Hotel and service staff on passenger (cruise) ships
Official reference: Rule 55 · TEAP Part A V/4 · MS (ML) Rules 2016 r.17(5)
Hotel, catering and other service staff join as seafarers through the CDC route, and before taking up duties on a passenger ship complete the approved passenger ship familiarization course (crowd management and safety training); catering staff must also be trained or instructed for their positions.
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.
CDC route A: hotel-management / hospitality qualification + OCCP + five basic courses
DGS Order 12 of 2026 ↗The DG-approved Orientation Course for Catering Personnel (OCCP).
CDC route B (exceptional): via a DG-approved cruise recruitment company — CDC valid on cruise/passenger ships only
DGS Order 12 of 2026 ↗The CDC is issued for cruise and passenger vessels only.
Step by step
- 1
CDC under a hospitality category of DGS Order 12/2026
In exceptional cases, hospitality and passenger-service professionals engaged through a DG-approved cruise recruitment company.
DGS Order 12 of 2026 ↗ - 2
Passenger Ship Familiarization Course (staff serving passengers)
The approved Passenger Ship Familiarization course for those serving passengers directly.
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 3
Crowd management (staff on muster lists to assist passengers)
The approved crowd-management course for crew on muster lists (masters and officers excepted).
TEAP manual, Part A ↗ - 4
Training or instruction for the catering position
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 ↗
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Rules made under the repealed Merchant Shipping Act 1958 continue in force under section 324(2)(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 2025.
MS Act 2025 s.324(2)(a): rules made under the repealed MS Act 1958 continue in force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 55 requires passenger-ship training before shipboard duties are assigned.
Rule 17 of the M.S. (ML) Rules 2016 requires catering staff to be trained or instructed for their positions.
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.