- Carry out statutory unscheduled ships survey and inspections in fulfillment of Flag State obligations in accordance with the provisions of Part VII of the Ghana Shipping Act 2003 (Act 645)
- Inspect ships in compliance with the provisions of the Abuja MOU on port State control for Ghana
- Submit regular reports on Flag State and Port State control measures for consideration by the Director Technical Services Division
- Investigate complaints on ship deficiencies and rectification
- Advise on all matters pertaining to ship survey and inspection
- Submit regular reports and recommendations for the certification of vessels
- Participate in the conduct of casualty investigations and submit reports
- Inspect the working and living conditions for crew on board ships
- Perform Port State Control activities in accordance with Abuja MOU
- Ensure safety on board ships by performing:
- Safety survey
- Inspections
- Operational Controls
- Verification of the ship owners’ safety management standards to ensure compliance by ship owners to International Safety Management Code, IMDG Codes and other codes of the IMO
- Perform duties related to tonnage measurement
- Collaborate with the SAR and Counter Pollution Unit to provide round-the-clock preparedness in case of accidents at sea
- Participate in salvage operations activities
- Conduct ship and cargo surveys as directed by the Inspectorate Manager
- Inspect the working and living conditions for crew onboard ships in terms of orderliness, cleanliness and tidiness.
- Inspect the vessels’ mechanical and electrical machinery are in acceptable operating condition
- Inspect that vessels’ mechanical and electrical machinery are in acceptable operating condition
- Inspect ships’ operating and maintenance logs and records
- Conduct ships’ hull inspections
- Check engine room for good order
- Verify ship owners’ safety management standards to ensure compliance to International Safety Management Code, IMDG Codes and other codes of the IMO
- Measure ships’ tonnage
- Carry out vessel inspection, examination and certification for safety
- Check that maintenance records are kept for all navigational equipment
- Inspect corrections in all charts, pilot books, flight lists and other nautical publications
- Check nautical publication for proper maintenance of all navigational lights, proper storage of signals rockets and other signaling equipment
- Inspect ships’ life boats, tenders for proper maintenance
- Check for proper functioning of ships portable firefighting equipment
- Inspect water tight doors
- Test fire screen doors
- Check for compliance with basic principles to be observed in keeping navigational watch as per STCW Code Chapter VIII.
- Inspect maintenance records of all navigational equipment
- Test radio communication equipment for acceptable operating condition
- Inspect operating and maintenance records of all radio communication equipment
- Advise on all technical matters pertaining to the design and construction of ships in accordance with international standards
- Examine ship designs and plans and supervise ship construction including installation of machinery and equipment to conform with international standards and national regulations
- Assign load lines
- Examine safety equipment and appliance standards for approval
- Survey and ascertain ship tonnage for approval and certification
- Examine applications for importation of all types of vessels and watercrafts
- Examine the structural fittings, machinery, equipment and other safety gears in conformity with national regulations and international standards
- Supervise the activities of classification societies and private surveyors
- Participate in the conduct of casualty investigations and submission of reports
- Implement the provisions of the Ghana Maritime Security Act 2004 (Act 675) As Amended
- Coordinate search and rescue operations and implement the National Search and Rescue Plan
- Conduct Surveillance, monitoring and prevention of marine pollution within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction or interest; and investigate maritime accidents and casualties
- Submit reports on maritime security matters
- Implement National Search and Rescue Plan
- Coordinate search and rescue operation
- Investigate accidents and submit reports
- Conduct surveillance, monitoring and prevention of marine pollution with Ghana’s territorial water
The Hydrography division of the Ghana Maritime Authority provides navigational services in accordance to the International Maritime Standards. It oversees navigation along the coast of Ghana on issues such as collation and dissemination of tidal, current and weather information in addition to the following duties;
- Undertake survey and chart Ghana’s waters, preparation of charts and dissemination of relevant information on drafts along the coast
- Install, inspect and maintain lighthouse, buoys and other aids to navigation
- Demarcate safe water channels and waterways
- Carry out and identify marking, notification and removal of wrecks and other hazards to navigation
- Review and authorize the location of underwater cables, pipelines, terminal points, rigs and other offshore installations
- Handle environmental issues in respect of coastal and offshore developments
- Undertakes preliminary investigation of maritime accidents and casualties in collaboration with other departments
- Assist in the collection and compilation of hydrographic data for navigational charts and publications and other applications to meet standards of international organizations
- Assist in the production and distribution of charts and publications
- Assist in directing operations to find, position and chart new dangers to navigation
- Provide navigation services along the coast of Ghana including collation and dissemination of tidal, current and weather information
The Inland Waterways is responsible for the enforcement of safety measures on the inland waterways. The specific duties of the Inland Waterways includes among others:
Boat surveys and inspections:
GMA conducts regular surveys and inspections on transport boats operating on the Volta Lake to ensure the boats are lake worthy and also carry the appropriate navigational safety devices such as lights, fire extinguishers and life jackets.
Assignment of Loadline Marks:
Boats are constantly surveyed and marked with maximum load lines to give an indication of passenger and cargo carrying capacities at six (6) boat centres namely Kpando Torkor, Dzemeni, Dambai, Kete Krachi, Yeji, Kajeji and Tapa Abotoasi.
Boat Safety educational programmes:
Regular training courses on competency are organized for boat operators and outboard motor mechanics at stations along the Volta Lake namely; Dambai, Dzemeni, Kpando Torkor, Kete Krachi, Tapa Abotoasi and Yeji. In all about eight hundred and seventy two (872) boat operators and mechanic have been trained and were certified on October 1, 2017.
Enforcement of safety Measures
Safety on the Volta Lake is currently enforced by GMA in collaboration with naval detachments known as the Naval Task Force (NTF). The task force ensures the adherence of safety measures and checks against practices such as overloading, drunkenness, sailing in bad weather on the lake. Currently there are six (6) Naval Detachments stationed along the Volta Lake at Yeji, Dzemeni, Tapa Abotoase, Kete-Krachi, Dambai and Kpando Torkor and one (1) at Half Assini (Jewi Wharf and Newtown Wharf).
Coordination of Search and Rescue operations
GMA coordinates search and rescue operations during lake accidents with relevant stakeholders. They include the Ghana Armed Forces, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Boat owners Association, Boat Operators Association, Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) and the District Assemblies.
Conducting Casualty investigations
GMA conducts investigations into the causes of boat accidents on the Volta Lake as and when it occurs and recommends appropriate measures to avoid future occurrences.
The creation of the Volta Lake in 1965 resulted in a situation where the inhabitants of the Volta basin had to depend almost exclusively on lake transportation for their social and economic activity. Over the years however accidents on the lake have become rampant.
The GMA with the mandate to ensure the safety of transportation on the lake has put in a number of measures to address the increasing incident of lake accidents.
These measures include:
Naval Task Force
The GMA in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport (then Ministry of Harbours and Railways) and the Ghana Navy have deployed Task Forces of Naval personnel in six boat landing and embarkation stations at Tapa Abotoase; Kete Krachi, Dambai, Yeji, Dzemini and Kpando-Torkor all along the Volta Lake catchment area. The Task Forces are empowered to check overloading, improper loading, drunkenness and behavior of boat operators and to prevent boat sailing in bad weather and after sunset. So far the effect of this measure is yielding good results as more discipline has been restored to boat operations in these areas.
Boat inspections and surveys
The GMA has intensified its programme of boat surveys and inspections by its marine surveyors. As a result old and weak structured boats have been pulled out of operations. Existing and new boats have also been surveyed, marked with new load lines and assigned maximum passenger and cargo carrying capacities to prevent overloading.
Boat Safety Educational programme
Safety educational programmes and exercises have been conducted at Yeji, Kpando-Torkor, Tapa Abotoasi, Kete Krachi, Dambai and Dzemeni. This programme is designed to train boat operators who will ultimately be licensed and certified by the GMA to operate on the Volta Lake. The educational programme included free distribution of leaflets on Inland Waterway Safety Code, demonstration in basic seamanship and the use of navigational safety devices such as life jackets and fire extinguishers.
Safety Code
A Lake Safety Code has been prepared by the GMA to provide information and educate boat operators and users on safety guidelines. It is worth noting that for the first time in the history of lake transportation in Ghana, weather forecasts are now being sent to District Assemblies through fax for use in boat sailings. This development has been made possible through an arrangement between the GMA and the Ghana Meteorological Agency.
Removal Of Tree stumps
To ensure safety of navigation, the removal of the tree stumps and charting up the Volta Lake continue to be a top priority for the GMA. In furtherance of this objective the Government of Ghana has entered into contractual agreement with a foreign firm to remove tree stumps in fairways on the Lake.
Once the tree stumps are removed the GMA will initiate action to have the Lake charted and the fairways buoyed. An operational boat has been imported into the country to conduct feasibility studies for work to begin on the removal of the trees stumps.
Lake safety regulations
Draft regulations on the Volta Lake have been prepared with technical assistance from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and are currently being finalized by the Attorney-General’s Department for presentation to Parliament for passage.