Permitting System

Under the provisions of the Ghana Shipping (Amendment) Act (Act 826), a foreign ship that intends to engage in local trade within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction may do so if the foreign ship has a permit issued by the Ghana Maritime Authority. The Ghana Shipping (Protection of Offshore Operations and Assets) Regulations (LI 2010) stipulates that a person who intends to operate a vessel, site an installation, site a storage facility, or lay a pipeline, a cable, equipment, or any other structure or device on the seabed within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction shall obtain a permit from the Ghana Maritime Authority. The various categories of permits are as follows:

  1. Permit To Operate (for all foreign ships intending to operate in Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction)
  2. Safety Permits for all ships operating in Ghanaian watersi) Offshore support servicesii) Bunkering (offshore)iii) MARPOL servicesiv) MODUsv) FPSOvi) FSUs

    vii) Subsea infrastructure services (cable laying, pipe laying and repairs)

    viii) Research

    ix) Marine Construction

    x) Dredging

  3. Protection zones (ATBAs, Advisory Zones, cables and pipelines)
  4. Other Permits

PERMIT TO OPERATE

1. An applicant shall officially write to the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime
Authority (GMA) for a permit. The application should contain the following:
information.

i. Subject matter indicating the request and name of the ship.
ii. Name, postal address, telephone number and email address of applicant or agent
in Ghana.
iii. Nature of intended trade in Ghanaian waters and the location of the activities.
iv. Evidence indicating applicant’s commitment to social responsibility in relation
to the training of Ghanaian seafarers and cadets.
v. The applicant shall attach copies of all statutory/trading certificates of the
vessel.

2. The application shall be evaluated by the Technical Division of the Authority.

i. Upon satisfactory evaluation report, the applicant is issued with the appropriate
charge by a payment order.
ii. The Applicant pays into the designated account as per the Payment Order.
iii. The Applicant presents the bank pay-in slip to the GMA Accounts Department for
a Payment Receipt (to be issued)
iv. The Permit is then processed by the Technical Division and issued to the
applicant.

3. After payment is made and the GMA receipt issued as in 2 (iii) above, the Permit will
be ready within 5 working days

SAFETY PERMIT FOR SHIPS, FSUs, MODUs, & OTHER MARINE INSTALLATIONS

1. An applicant shall officially write to the director-general for a permit. The application shall contain the following information:

i. Subject matter indicating the request and name of the ship.

ii. Name, postal address, telephone number, and email address of applicant or agent in Ghana. iii. In the case of pipe or cable laying, the RPL of the pipeline or cable shall be provided.

iv. In the case of a bunker vessel or FSU for fuel oil, copies of the SOPEP, SMEP and bunker operations checklist shall be provided.

v. In the case of an FPSO, FSU, MODU and other marine installations (moored / fixed / floating), the coordinates for the location of the unit shall be provided.

vi. The applicant shall attach copies of all statutory / trading certificates of the vessel, ship or installation.

2. Evaluation and processing of application documents:

i. The submitted application and documents shall be evaluated by the Technical Division of the authority.

ii. Upon satisfactory evaluation report, the applicant is issued with the appropriate charge by a Payment Order.

iii. The Applicant pays into the designated account as per the Payment Order.

iv. The Applicant presents the bank pay-in slip to the GMA Accounts Department for a Payment Receipt.

v. The Permit is then processed by the Technical Division and issued to the applicant.

vi. After payment is made and the GMA receipt issued as in (iv) above, the Permit will be ready within five (5) working days.

PERMIT FOR BUNKERING OPERATIONS AT PORT

1. An Applicant shall officially write to the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) for a permit. The application shall contain the following information:

i. Subject matter indicating the request.

ii. Name, postal address, telephone number, and email address of applicant.

iii. A company brief pertaining to applicant’s expertise in the activity to be engaged in.

iv. Pre-transfer safety check-list.

v. Bunkering operational procedures or plan.

vi. Emergency Preparedness and Response to prevent marine pollution.

2. Evaluation and processing of application documents:

i. The submitted application and documents shall be evaluated by the Technical Division of the Authority.

ii. An inspection of the facility shall be conducted by GMA Technical staff and a report submitted for consideration.

iii. Upon satisfactory evaluation/inspection report, the applicant is issued with the appropriate charge by a Payment Order.

iv. The Applicant pays into the designated account as per the Payment Order.

v. The Applicant presents the bank pay-in slip to the GMA Accounts Department for a Payment Receipt.

vi. The Permit is then processed by the Technical Division and issued to the applicant.

3. After payment is made and the GMA receipt issued as in 2(v) above, the Permit will be ready within 5 working days

PERMIT FOR SERVICE STATIONS (LSA, FFA & RADIO)

1. An applicant shall officially write to the Director-General of Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) for a permit. The application shall contain the following information:

i. Subject matter indicating the request.

ii. Name, postal address, telephone number, and email address of applicant.

iii. A company brief pertaining to the applicant’s expertise in the activity to be engaged in.

iv. At least one properly trained member of the personnel of the company shall at all times have a valid servicing certificate for the equipment being serviced.

v. The company shall have a current servicing agreement with the manufacturers of the equipment being serviced.

vi. Occupational Health, Safety and Emergency procedures of the company.

i. Evaluation and processing of application documents:

ii. The submitted application and documents shall be evaluated by the Technical Division of the Authority.

iii. An inspection of the facility shall be conducted by GMA Technical staff and a report submitted for consideration.

iv. Upon a satisfactory evaluation/inspection report, the applicant is issued the appropriate charge by a Payment Order.

v. The Applicant pays into the designated account as per the Payment Order.

vi. The applicant presents the bank pay-in slip to the GMA Accounts Department for a payment receipt to be issued.

vii. The permit is then processed by the Technical Division and issued to the applicant.

2. After payment is made and the GMA receipt issued as in 2(v) above, the permit will be ready within 5 working days.