India Joins ISF Verify: 312,000 Seafarers Move Toward Digital Certification

India, the world's second-largest seafarer supply country with roughly 312,000 seafarers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join the ISF Verify digital certification initiative. The agreement, signed during a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in London, brings together India's Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Lloyd's Register OneOcean (LROO).

The scale is significant. According to the ICS/BIMC Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India and the Philippines — which previously joined the initiative — together account for roughly 30% of the global seafarer workforce of 2.57 million people. That figure reflects the workforce covered by participating countries, not the number of seafarers already using the platform.

What does the agreement actually change?

For now, it establishes a framework rather than a finished connection. The three organisations will run a pilot programme to explore linking India's existing certification platform with ISF Verify through an application programming interface (API).

The initial phase involves technical assessments, identification of system requirements and the development of an integration roadmap. If integration succeeds, Indian seafarers will be able to synchronise certificates issued by their national maritime administration with ISF Verify.

The cloud-based platform supports the shift from paper certificates to secure digital verification. It connects four groups in one system:

• seafarers;
• maritime administrations;
• shipping companies;
• port state control authorities.

Two safeguards matter for adoption. Original certificates remain under the control and jurisdiction of the issuing authority, and seafarers retain control over who can access their information.

Why does this matter commercially?

The system targets three operational pain points: it aims to reduce administrative workload, support faster certificate endorsements and limit the risk of fraudulent documentation. It could also shorten verification times during port inspections and crew-related administrative procedures — a direct cost consideration for carriers managing crew changes and port calls.

India's participation builds on an earlier proof of concept involving the Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). Adding a second major supply country materially expands the initiative's potential international reach.

What did the signatories say?

Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of ICS, said India's involvement demonstrated growing confidence in a digital certification model that combines international connectivity with national control of data.

Sushil Khopde, Additional Director General of Maritime Administration in India, highlighted the potential to improve seafarer mobility and simplify certification procedures while maintaining national oversight.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer at Lloyd's Register and Managing Director of Lloyd's Register OneOcean, described the agreement as an important step towards wider adoption of trusted digital certification.

What comes next?

The partners have not announced a date for full operational integration in India. The MoU confirms technical development and testing lie ahead, not that Indian seafarer certificates are already connected to ISF Verify. Successful implementation could nonetheless provide a further step towards consistent digital certificate verification across international shipping.