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 (LI 1790)
These Regulations apply to seafarers serving onboard ships registered in Ghana and ships of other countries, except those serving on board, of warships, naval auxiliaries, or other ships owned and operated by a state and engaged only on governmental non-commercial service, fishing vessels, pleasure yachts not engaged in trade, and wooden ships of traditional build. Legislative Instrument (1790) Merchant Shipping Training Certificate and Watch Keeping
2. Ghana Shipping (standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers) Regulations, 2016
These Regulations incorporated the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch keeping for seafarers, 1978 as amended into the domestic laws of Ghana. It regulates the standards of training, certification, and watch keeping of seafarers.
3. Ghana Shipping (Maritime labor) Regulations, 2015 (L.I 2226)
These Regulations apply to a Ghanaian registered ship that is engaged in commercial activities except where the ship is engaged in fishing, a warship or naval ship, or a ship that is exempted by the Director-General of Ghana Maritime Authority.
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 sea bed within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction;
ii. Prescribe measures as the Minister considers necessary in the established safety zone for the protection of the offshore installation or device with respect to which the safety zone is established; and
iii. Regulate or prohibit the entry of a ship or any specified class of ships, vessels, or persons into the safety zone.
iv. An establishment of a safety zone may be made in anticipation of the arrival of installation on the station, to commence at the time of its arrival on the station. Ghana Shipping (Protection of Offshore Operations and Assets) Regulations 2012 LI 2010
5. Ghana Maritime Authority (fees and charges) Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2009)
The authority is by this law mandated to impose maritime safety charges in respect of the following:
i. An offshore installation that operates in Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction
ii. Vessels, pipelines, and cable 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 barge, bulk carriers, marine scientific vessels.
v. Or any commercial ship that is not included in any other category that calls at a port or terminal within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction.
i. An offshore installation that operates in Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction
ii. Vessels, pipelines, and cable 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 barge, bulk carriers, marine scientific vessels.
v. Or any commercial ship that is not included in any other category that calls at a port or terminal within Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction.