RPSL stands for Recruitment and Placement Services License is given to licensed recruiters and agents by the Directorate General of Shipping in India.
Recruitment & Placement Services Regulations issued by the Govt of India and implemented by the Indian Merchant Shipping Act, which provide a framework for the safety of Indian seafarers employed on Indian and foreign ships, together with essential guarantees of repatriation in the event of stranding or other requirements, even if the shipowner does not discharge the duty of repatriating the seafarers to the home port of the seaman.
A Recruitment & Placement Services License (RPSL) must be licensed by all RPS providers. They must renew their license when expired and undertake to send a monthly report to the Director-General of Shipping / Seamen’s Employment Offices, notifying the name of the seafarer, CDC No, the name of the ship, and the flag that it has entered, the date of signing ON, the date of signing OFF and its arrival in India. Such data is sent on a monthly basis and the DGS maintains a database for the above information sent by the RPS providers.
Each RPS is issued with an RPSL number. A list of all registered RPSLs is available on the DGS website and with us too.
You must check the RPSL List before joining a shipping company. If the company is not on the list of RPSL provided by the DG Shipping, Then your joining, and the sea time will not be considered.
This RPSL number is required to be mentioned on the letterhead of the company issuing a seafarer his Contract letter, Seatime certificate, and other official documents.