Ship's cook
Official reference: DGS TC 8/2010 (CCMC) · MS (CDC) Rules 2017 r.4 · DGS Order 2/2003 (CoC as Cook) · MS (ML) Rules 2016 r.17
Catering entrants take the approved Certificate Course in Maritime Catering (CCMC) at a DGS-approved institute, obtain a CDC and sail in the catering department. A cook must be trained, qualified and found competent as the Directorate specifies and must be an adult; the Certificate of Competency as Cook requires approved-institute training plus documented sea service and a minimum age.
Where this route can take you
Who can apply
Each requirement is summarised from the official publication linked beside it — follow the link for the exact wording.
CCMC entry: 12th standard (any stream) with English
DGS Training Circular 8 of 2010 ↗Class 12 in any stream with at least 40% overall, and at least 40% in English in Class 10 or 12, for admission to the Certificate Course in Maritime Catering.
Board must be recognised by the State Education Department
DGS Training Circular 8 of 2010 ↗Class 10 or 12 from a board recognised by a State Education Department.
Minimum age to work as a cook
M.S. (ML) Rules 2016, Rule 17 ↗No one under 18 may be employed or work as a ship's cook.
CDC via approved pre-sea training (DGS Order 12/2026 para 14.2.1)
DGS Order 12 of 2026 ↗DG-approved pre-sea training plus the five basic STCW courses.
since 01.08.2026 a CDC needs the MS (CDC) Rules 2017 r.4 conditions AND one Order 12 category
CDC category for holders of a cook CoC
DGS Order 12 of 2026 ↗A Cook Certificate of Competency issued by the Government of India.
Pre-sea medical examination by a DGS-approved medical examiner
Medical Examination Rules 2000, Rule 6 ↗A medical examination by a DGS-approved medical examiner, done after selection for pre-sea training.
MS (Medical Examination) Rules 2000 are the operative rules. TEAP I/9 names 'Medical Examination Rules 2013', which DGMA does not publish; the MS (Medical) Rules 2026 (r.22 same arrangement) are PROPOSED — gazette number G.S.R. XX — and replace the 2000 Rules only on publication
Step by step
- 1
Certificate Course in Maritime Catering (CCMC)
The revised guidelines for the Certificate Course in Maritime Catering.
the revised CCMC guidelines themselves (syllabus, duration) are not in the downloadable circular
DGS Training Circular 7 of 2010 ↗ - 2
CDC (CCMC counts as DG-approved pre-sea training) with the five basic courses
DG-approved pre-sea training plus the five basic STCW courses.
DGS Order 12 of 2026 ↗ - 3
Sea service in the catering department
Rule 17 of the M.S. (ML) Rules 2016 requires catering staff to be trained or instructed for their positions.
M.S. (ML) Rules 2016, Rule 17 ↗ - 4
Certificate of Competency as Cook: age, documented sea service, approved course
At least 25 years old, with documentary proof of at least 36 months of service on board.
DGS Order 2 of 2003 ↗ - 5
Approved-institute cook training compulsory since 1 August 2003
Since 1 August 2003, cooks must train at an approved institute.
DGS Order 2 of 2003 ↗
The rules behind this route
Rules made under the repealed Merchant Shipping Act 1958 continue in force under section 324(2)(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 2025.
MS Act 2025 s.324(2)(a): rules made under the repealed MS Act 1958 continue in force
Rule 17 requires cooks to be trained, qualified and found competent to the DGS standard.
The Cook Certificate of Competency is issued under the Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Competency as Cook) Rules 1991.
the 1991 Cook Rules (G.S.R. 709) are not published online; their content is taken from DGS Order 2/2003
This page is built from the official DGS Training and Examination Advisory Programme (the TEAP manual) and the current orders of DGMA (the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, called DG Shipping until June 2026). Requirements are summarised in plain language — every section links to the official publication for the exact wording. Requirements made under the old Merchant Shipping Act 1958 still apply under the new Merchant Shipping Act 2025.