents and biometrics before approving the certificate for printing.
We focus on getting you selected — through IMU-CET or company sponsorship exams. CDC and INDoS registration are the mandatory next steps after selection, and knowing the sequence in advance keeps your joining timeline on track.
IMU-CET or a company sponsorship test comes first — our coaching covers aptitude, psychometric and interview preparation.
Once selected, we guide you on INDoS registration and on fitting the five STCW basic courses around your pre-sea training, ahead of your CDC application.
With training certificates and documents ready, we help you understand the CDC application flow so you're not caught off guard by paperwork.
Talk to us about your entry route — GP Rating, DNS, Nautical Science, Marine Engineering, GME or ETO — and exactly where CDC fits into your joining process.
First Floor, Capitol Tower, 17, New Survey Road, Survey Chowk. Dehradun-248001.
Ready to begin your maritime journey? Fill out this initial inquiry form, and our admissions team will contact you within 24 hours to guide you through the next steps.
