- Home
- Blog
Guides for merchant navy aspirants and seafarers.
Practical guides on eligibility, courses, medical requirements, and how to verify institutes and agencies before spending money.
All articles
Maritime career guides
Written for first-generation seafarers and their families. No paid promotions — only verified information from official DGS sources.
How to Find a DGMA-Approved Medical Examiner for Your CDC Renewal
Not every doctor can issue a valid medical fitness certificate for your CDC or CoC — only examiners specifically approved by DGMA can. Here's how the approval system works, how to check an examiner is genuinely on the list, and what to watch for.
DGS Order 12 of 2026: The Five-Basic-Courses CDC Route Is Gone
As of 1 August 2026, completing just the five basic STCW safety courses no longer qualifies you for an Indian CDC. Here's exactly what changed, who's still eligible, and who's grandfathered under the old rules.
DGS Order No. 3 of 2026: What It Means for Cadets Choosing an Institute
DGS Order No. 3 of 2026 makes placement records worth 55% of an institute's overall grade — and requires every MTI to display that grade publicly. Here's what the order says, why the 12-month placement figure matters more than the total, and the six checks worth running before you enrol.
How to Spot a Fake RPSL Agency (and Verify a Real One)
Recruitment fraud is one of the most common ways seafarers lose money before they've even sailed. Here's how RPSL licensing works, the red flags of a fake agency, and how to check before you pay anything.
What Is Sea Time and Why It Matters for Your CoC
Sea time is the sailing experience every merchant navy officer needs before sitting a Certificate of Competency exam. Here's how it's recorded, what counts, and what doesn't.
How to Spot a Fake Merchant Navy Institute: 10 Red Flags Every Class 12 Student Should Know
A practical checklist for verifying whether a merchant navy training institute in India is genuinely DGMA-approved — before you or your family pay a single rupee.
GP Rating vs DNS: Which Should You Choose After Class 12?
GP Rating and DNS lead to different jobs, different ranks, and different lives at sea. Here's what separates them, explained from scratch, with no recommendation pushed either way.
How to Join the Merchant Navy in India: The Complete 2026 Guide
Every entry route into the Indian merchant navy in one place — eligibility, costs, courses, salaries, and how to spot a real DGS/DGMA-approved institute from a fake one.
Ready to check institutes and courses?
Use the directory tools to verify before spending money on any maritime course or agency.