India's New RPS Rules 2026: A Practical Guide for Cruise Operators

India's new Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Rules, 2026 introduce updated requirements for Indian RPS providers recruiting and placing Indian seafarers. While many of the regulatory obligations sit with the RPS, effective compliance also depends on the information, funding and processes that connect the RPS with the shipowner or operator. This practical guide explains what Shipboard HR, Crew Operations, Compliance, Legal and Manning teams need to know in clear, straightforward language. It covers Seafarers' Welfare Fund contributions, pre-joining information, serious incident reporting, complaints and grievances, vessel and MLC documentation, repatriation and abandonment, SEA and CBA controls, and RPS agreements. It also includes practical questions to discuss with your RPS partners and a final action checklist to help identify potential gaps between the RPS's regulatory responsibilities and your own internal processes. Designed specifically for cruise operators, the guide focuses on what the changes mean in practice - and what is worth checking now.