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Merchant NavyMMDCDCDG Shipping2026

Merchant Navy Photo Size — MMD, CDC & COC 2026

Indian seafarers applying for DG Shipping documents — MMD Certificate of Competency, Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), INDOS registration, or STCW certifications — need to upload photos that meet the Directorate General of Shipping portal specifications. This guide covers every document type with exact KB limits and dimensions.

📌 Safe target for all DG Shipping documents: Passport-size JPEG, white background, compressed to 80 KB — accepted by every portal including INDOS.
Compress Merchant Navy photo to exact KB — free
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Photo Requirements — Merchant Navy Documents 2026

DocumentPortalSizeDimensionsFormatNotes
MMD (Mercantile Marine Dept)dgshipping.gov.in20–200 KB3.5×4.5 cmJPEGFor original CoC and endorsements
CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate)dgshipping.gov.in20–100 KBPassport sizeJPEGFresh / renewal CDC applications
INDOS Registrationindos.dgshipping.gov.in10–50 KB3.5×4.5 cmJPEGIndian National Database of Seafarers
STCW (IMO training certs)IMO / state maritime)20–100 KBPassport sizeJPEGPhoto required at each certification
Seaman's Book (Passport)Passport Seva10–200 KB35×35 mmJPEGSquare format — different from regular passport
Company Manning FormVaries by company20–200 KBPassport sizeJPEG/PNGEach shipping company may have own specs

Step-by-Step: Prepare MMD Photo Using PhotoFit

  1. Go to photofitapp.in and upload your passport-size photo.
  2. If background is not white: use "Remove Background" → set output to white.
  3. Click "Compress to KB". Enter 80 KB target. Download.
  4. For Seaman's Passport (square photo): use "Crop" → select 1:1 ratio → then compress to 100 KB.
  5. Upload to DG Shipping portal. Your photo will pass all document types.

FAQ — Merchant Navy Photo Size 2026

What is the photo size for MMD / DG Shipping applications?
For Directorate General of Shipping (MMD) applications — including Certificate of Competency (CoC), endorsements, and CDC renewal — the DG Shipping portal accepts passport-size photos as JPEG between 20 KB and 200 KB. Recommended: compress to approximately 80–100 KB at 3.5×4.5 cm with a white background. The portal is more lenient than exam portals, but staying under 200 KB is mandatory.
Does the merchant navy photo need a white background?
Yes. DG Shipping and all Indian maritime authority portals require a plain white background for passport-size photographs on official seafarer documents. The photo must show the applicant in formal or semi-formal attire without hats or heavy accessories. Use PhotoFit's background removal tool to replace any non-white background with pure white (#ffffff) before uploading.
Can I use the same photo for MMD, CDC, and INDOS?
Yes — if you prepare one photo that meets the strictest requirement (INDOS: 50 KB maximum, white background, JPEG, passport size), it will be accepted by all three portals. Use PhotoFit to compress to 45 KB JPEG once and save that file for all Directorate of Shipping document applications.
What is the photo format for the Indian Seaman's Book / Passport?
The Indian Seaman's Book (also called the Seaman's Passport) requires a square photograph — 35 mm × 35 mm — which is different from the standard rectangular passport size. This is processed through Passport Seva portals, which accept JPEG between 10 KB and 200 KB. Use PhotoFit to both square-crop your photo and compress it to 100 KB for this application.
→ Agniveer Photo Size→ Resize to Passport Size→ Compress for Govt Forms