India's maritime regulator has warned a training academy that it could lose its approval to train seafarers. The academy is Shivalik Maritime Academy in Dehradun. The regulator sent it a show cause notice on 21 October 2026. A show cause notice is an official letter. It asks the academy to explain why it should not be punished.
The regulator is the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA). It was earlier called the Directorate General of Shipping. The notice is listed on the DGMA website with the academy's approval number, MTI No. 107029. The maritime news site Splash247 reported what the notice says.
What the inspectors found
DGMA inspected the academy in September 2026. According to Splash247, the inspectors found these problems:
Only two of the 12 trainees on one Basic Safety Training course seemed to meet the entry rules.
The academy could not show that 55 more people, who joined courses in August and September, met these rules.
A survival training class was taught by a different instructor, not the approved teacher for that class.
The academy used a swimming pool 14 to 16 km from its campus. DGMA said it was not shown who owns the pool or that it meets the training rules.
Every seafarer needs Basic Safety Training under STCW. STCW is the international set of rules on seafarer training and certificates. It covers survival at sea, fire fighting, first aid and personal safety. The survival part includes practical exercises in water.
What happens next
The academy has 15 days from receiving the notice to reply. DGMA can then reduce the number of trainees the academy may take. It can also stop some courses or withdraw the academy's approval completely. DGMA said its findings are preliminary. This means they are not final. It will decide only after it reads the academy's answer.
This is not the only notice this week. The DGMA website also lists a show cause notice dated 19 October 2026 to Oceanic Maritime Academy (MTI No. 106017). The details of that notice were not reported.
What it means for seafarers
If you studied at Shivalik Maritime Academy, there is no final decision yet. Keep your certificates, receipts and course papers safe. Watch the DGMA website for the final decision.
Before you pay for any course in India, ask the institute for its MTI number. This is its DGMA approval number. Check it against DGMA's own website, not only the institute's adverts.
Make sure you meet the entry rules for a course before you join it. Ask the institute to explain them in writing.
A real survival course has practical work in water with a qualified instructor. Be careful if a course offers to skip this.
Crewing managers: when you check a new crew member's documents, note where they did their Basic Safety Training.
Cover photo: US Coast Guard helicopter crews climb into a life raft during sea survival training at Camp Pendleton, California, 7 September 2016. Illustrative photo, not from the academy in India. Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Simpson/US Coast Guard via Wikimedia Commons, public domain (cropped).
Sources: Splash247: Indian maritime academy faces loss of training approval (22 Oct 2026), DGMA: notices list – Show Cause Notice dated 21.10.2026, M/S Shivalik Maritime Academy (MTI No. 107029); Show Cause Notice dated 19.10.2026, M/S Oceanic Maritime Academy (MTI No. 106017).
