The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) is the apex maritime authority of the Government of India, functioning as an institution and an attached office under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It was established in September 1949 with its headquarters in Bombay (now Mumbai). The DGS was created to solve the problem of a neglected shipping industry after independence, following the announcement of the National Policy on Shipping in 1947, which necessitated a centralized administrative organization to accelerate development efforts.
The Director General of Shipping is vested with statutory powers under Section 7 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, and is responsible for implementing its provisions. Its mechanism involves regulating the registration, survey, and certification of vessels, ensuring the safety of life and ships at sea, and preventing marine pollution. It also regulates the employment and welfare of seafarers and promotes maritime education and training. The DGS connects to international concepts by ensuring India's compliance with global conventions like SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and MARPOL (Marine Pollution) in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
A significant recent change is the planned evolution of the DGS into the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) under the proposed Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (or Bill). This reform, which seeks to repeal and re-enact the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, is intended to reflect the office's expanded mandate to oversee all maritime affairs, excluding the commercial aspects of ports.