<p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_4f63b648a0a0eac3-71" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-134 citation-end-134" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">In a major facilitation measure for India’s seafaring community, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially abolished mandatory immigration procedures including Sign-On/Sign-Off and Shore Leave Pass (SLP) requirements for Indian national crew and supernumeraries serving on Indian-flag coastal vessels.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c717954970="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c717954970="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2510184733="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2510184733="" _nghost-ng-c615924515="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_4f63b648a0a0eac3-72" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-133 citation-end-133" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Issued via an Office Memorandum dated August 6, 2026, the decision covers all domestic coastal run vessels, including research vessels, dredgers, and barges operating within port limits.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c717954970="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c717954970="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-132 citation-end-132" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The move eliminates long-standing procedural bottlenecks that previously subjected domestic seafarers to international-style immigration checks.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c717954970="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c717954970="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2510184733="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2510184733="" _nghost-ng-c615924515="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h3 data-path-to-node="8" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Key Policy Changes &amp; Operational Impact</h3><ul data-path-to-node="9" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0" id="p-rc_4f63b648a0a0eac3-73" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Transfer of Shore Access Oversight:</b> <span class="citation-131 citation-end-131" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Regulation of shore access for Indian seafarers on coastal runs will now be handled directly by respective Port Authorities rather than through Bureau of Immigration clearances.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c717954970="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c717954970="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2510184733="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2510184733="" _nghost-ng-c615924515="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0" id="p-rc_4f63b648a0a0eac3-74" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Elimination of Recurring Pass Renewals:</b> <span class="citation-130 citation-end-130" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Crew members will no longer need to complete physical immigration sign-on/sign-off paperwork or undergo periodic 10-day renewals for Shore Leave Passes during domestic port calls.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c717954970="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c717954970="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2510184733="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2510184733="" _nghost-ng-c615924515="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0" id="p-rc_4f63b648a0a0eac3-75" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Port Data Recordkeeping:</b> <span class="citation-129 citation-end-129" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been requested to instruct all port authorities to maintain complete digital records and data of crew and supernumerary personnel serving on coastal vessels.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c717954970="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c717954970="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="9" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2510184733="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2510184733="" _nghost-ng-c615924515="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0" id="p-rc_4f63b648a0a0eac3-76" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Surprise Audits by Bureau of Immigration:</b> <span class="citation-128 citation-end-128" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">To maintain security oversight, the Bureau of Immigration will conduct periodic surprise inspections and request crew lists from coastal vessels operating within port boundaries.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c717954970="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c717954970="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="10" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2510184733="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul>