Masters and officers holding a CoC from another STCW Party who are being considered for service on a Ghana-flagged vessel.
Maritime SupportAgencyForeign-certificate guide
Endorsement of Recognition: when the flag and issuer differ.
Understand the official recognition needed when a foreign Certificate of Competency is used on a Ghana-flagged ship.
Ghana-focused working guide reviewed 22 August 2026. GMA, the issuing administration, approved institution, or medical examiner makes the official decision.
An official GMA Endorsement of Recognition under STCW Regulation I/10 when the issuing administration and certificate satisfy the applicable conditions.
We can research, organise, pre-check, and coordinate. We cannot issue the certificate, declare medical fitness, guarantee eligibility, or alter an authority's decision.
Understand the route
The pathway and its requirements.
Read the branch that matches the department, capacity, and vessel limitation. Where both branches appear, they are alternatives—not a combined qualification.
01
STCW I/10
Recognition application
GMA verifies the foreign certificate and the issuing administration before recognising it for service on a Ghana-flagged ship.
- 1
Hold an original national Certificate of Competency from a recognised administration.
- 2
Provide the original and any documentary evidence requested for authenticity checks.
- 3
Meet the capacity, competence, medical, and equivalent-service conditions applied by GMA.
- 4
Complete the official appointment, application, and fee process.
02
Flag and capacity match
Pre-check before mobilisation
Recognition is specific to the flag-state relationship and does not turn one certificate into a universal licence.
- 1
Confirm the vessel flag and proposed capacity.
- 2
Check whether the issuing country appears in GMA's current recognition arrangements.
- 3
Verify that both CoC and endorsement will remain valid for the planned contract.
- 4
Allow time for direct administration-to-administration verification.
Evidence file
What to gather for a proper pre-check.
The final list remains case-specific, but these records normally allow the route to be assessed without relying on memory or verbal assurances.
- 01Original national CoC
- 02Passport and seafarer identity
- 03Valid medical fitness
- 04Employer/vessel/capacity information
- 05Existing endorsements
- 06Issuing-administration verification details
From file to decision
A responsible working sequence.
- 01
Confirm recognition route
Check the issuing administration against GMA's current recognition information.
- 02
Verify certificate status
Use the issuer's official register and prepare clean original evidence.
- 03
Submit to GMA
Use the official appointment and endorsement process; MSA can coordinate but cannot recognise the certificate.
- 04
Check the issued endorsement
Confirm capacity, limitations, dates, certificate reference, and vessel/flag relevance before joining.
Check before you commit
Important watchpoints.
- Recognition can change when an administration arrangement changes.
- An employer's acceptance is not the same as flag-state endorsement.
- Never surrender an original certificate to an unverified intermediary.
Official source desk
Confirm the current rule.
These links are provided so clients can distinguish MSA's explanation from the source that governs or administers the requirement.
Maritime requirements can change and may depend on certificate history, nationality, issuing administration, vessel flag, tonnage, propulsion power, voyage area, training route, medical findings, and accepted sea service. This page is educational preparation, not an eligibility letter or legal guarantee. Confirm the current requirements with the responsible authority before enrolling, paying, travelling, or relying on a deadline.
Turn the guide into your checklist
Let's review your actual evidence.
Tell us your department, current certificate, service history, and intended capacity. We will identify the questions that need official confirmation.
Request a pathway review