The Ghana Maritime Regulations explain the technical, operational, and legal details necessary to implement the Ghana Maritime laws. They apply to individuals, businesses, and non-profit institutions, among others.
Ghana Maritime Regulations
1. Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification, Manning and Watchkeeping) Regulations, 2004 (L.I. 1790)
These Regulations apply to seafarers serving onboard ships registered in Ghana and ships of other countries, except those serving on board warships, naval auxiliaries, or other ships owned and operated by a state and engaged only in governmental non-commercial service; fishing vessels; pleasure yachts not engaged in trade; and wooden ships of traditional build.
2. Ghana Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2238)
These Regulations incorporate the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, 1978, as amended, into the domestic laws of Ghana. They regulate the standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers.
3. Ghana Shipping (Maritime Labour) Regulations, 2015 (L.I. 2226)
These Regulations apply to a Ghanaian-registered ship engaged in commercial activities, except where the ship is engaged in fishing, is a warship or naval ship, or is exempted by the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority. Non-compliance with the conditions stated therein attracts a penalty of two to four years' imprisonment.These regulations mandate the Authority to issue ship-owners with a valid declaration of Maritime labor compliance and maritime certificates.
The regulation imposes a fine of not less than five hundred penalty units and not more than one thousand penalty units, or a term of two to four years imprisonment for non-compliance with the conditions stated therein. Ghana Shipping (Maritime Labour) Regulations, 2015 (L.I. 2226)
4. Ghana Shipping (Protection of Offshore Operations and Assets) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2010)
These Regulations stipulate that the Minister may, by notice published in a Gazette:
i. Establish safety zones around an offshore installation to protect the installation, either installed or being installed on the seabed within Ghana's maritime jurisdiction.
ii. Prescribe measures the Minister considers necessary in the established safety zone for the protection of the offshore installation or device.
iii. Regulate or prohibit the entry of a ship, any specified class of ships, vessels, or persons into the safety zone.
iv. Establish a safety zone in anticipation of the arrival of an installation, to commence at the time of its arrival on the station.
5. Ghana Maritime Authority (Fees and Charges) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2009)
The Authority is mandated under this law to impose maritime safety charges in respect of the following:
i. An offshore installation that operates in Ghana's maritime jurisdiction.
ii. Vessels, pipelines, cables, and storage facilities within Ghana's maritime jurisdiction.
iii. Maritime tankers that visit an offshore installation in Ghana's maritime jurisdiction for loading petroleum.
iv. Oil tankers operating as bunker barges, bulk carriers, or marine scientific vessels.
v. Any other commercial ship that calls at a port or terminal within Ghana's maritime jurisdiction.