India has changed how new seafarers apply for their first seaman's book. In India this book is called the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC). From now on, the application for a fresh CDC is made on the new e-Samudra portal.
The change comes from the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA). This is India's maritime regulator. It was earlier called the Directorate General of Shipping. DGMA published the notice on e-Samudra on its website on 22 October 2026. The notice itself is dated 21 October 2026.
What is a CDC
The CDC is a must-have document for Indian seafarers. You need it to work on a merchant ship. It records each time you join and leave a ship, so it is a record of your sea service. According to DGMA's CDC page, it is usually the first identity document a new seafarer gets.
The same page lists the main rules. You must be an Indian citizen, at least 18 years old, and have passed 10th Standard. You need a valid medical fitness certificate. You also need approved basic safety courses, such as survival, fire fighting, first aid and security training. The fee is ₹700, paid online. A CDC is valid for 10 years.
What changes
New applicants now use the e-Samudra portal for the "Apply for Fresh Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC)" service. The address is esamudra.dgshipping.gov.in.
The notice includes a login guide and a user manual as annexes.
For questions or technical problems, DGMA gives the email dgs.support@gov.in and the phone number +91-7965804875.
The notice is about applications for a fresh CDC. It does not say that renewal, replacement or duplicate CDCs have moved too. Check the DGMA website before you apply for those.
A new BSID centre in Patna
DGMA also issued Circular 70 of 2026 on 21 October. It makes the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) office in Patna, Bihar, a BSID data capturing centre. BSID means Biometric Seafarer Identity Document.
The BSID is a smart card with a biometric chip. It follows ILO Convention No. 185 on seafarer identity documents. To get one, you go to a centre in person. Staff check your original passport and CDC and take your photo there. You can only apply if you already have a valid Indian CDC and passport. This is explained on DGMA's BSID page.
Patna is the 10th BSID centre in India. The others are in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Noida, Goa, Kandla, New Mangalore, Kochi and Vizag. A senior DGMA official opened the Patna service on 12 October 2026. DGMA said it will save seafarers travel time and money.
The circular says Patna will offer 100 appointment slots per working day, Monday to Friday. Government holidays are not included.
What to do now
If you are starting your career, apply for your first CDC on e-Samudra only. Use the official address above.
Have your safety course certificates, medical certificate and school certificate ready before you start.
Pay only the official fee online. Be careful of agents who ask for extra money to "arrange" a CDC.
If you live in Bihar or nearby, you can now book a BSID appointment in Patna. For many people this means a shorter trip.
If something does not work on the portal, write to dgs.support@gov.in.
Cover photo: A general cargo ship is unloaded at Mumbai Port. Illustrative photo, not linked to this news. Photo: AroundTheGlobe/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped).
Sources: DGMA notice: Migration of Fresh Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) service on e-Samudra Portal (dated 21 Oct 2026, published 22 Oct 2026), DGMA Circular No. 70 of 2026: Commissioning of MMD Patna as a BSID Data Capturing Centre (21 Oct 2026), DGMA: Latest news list, DGMA: Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), DGMA: Biometric Seafarer's Identity Document (BSID), DGMA: BSID data-capturing services at MMD Patna.
