The three Merchant Navy admission documents — CDC, INDOS Number, and RPSL Letter — are issued by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping). The CDC and INDOS Number are generated through the seafarer's DG Shipping profile; the RPSL Letter is issued by the seafarer's employer, who must hold a valid RPSL number.
Seafarer documents required for MH-CET International Admissions under the Merchant Navy category — CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate), INDOS Number, and RPSL (Recruitment and Placement Service Licence) — are issued through the Directorate General of Shipping. The CDC is issued by the Government Shipping Master via the DG Shipping portal; INDOS is generated through the same portal's Seafarer Profile section.
Required Seafarer Documents
CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate)
Issued By: Government Shipping Master via the DG Shipping portal.
The CDC is the primary identity document for seafarers and records your sea service history.
INDOS Number
Issued By: Generated via the DG Shipping website (Seafarer Profile section).
INDOS (Indian National Database of Seafarers) is a unique identification number for all Indian seafarers.
RPSL Letter
Issued By: Your Employer.
The company must be registered with DG Shipping and have a valid RPSL (Recruitment and Placement Service License) number.
Need Detailed Guidance?
We have created a comprehensive guide with step-by-step instructions on how to obtain each of these documents.
View Complete Seafarer GuideFor the latest seafarer documentation rules and category eligibility checks, refer to the official fn.mahacet.org portal, and confirm whether your application falls under Merchant Navy or a related category on the category-check workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get my CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate)?
From the Director General of Shipping (DGS), Government of India. The DGS issues the CDC to Indian seafarers and their dependents.
What is the INDoS number?
The Indian National Database of Seafarers number is a unique identifier issued by the Director General of Shipping for every registered seafarer.
What is RPSL and where do I get it?
Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) is issued to manning agencies licensed by the Director General of Shipping. Your parent's employer should hold a valid RPSL.
Are these documents required for Merchant Navy admission only?
These are typically required for the Merchant Navy and Children of Indian Workers under Seafarer (CIWS) category. Run the category-check workflow at fn.mahacet.org to see what your category needs.
Can I submit a self-declaration if I cannot get the documents in time?
No. Original Documents from the Director General of Shipping or the licensed manning agency are mandatory. Self-declarations are not accepted.