About Us
The International Cooperation Branch (Int'l Coop) serves as the outward-facing arm of the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), India's apex maritime authority. Its primary role is to advance India's maritime interests globally by coordinating various international initiatives and acting as a central point for foreign engagements related to maritime affairs. We coordinate bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives, align domestic policy with IMO instruments, and serve as the single window for foreign engagements, missions aligning with maritime interests.
It functions as the nodal point for India's global maritime diplomacy. It coordinates India's participation in International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) and related UN bodies, oversees stakeholder consultations, and ensures alignment of global maritime law with national interest.
Craft India's positions for IMO, ILO, UNCITRAL and IALA meetings.
Date : 05-06-2025
The Branch supports working groups on legal reforms, blue economy strategy, and institutional capacity development. It facilitates participation in training, technical assistance, and rulemaking exercises and ensures institutional continuity in strategic engagements. The ICB also supports research-backed policy input in collaboration with premier law and trade institutions like IIFT and MNLU.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), as the apex maritime authority in India, actively engages in international cooperation to ensure the safety of life and ships at sea, prevent marine pollution, and promote maritime education and training, collaborating with organizations like the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Key Areas of International Cooperation:
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Collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO):
DG Shipping works with the IMO to ensure compliance with international conventions and regulations related to maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
The DG Shipping ensures that India's maritime stakeholders adhere to internationally agreed-upon standards.
India has ratified 18 of the 36 instruments developed by the IMO, with seven more under consideration for ratification.
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Engagement in Multilateral Organizations and Agreements:
India actively participates in other multilateral organizations and agreements, including ASEAN, BIMSTEC, IORA, and INSTC.
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Promoting Maritime Education and Training:
The DG Shipping regulates the training ecosystem of maritime training institutions and develops the Maritime Training framework ensuring that seafarers receive adequate training and meet international standards.
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Marine Environment Protection:
The DG Shipping safeguards the marine environment and prevents marine pollution.
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Cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO):
India is a party to two important ILO conventions: The Maritime Labour Convention and the Seafarer's Identity Document Convention, which focus on the welfare of seafarers.
The DG Shipping implements the requirements of these conventions through the Merchant Shipping Act 1958.
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Focus on Seafarer Welfare:
The DG Shipping prioritizes the welfare and safety of seafarers, addressing their mental and physical health challenges.
In January 2025, the DG Shipping partnered with the International Transport Worker's Federation (ITF) to launch a comprehensive initiative focusing on seafarer wellbeing.
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Enforcing International Safety Conventions:
The DG Shipping enforces international safety conventions like SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and certified merchant navy officers to maintain operational standards.
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Regulation of Shipping Activities:
The DG Shipping regulates the registration, survey, and operational aspects of all seafaring vessels.
