The Indian Ministry of Shipping has introduced facial biometric cards known as Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID) for seafarers.

India has become the first country in the world to provide facial biometric cards to seafarers. The project was introduced by the Indian Minister of Shipping Mansukh Lal Mandaviya in New Delhi.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The new card will provide a reliable seafarer identification, which will facilitate their movement.

The new technology will verify the seafarer identity from any location around the world, which will support them in securing new jobs.

Embedded with a biometric chip, the BSID incorporates two optical security features, which are micro prints/micro texts and a unique guilloche pattern.

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) in Mumbai has designed the software to capture and identify the facial biometrics using the public key infrastructure (PKI).

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Using a face-matching software, the live face is cross-matched with the passport photo.

The national database will maintain the records of each BSID and related information that will be accessible worldwide.

Mandaviya said that the shipping sector is undergoing significant developments in the areas of coastal shipping, inland waterways and other maritime activities. As a result, the sector is creating a number of employment opportunities.

To issue the card, the government has set up nine data collection centres in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, New Mangalore, Noida, Goa, Kochi, Vizag, and Kandla.

Each Indian seafarer who owns a valid Continuous Discharge Certificate can obtain a BSID card.

Currently, there are approximately 350,000 seafarers. All eligible seafarers will be issued a BSID card within the next two years.

Ship Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Ship Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
From automated chartering invoices to EU ETS and CII management, Ankeri Solutions’ maritime SaaS platform has earned three Ship Technology Excellence Awards for 2025. See how Ankeri is helping shipowners and charterers boost efficiency, cut emissions, and collaborate better across complex global fleets.

Discover the Impact