SEAFARERS
Seafarers
This section contains information and guidance on Gibraltar seafarer documentation including flagstate endorsements and discharge books.
Gibraltar subscribes to the requirements of the STCW Convention and STCW Code, as amended.detailed requirements of which may be found in the relevant Gibraltar Merchant Shipping legislation and our guidance and information notices.
SEAFARER – CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY, ENDORSEMENT & RECOGNISED COUNTRIES
The Gibraltar Maritime Administration does not issue its own Certificates of Competency.
However, in order to serve on a Gibraltar registered vessels, officers must hold a Gibraltar endorsement issued in accordance with regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention. The endorsement is issued by Gibraltar in recognition of a National Certificate of Competency (or Appropriate Certificate).
Gibraltar Endorsements are required for all officers sailing on Gibraltar registered vessels unless they hold a Certificate of Competency (CoC) issued by the United Kingdom in accordance with the Convention.
Officers serving on Gibraltar registered vessels may be of any nationality or residency provided they hold a CoC issued by one of the countries recognised by the Gibraltar Maritime Administration. This list of countries will be updated periodically.
Officers holding United Kingdom issued Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) do not require a Gibraltar endorsement.
The Ship Registry does not normally accept applications from individuals and applications should be made through the owner/operator/manning/crewing agents or local representatives.
Gibraltar endorsements are issued electronically and are fully compliant with the applicable requirements as set out in the FAL Convention for the use of electronic certificates (FAL.5/Circ.39/Rev.2 as amended). Please refer to our SIN 089.
ENDORSEMENT APPLICATION PROCESS
The GMA will verify the validity of all applications submitted.
If found to be in order, an endorsement certificate will be issued as soon as possible.
It is the responsibility of the Company and master ensure that correct documentation is onboard.
Electronic version of the certificates are considered to be the original and this must always be available for inspection. Please refer to SIN 089 for further information
The list of documents required to be submitted in order to apply for an endorsement is provided within Section 4 of the Application form. Please note that not all documents are required for every application, as it is dependent upon the type of vessel the officer will be serving on and whether the application is a new application or for a renewal.
GIBRALTAR ENDORSEMENT FORMAT
As from the 04 April 2022, all Endorsements are now issued as an Electronic Certificate. Previously issued endorsements remain valid until their stated expiry date. A sample of each format can be found in the Appendices of Shipping Information Notice (SIN) 088.
The GMA does not issue separate GMDSS Endorsement for deck officers.
ONLINE VERIFICATION OF ENDORSEMENTS
Verification of the authenticity and validity of Gibraltar endorsements electronic may be undertaken via the following means:
- a) Via scanning of the embedded QR Code with an electronic device having internet capability, or;
- b) Via the use of the certificate’s Unique Tracking Number (UTN) upon accessing the dedicated verification portal; https://portal.gibraltarship.com/
Both of the above means will provide the user with confirmation of the certificate’s authenticity and validity upon submission of site requested data variables.
WATCH-RATINGS
DISCHARGE BOOKS
A seafarer serving on a Gibraltar registered vessel, may apply for a Gibraltar Discharge Book if s/he has not been issued with such a document by his/her own national Administration or when the issuing Administration does not allow recording of service performed on non-national ships.
The application form for discharge book can be accessed from our website.