RPSL License Consultant in India | Seafarers recruitment

Overview
Requirement
Procedure
Documents
FAQs

How do I get a RPSL license?

RPSL stands for Recruitment and Placement Services License. , RPSL License is issued by the Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. The RPSL License is granted for 5 years; thereafter, it can be renewed every 5 years. The RPSL license remains valid if the company passes an annual inspection. The inspection is conducted by auditors approved by the government, and their primary objective is to determine if the company is in compliance with MLC regulations.

In 2016, the government of India, through its notification, made it mandatory for all seafarer recruitment companies to obtain an RPSL license for employing seafarers on owned vessels or recruiting for principal vessels. No seafarers from India are allowed to get employed on merchant's vessels through unregistered manning agents. Seatime experience will not be considered for any examination conducted by DG Shipping if any seafarers join vessels through any non-registered manning agencies.

It is mandatory for crewing agencies in India to obtain an RPSL license in order to place seafarers on Indian-flag or foreign-flag vessels.

Foreign-flag vessels can only hire Indian seamen through registered RPSL companies.

Foreign ship owners can not directly employ Indian seafarers on their vessels. It would be necessary for ship owners to engage a duly licensed agency to recruit Indian crew. If a seafarer is hired directly by a ship owner, his or her immigration won't be cleared at the airport. Ship owners are mandated by Indian law to recruit Indian seafarers only through registered RPSL companies.

Thus, any Indian seafarers wishing to get employed on merchant ships must approach registered RPSL companies for job placement; currently, there are over 500 registered crewing agencies in India.

Indian ship owners with Indian flag vessels are not required to obtain an RPSL license; however, they must obtain separate approval from DG Shipping by registering themselves as shipping company to place seafarers on their own vessels; however, placing seafarers on other vessels, whether foreign or Indian, requires an RPSL license.

Technical managers, ship managers, or DOC holders of Indian flag vessels are required to obtain an RPSL license in order to place crew on the respective vessels.

A non-seafarer license is required for the placement of repair technicians, engineers, maritime security officers, and surveyors (non-seafarers) on foreign flag ships.

To recruit a crew for the shipyard, you will need to obtain an overseas recruitment license.

What are the requirements to apply for an RPSL license?

You must have a registered company based in India.
You must have at least one Indian director in the company.
The applicant must have a marine background.
Form VII
You must have adequate office space, and the office must be in a commercial building.

What is the minimum office area requirement for obtaining an RPSL license?

Minimum Office Area Requirement for RPSL License

No. of Seafarers on Board	Minimum Carpet Area (sq. ft.)
Up to 100	150
101 to 200	200
201 to 400	400
401 to 500	500
750 to 1000	900
Above 1000	1000

What are the qualification requirements for personnel in an RPS company?

At least one person in the RPS company must have a management-level STCW Certificate of Competency (COC) issued by India, the UK, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, or Malaysia. The COC does not need to be valid. For the Cruise sector, relevant experience is acceptable instead of a COC. If the RPS company provides services only for dredgers, an equivalent Dredge Grade COC is also accepted.

What is the procedure to obtain an RPSL license in India?

Documents: Organize all the required documents If the applicant meets all prerequisites for the RPSL license,
Application filling: An application is filed with all relevant documents and company details.
Inspection: Upon successful submission of the application, an inspection is conducted at the company's office by an authorized auditor. During this inspection, the auditor verifies the accuracy of the submitted information, scrutinizes the provided documents, and interviews company employees to evaluate the company's capability to manage the recruitment of seafarers. If the inspection confirms that the company complies with the RPS rules and MLC regulations, the auditor recommends issuing an RPSL license. However, if there are compliance issues, the auditor may recommend rejecting the application.
Approval: Upon receiving the audit report from the auditor, government officers review the entire application, and the company is informed if any deficiencies are observed in the application to rectify the same before issuing the RPSL license.

What are the documents required to apply for an RPSL license?

Company registration documents (incorporation certificate, MOA, AOA, PAN card)
Business office address proof
Manning agency agreement
Bank guarantee

What is the bank guarantee for the RPSL license? Following is the bank guarantee required as per the proposed number of seafarers to be placed on the ship per year.

Sr. No.	A number of seafarers	Amount (Rs)
1.	0 to 50	10 lakhs
2.	51-250	15 lakhs
3.	251-500	20 lakhs
4.	501-750	25 lakhs
5.	751-1000	30 lakhs
6.	1001 and above	40 lakhs

above bank guarantee can be increased anytime during the license's validity.

FAQS

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Have questions about RPSL License?

We have got you covered:

What does SRPS stand for?

SRPS stands for Seafarer Recruitment and Placement Service(s).
Can we increase the recruitment capacity limit later during the license validity?

Yes, you can submit the additional bank guarantee to increase the seafarer's recruitment limit at any time during the validity of the license. A Recruitment and Placement Service (RPS) company must submit a bank guarantee that is proportionate to the number of jobs and is valid for the duration of the license. If the number of jobs increases, the company is required to provide additional bank guarantees.
What is the definition of non-seafarers?

Any non-operational crew members who are employed on a vessel for less than 180 days are classified as non-seafarers. Examples include repair technicians, scientists, surveyors, and maritime security officers, among others.
What do you mean by recruitment and placement services?

Any person, company, institution, agency, or other organization in the public or private sector that recruits or places seafarers on behalf of employers is referred to as a recruitment and placement service.
What is the difference between RPSL and ITF in the shipping industry?

RPSL (Recruitment and Placement Services License) refers to crew manning or shipping companies registered with the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), Government of India. They are authorized to hire seafarers for merchant ships. On the other hand, ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) is an international organization, often referred to as the seafarers union, that represents the interests of seafarers worldwide. ITF's main objective is to protect the rights and promote the well-being of transport workers globally. Many shipping companies that operate in European or American ports have affiliations with ITF unions. In India, several RPSL companies are also registered with ITF, and these companies are commonly referred to as ITF companies. It's important to note that ITF-affiliated companies typically offer more competitive salaries and better working conditions compared to non-ITF RPSL companies.
What is the non-seafarers license?

If the company is in the business of recruiting repair technicians or maritime security guards on foreign flag vessels, then a non-seafarers license has to be obtained.
I already have an RPSL license, do I still need to obtain a non-seafarers license to place repair technicians on foreign flag vessels?

Yes, riding squids are not allowed to get placed by using the E-migrate system provided under the existing RPSL license; a separate non-seafarers license needs to be obtained for the same. It is also called E-migrate access approval."
What is the license requirement to recruit a hospitality crew or catering staff for cruise liners?

RPSL License is required to be obtained in order to place hospitality seafarers on cruise ships
How long does it take to obtain an RPSL license?

The entire RPSL license process typically takes 3 months, subject to many ifs and buts.
What is the RPSL License fee ?

An application fee of Rs. 40,000/- (non-refundable fee) along with an Rs. 20,000/- inspection fee has to be paid at the time of applying for an RPSL license.
What is the required minimum validity of an office rent agreement for obtaining an RPSL license?

The office must have a registered lease or rent agreement with a minimum validity of 2 years.
What is Form 7?

Form 7 is an undertaking provided by ship owners to repatriate seafarers stranded anywhere as well as to provide reasonable maintenance and transport of the seafarer's mortal remains in case of death.
What is RPSL full form?

RPSL stands for recruitment and placement services license issued to seafarers recruitment companies in india by the directorate general of shipping, government of india.
What is RPSL number?

RPSL number is an alphanumeric, unique license number issued by DG Shipping to all registered crewing agencies that are authorized to recruit seafarers. RPSL number is issued in three different formats to those who apply for a new RPSL license example: RPSL-MUM-0000, RPSL-CHN-0000, and RPSL-KOL-000, Seafarers are always advised to check the validity of the RPSL license before joining the vessel with the RPSL company.
What other certifications are required to start a crewing business in India?

Another mandatory requirement for manning agents is MLC certification. Most ship owners prefer to source crew from MLC certified crewing agencies only.
Is it compulsory that a company director have a marine background in order to apply for an RPSL license?

No, having a marine background as a director is not necessary; however, you must have a technical person on your team to be eligible to apply for an RPSL licence. To handle seafarer recruitment, you may appoint a chief engineer and captain to your recruitment team.
What is the validity of an RPSL license?

The validity of an RPSL license is for a period of five years.
What happens if a company operates without an RPSL license?

Operating without an RPSL license is a punishable offense under Indian law. The company may face penalties and legal consequences.
How can a company renew its RPSL license?

A company can renew its RPSL license by submitting an application to the Directorate General of Shipping along with the necessary documents and Rs. 40,000/- fees. The application must be submitted at least 6 months before the expiry of the current license.
Can an RPSL license be transferred to another company?

No, an RPSL license is not transferable. If a company undergoes a change in ownership or management, it must seek approval from DG shipping to retain the RPSL License.

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