India’s Maritime CCTV Mandate: Are Cameras Becoming Mainstream on Ships?

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has enforced a pivotal regulation with Merchant Shipping Notice No. 02 of 2025, making enhanced CCTV installation mandatory for all Indian-flagged vessels of 500 GT and above, as well as foreign-flagged vessels trading in Indian coastal waters under a Special Purpose License (SPL). While currently recommended for the wider international fleet, full compliance is expected soon for all foreign vessels calling at Indian ports. With 95% of India’s trade volume relying on maritime transport, this regulation represents a critical step toward bolstering security, operational oversight, and efficiency. Given global trends in regulatory enforcement, smart surveillance is rapidly becoming a standard practice within the maritime industry.

Key Aspects of the New Regulatory Mandate:

• Implementation Timeline – Existing vessels are expected to comply within 36 months from the date of the Notice (12.02.2025) or by their next Renewal Survey (whichever occurs later), while newly built vessels to be flagged under Indian Flag, must have CCTV systems installed prior to their delivery.
• Comprehensive Coverage – Surveillance is required for key operational areas, including main decks, mooring areas, navigation bridge, external accommodation spaces and citadel rooms.
• AI-Powered Monitoring – The adoption of real-time anomaly detection and automated alerts, enhancing safety and security, is highly recommended.
• Expanding Compliance – While currently focused on Indian-flagged and foreign flagged vessels operating under SPL, future enforcement across the entire international fleet operating in Indian waters can be anticipated.

Market Outlook: The Future of Remote Fleet Monitoring Through Optical Technology and AI Integration:

CCTV systems are rapidly becoming a critical component in shipping worldwide, with regulations in countries like the United States, Australia, and India pushing for their widespread adoption. Advancements in technology have significantly improved the reliability of these systems, allowing for real-time streaming and early event detection, which enhances both safety and operational efficiency.

Modern CCTV systems do more than monitor security—they enable proactive management by identifying risks before they escalate, reducing potential harm to both personnel and assets. Additionally, they support compliance with safety regulations, offering businesses a means to ensure adherence to industry standards. The commercial benefits are also substantial, with reduced downtime, minimized fraud, and optimized operational performance contributing to improved profitability.

While AI-powered machine vision technology may still need time to fully unfold its potential for situational awareness, the rapid pace of development suggests it will be highly promising in the next year or two. As industries recognize these benefits, the integration of advanced CCTV systems is set to become the standard, offering not only enhanced safety and compliance but also a strategic advantage in terms of efficiency and cost reduction.

M2INTELLIGENCE:

M2INTELLIGENCE specializes in providing state of the art solutions for live fleet surveillance, remote inspections, troubleshooting, and rapid emergency response, gradually utilizing advanced AI technologies to generate meaningful insights for situational awareness and data-driven decision-making. With a current portfolio of hundreds of ships in active trade, the company combines extensive experience in the shipping industry with a robust tech team to develop modern, reliable solutions. M2INTELLIGENCE’s agility in adapting to the evolving needs of the industry has led to significant market recognition and adoption, empowering the team to turn their vision into reality and setting the groundwork to become a key player in AI-enhanced visual technologies as they shape the future of shipping.