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INDIA – NEW RULES MANDATING CCTV INSTALLATION
Published: 19 March 2025
India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has recently published “Merchant Shipping Notice No. 02 of 2025”, documenting the requirements to fit Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) on vessels.
The notice explains the purpose of the new requirements, to improve seafarer welfare, safety, and security by mandating CCTV installation on vessels. The initiative aims to enhance onboard monitoring, prevent accidents and security breaches, and serve as an investigative tool for maritime casualties and disputes. Additionally, it is intended to improve emergency response efficiency, particularly in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and to strengthen security measures in high-risk areas like mooring stations, ship railings, and accommodation zones.
The directive applies to Indian-flagged vessels, foreign vessels operating under a Specific Period License (SPL), newly registered vessels under the Indian flag, and newly constructed Indian-flagged ships. Whilst existing ships have a minimum of 36-months from the date of the notice (12 February 2025) to achieve compliance, new build ships are to have the CCTV systems installed before delivery.
While foreign-flagged vessels calling at Indian ports are not mandated to comply, they are encouraged by the DGS to adopt these safety practices as per the ISM Code (Sections 8.1 and 9). The circular also recommends integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced surveillance to improve real-time monitoring, anomaly detection, and automated alerts, thus enhancing safety and security while reducing reliance on manual observation.
This new regulation will represent a major change for Indian-flagged shipping or those ships operating under an SPL, and we recommend that the new rule is fully read and understood.