Regulation is mandatory to Installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Systems on Indian-Flagged vessels and foreign-flagged vessels visiting Indian Ports. 

The Indian Directorate of Shipping published Merchant Shipping Notice No. 02 of 2025 detailing requirements for Installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Systems on Indian-Flagged vessels and foreign-flagged vessels visiting Indian Ports. This regulation is mandatory

Assessment

Vessel owners and International Safety Management (ISM) managers, in coordination with the ship’s Master, must conduct a thorough assessment to design a vessel-specific CCTV system. This assessment should focus on vulnerabilities, optimal camera placement, and coverage of critical areas such as ship-side railings, common spaces, and isolated locations. For tankers, the system must comply with safety standards for hazardous zones.

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This regulation is mandatory

This regulation is mandatory for Indian-Flagged merchant vessels and foreign-flagged vessels operating in Indian Coasts under a Specified Period License (SPL). An SPL is issued by the Indian Director-General of Shipping for the purpose of documenting that a foreign-flagged ship has been chartered by a citizen of India.

To be aware of foreign-flagged vessels

It is the intent of the Indian Directorate of Shipping that foreign-flagged vessels visiting Indian ports be aware of this notice to facilitate their consideration of voluntarily implementing the requirements detailed therein.

Vessel owners and/or ISM managers

Implementation of this notice requires vessel owners and/or ISM managers to coordinate with the vessel’s Master to create a comprehensive CCTV system that addresses vessel-specific vulnerabilities. Due consideration is to be given to the following elements when designing the CCTV system:

Safety critical areas

Assessment of safety critical areas.
Assessment of areas which may create security vulnerabilities.
Optimal placement of cameras to monitor these identified areas.
That the minimum coverage zones detailed in the notice are addressed.

Requirements of the notice

Current Indian-Flagged vessels or those with an active SPL are to comply with the requirements of the notice by 12 February 2028 or the next renewal survey, whichever occurs later. Newly registered vessels are to become compliant within 36 months of their registration date or the next renewal survey, whichever occurs later.

Recommended Camera Placement

The notice provides a comprehensive table recommending the placement of CCTV cameras in key areas, including:

Port and Starboard Main Decks

Forecastle, Mooring, and Stern Areas

Navigation Bridge (optional technology for incident analysis)

Citadel

Accommodation Exteriors and Lifeboat Decks

The minimum number of cameras varies based on vessel size and type, with a requirement ranging from 4 cameras for vessels below 3,000 GT to 12 cameras for those exceeding 10,000 GT.

 About the Directorate General of Shipping

The Directorate General of Shipping is an attached office of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India and deals with all executive matters, relating to merchant shipping. It deals with all matters concerning the Maritime Administration, Maritime Education and Training, development of Shipping Industry and other related subjects.

Sources : Indian Media