What is a Continuous Discharge Certificate or CDC?

Introduction: Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), its Need & Importance

A Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) is a document of identity for seafarers. Just like a passport accounts for all international travels a person undertakes, a CDC, also called a Seaman’s Book, accounts for all the seafarers’ contracts and records all his/her time at sea. 

A CDC is issued by the country’s government where a seafarer resides. It is an important document that certifies that its holder is a seafarer per the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). 

A seafarer cannot board a ship without a Continuous Discharge Certificate. It is compulsory for seafarers to take this vital document with them when boarding a vessel since it is like their identity card and contains a record of their experience at sea.

Every time a seafarer signs off from the vessel, the master signs the CDC, certifying that he worked on that vessel. A CDC remains valid for ten years. 

What does a CDC contain?

A CDC has all the information of its holder, including Date of Birth, details about his kin, eye colour, hair colour, nationality, etc. It also contains the names of all certificates a seafarer has obtained over the course of their career and the number, date and place where the documents were issued. 

It also mentions the holder’s seafaring experience and voyages, the vessel’s name, IMO Number, Port of Registry, etc. It also gives a description of the voyage, and lastly, it has the master’s signature with a seal. 

Note- Now, Mentioning the Place of Birth in CDC is compulsory.

Eligibility Criteria to apply for a CDC in India

• The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
• They should be medically fit to work onboard vessels and have a certificate in the form given under Annexures IV and V of the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Rules, 2016.
• Must have completed basic courses, including Basic STCW Safety Training Course and Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (STSDSD) or Ship Security Officer (SSO) and hold a certificate confirming the same.
• The minimum age requirement is 18 years.
• Applicant should have completed the 10th class from a recognised board. 

Steps to Apply for CDC in India 

(The steps would differ according to the country, so check the government website accordingly).

1. Firstly, one needs to update their Indos profile. Check that details like name, email, DOB, etc, are correct. 

The most important are the profile picture and the seafarer’s signature. One has to be careful about the accuracy of the details in one’s Indos profile. 

2. Secondly, on the DG Shipping website, go to the ‘E-Governmance tab’ and, from the drop-down menu, click on ‘e-governance’. 

3. Visit the DG Shipping Website and hover on the tab titled ‘ E-Governance.’ As the drop-down menu appears, click on ‘e-governance.’

4. After logging in with your User ID and password, click ‘CDC Management and CoC as Cook.’

5. Click on Submit Application -> CDC Application.

6. Fill in the details, though most information will be filled from your Indos Profile. 

7. Next, choose the MMD from where you want to issue the CDC.

8. You must fill in personal details, address, medical certificate details, fee details, courses done, etc. 

Note—The address should be permanent and the same as the one mentioned in your passport. Enter your parents’ details in the Next-of-Kin details. STCW course details will be filled out if you have completed your courses at a DG Shipping-approved institute. 

9. After completing the above-mentioned steps, you must pay INR 700 using a debit card, credit card or net banking. 

10. If your application is rejected, you must pay again and reapply. 

11. The next step is to submit all the required documents online in the proper format. Your application will be considered only after you submit all the documents online. 

12. The last step is to wait for your CDC to be approved and dispatched. It usually takes 3 to 7 working days for application approval and some more days for CDC dispatch.

13. After the SMO approves your CDC, you will receive an update on your CDC Management profile and a speed post number. 

14. CDC is sent through the India Post. You can track your CDC through the tracking ID on the India Post Website.

Documents needed to apply for CDC

The DG Shipping Website lists the documents required for application. It is important to upload them in the prescribed format. 

Mentioned below are the documents needed. 

1. A scanned copy of the online application in PDF format
2. Passport size (3.5 cm X 3.5 cm) photograph with clear white background with face covering 70% in JPG or JPEG format
3. Scanned signature of the applicant in JPG or JPEG format
4. Coloured scanned copy of original passport (pages where photo, address, and other personal details etc are mentioned) in pdf format
5. Coloured scanned copy of original 10th Standard Pass Certificate / Marksheet in pdf format
6. Coloured scanned copy of original Medical Fitness Certificate from DGS Approved Doctor ( Appendix IV and V ) in pdf format
7. Coloured scanned copy of original permanent address proof (Any one of them Passport, Aadhaar Card, Election Commission Photo ID card, and Driving License)

Using CDC Checker on DG Shipping Website

A CDC should be valid and up-to-date. The DG Shipping website allows seafarers to check if their CDC is valid and obtain details about it. This can be used when a seafarer does not have their CDC with them but needs some information. 

For this, one can use the CDC Checker and print the needed information. To access the CDC Checker, one should have their CDC Number and the DOB with them. 

CDC Checker displays a seafarer’s information, including name, DOB, Indos Number, CDC Number, Issue Date, Valid to and Issue Place.

What do you do if you lose your CDC?

Seafarers mostly travel, so it is common for CDCs to be lost or damaged. Do not worry if you lose or damage your CDC; it can be replaced.

You should have a folder of all the documents below on your computer or Google Drive. 

• A scanned copy of the signed online application
• Passport size (3.5 cm X 3.5 cm) photograph with clear white background face covering 70%
• Scanned signature of seafarer
• Self-attested scanned copy of CDC(first and last two pages)
• Proof of STCW Familiarisation Courses (all Certificates in a single PDF file)
• Self-attested scanned copy of proof of Indian citizenship document (Passport or any other document).

You can apply for a CDC Replacement on the DG Shipping Website using the abovementioned steps. The only difference is that you need to Click on ‘Submit Application’ -> ‘Replacement of CDC.’

After that, you must read the instructions carefully, make an online payment of 700 rupees, submit all the documents and wait for approval and CDC dispatch. 

Conclusion 

Applying for an Indian CDC is a simple process if you have all the documents handy in the prescribed format. Be careful with spelling and ensure you fill in the information correctly to avoid rejection of the application. Basic STCW courses are mandatory for one to be eligible to apply for CDC. As soon as one completes the courses, it is advised to apply for a CDC.

The duration of CDC approval and dispatch varies for all MMDs; hence, one should choose them wisely. Lastly, one can install the Mozilla Firefox browser on your system, as the DG Shipping website works best on it.

You might also like to read-

• Seafarer’s Wife: 8 Best Practices To Manage Family and Self When He Is At Sea
• 5 Reasons for Cancellation or Suspension of Seafarer’s Certificate of Competency (COC)
• Importance Of Personal Financial Planning For Seafarers
• 10 Important Organizations Seafarers Can Contact For Help
• 5 Reasons Seafarers Matter To The World
• 6 Issues Every Seafarer Going to the Sea Should Know

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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