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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GHANA MARITIME AUTHORITY 1.0 Introduction The Ghana Maritime Authority is a regulatory body established by Act 630 of 2002 and
charged with the responsibility of regulating, monitoring and coordinating the
activities of the maritime industry.
2.0 Mission The Mission of the Authority is to ensure the provision of safe, secure and efficient
shipping services and the protection of the marine environment from ship source
pollution. It is also to oversee the training, engagement and welfare of Ghanaian
Seafarers.
3.0 Objectives The objective of the Authority is to create a harmonious and enabling environment
within the maritime industry which will ensure the provision of safe, secure and
efficient shipping operations in the country.
4.0 Functions The functions of the Authority as spelt out in the Ghana Maritime Authority Act are as
follows:
a. Implement the provisions of the Ghana Shipping Act, 2003, (Act 645);
b. Ensure Safety of navigation;
c. Fulfill flag state and port state responsibilities in an effective and efficient
manner, having due regard to international maritime convention, instruments
and codes;
d. Deal with matters pertaining to maritime search and rescue and coordinate the
activities of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ports and Harbours Authority and
other body during search and rescue operations;
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e. Regulate activities on shipping in the inland waterways including the safety of
navigation in inland waterways;
f. Cause to be investigated maritime casualties and take appropriate action;
g. Oversee matters pertaining to the training, recruitment and welfare of
Ghanaian seafarers;
h. Plan, monitor and evaluate training programmes of seafarers to ensure
conformity with standards laid down by international maritime conventions;
i. Ensure in collaboration with such other public agencies and institutions as the
Board may determine the prevention of marine source pollution protection of
the marine environment and response to marine environment incidents;
j. Pursue the ratification or accession and implementation of international
maritime conventions, in conjunction with the appropriate Ministry;
k. Assess the manpower needs of the maritime sector for national planning
purposes;
l. Liaise effectively with government agencies and institutions that deal with
maritime transport and related transport matters for the purpose of achieving
harmony in the maritime industry;
m. Initiate research into national maritime transport development for effective
planning and coordination;
n. Ensure an efficient, cost effective and orderly provision of services in the
shipping industry in line with government policies;
o. Initiate action for the promotion, establishment and development of private
shipping lines;
p. Advise on policies for the development and maintenance of maritime
infrastructure such as ports and harbours in the country;
q. Advise the government on maritime matters generally;
r. Regulate the activities of shipping agents, freight forwarders and similar
shipping service providers
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Apart from these functions the Authority is also responsible for maritime security
matters and superintends over the Ghana Maritime Security, 2004 (Act 675). In
addition the Authority enforces the provisions of the Ghana Shipping (Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations L.I.1790 which was enacted by virtue of
powers granted under the Ghana Shipping Act to deal with the training and
certification of seafarers.
5.0 Activities for 2011 5.1 Registration of Ships The Authority is mandated to maintain the Ship Register by registering ships and
implementing Ghana’s flag state obligations to ensure that ships flying the Ghana flag
are seaworthy and operate in accordance with regulations on safety, security and
marine environment protection. Flag state obligations are conducted through an
effective system of ship surveys and issuance of various ships certificates. During the
year under review the Authority registered twenty three (23) ships thus bringing the
total number of ships on the Ghana Ship Register to 428. The details are provided in
the tables below:
Total Number of Ships on the Ghanaian Register
TYPE OF SHIPS
NUMBER
Fishing vessels 343
Cargo vessels 30
Small crafts 50
Supply Vessels 4
Tanker 1
TOTAL 428
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Number of Ships Registered in 2011
TYPE OF VESSEL NO. REGISTERED
FISHING VESSEL 18
CARGO -
SUPPLY VESSEL 2
SMALL CRAFTS 3
TOTAL 23
The 23 ships registered in 2011 showed an increase of 43% over the 13 ships registered
in 2010. The increase was due to the awareness created by the Authority to promote
the Ghanaian Ship Register by encouraging prospective indigenous investors through
legislation to acquire ships including supply and support vessels as part of Government
policy on local participation in shipping activities.
The Authority has also computerized the system of ship registration and created a
ships data base to enhance efficiency.
6.0 Flag State Implementation The Authority implements Ghana’s flag state responsibilities through effective ship
surveys and issuance of various ships certificates to attest seaworthiness and
compliance with relevant international maritime instruments that have been
incorporated into Ghanaian laws. The flag state surveys are conducted by the
Authority’s marine surveyors as well as private marine surveyors from the Ghana
Institute of Marine Surveyors (GIMS). To ensure effective supervision of private
surveyors the Authority has developed a matrix based on international best practice to
monitor their activities to ensure that the surveys of ships delegated to them are properly
conducted and certified.
During the year under review the Authority issued 351 ship certificates after surveys
conducted by its surveyors and that of GIMS. The type of surveys and certificates
issued to ships in 2011 are provided in the table below:
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Ship Survey Certificates issued in 2011
SURVEY &
CERTIFICATE TYPE
Ghana Maritime
Authority Surveyors
Ghana Association
of Marine Surveyors
Total No. of
Certificates issued
SAFETY EQUIPMENT 53 59 112
SAFETY RADIO 61 81 142
IOPP 20 12 32
LOADLINE 2 11 13
SAFETY
CONSTRUCTION
1 8 9
SAFE MANNING 28 7 35
INT. TONNAGE 2 6 8
TOTAL 167 184 351
GMA surveyors conducting Flag State Inspection on Ship
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7.0 Importation of Vessels The Authority provides technical advice on application for the importation of various
types of vessels into Ghana. In 2011 a total of 28 applications were considered out of
which approval was granted for 23 vessels to be imported whilst 5 were refused
application. The main reasons for the refusal of approval for importation were due to
insufficient safety information with which to assess the seaworthiness of the vessels.
8.0 Port State Control (PSC) Inspections
The Authority is responsible for Port State Control inspections. Hence it has
established port state control offices at Tema and Takoradi and recruited qualified
surveyors and inspection officers who carry out surveys and inspections on foreign
vessels that call at our ports. Port State Control Inspections commenced fully in
March, 2008.
As part of further efforts to curb the issue of sub standard vessels calling at our Ports,
Ghana became a party to the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Port
State Control for West and Central Africa which aims at eliminating the operations of
sub-standard vessels within the sub-region.
8.1 PSC Inspections Tema and Takoradi Ports The Authority is mandated under the Abuja MOU to target 15% of foreign vessels that
call at Ghanaian ports for PSC Inspections. In 2011, the Authority’s marine surveyors
conducted port state control inspections on 397 ships at the ports of Tema and
Takoradi. Out of this number, 170 ships were found with minor deficiencies which
were rectified before the ships were given clearance to sail and two ships were found
unseaworthy and detained. Details of the type of vessels inspected are summarised in
the table below:
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Summary of Vessel Types Inspected In 2011
TYPE OF VESSEL
NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS TONNAGE
TARKORADI TEMA TOTAL TARKORADI TEMA TOTAL
ANCHOR HANDLING AND TUG SERVICES 11 0 11 26029 0 26029
BULK 64 45 109 1652412 918039 2570451
CABLE SHIP 1 0 1 10363 0 10363
CAR CARRIER 0 7 7 0 364860 364860
CONTAINER 9 21 30 227243 424923 652166
CREW/WORK BOAT 9 0 9 3649 0 3649
DREDGER 1 0 1 28634 0 28634
GENERAL CARGO 31 30 61 196604 326997 523601
HEAVY LIFT 1 0 1 5818 0 5818
MULTI PURPOSE 19 5 24 161122 61952 223074
PASSENGER 1 2 3 341 39847 40188
REEFER 7 41 48 26981 213916 240897
RESEARCH 1 0 1 12108 0 12108
RO-RO 4 5 9 102860 243403 346263
SUPPLY 35 0 35 66938 0 66938
SUPPORT 6 0 6 9398 0 9398
SURVEY 2 0 2 2441 0 2441
TANKER 24 12 36 1273081 809543 2082624
TUG 2 0 2 610 0 610
UTILITY 1 0 1 60 0 60
TOTAL 229 168 397 3806692 3403480 7210172
The table shows that bulk carriers constituted the highest number of ship type that
were subjected to PSC inspections at the two ports recording a total of 45 and 64 at
Tema and Takoradi respectively. The tonnages for ships inspected at the two ports
amounted to3,403,480 and 3,806,692 Gross Tons for Tema and Takoradi respectively
thus making the total tonnage recorded for the two ports 7,210,172 Gross Tons.
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GMA official conducting port state control inspection at Tema port
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8.1.1 Class of Ships Inspected
Vessels of almost all the Recognized Classification Societies called at the ports in Ghana during the year under review.
Nipon Kani Kyokai (NKK) recorded the highest with forty five (45) vessels inspected at the port of Tema. This was
followed by the American Bureau of Ships which had forty (42) vessels inspected at the port of Takoradi. The details of
ships inspected by class during the period are given below:
CLASS NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS
NUMBER OF DEFICIENCIES NUMBER OF SHIPS DEFICIENT
TEMA TAKORADI TOTAL TEMA TAKORADI TOTAL
AMERICAN BUREAU
OF SHIPS 4 42 46 2 12 14 9
BUREAU VERITAS 16 33 49 4 13 17 9
CHINA
CLASSIFICATION
SOCIETY 5 4 9 8 0 8 2
DEE NORKSE
VERITAS 17 37 54 0 4 4 4
GERMANISCHER
LLOYDS 23 35 58 1 3 4 4
GLOBAL MARITIME 0 1 1 0 2 2 1
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HILLING REGISTER
OF SHIPPING 1 0 1 6 0 6 1
INT. SURVEY
BUREAU 3 2 5 0 7 7 1
INTERNATIONAL
REGISTRY OF SHIPS 0 1 1 0 2 2 1
ISTHMUS BUREAU
OF SHIPPING 1 1 2 8 6 14 2
ITALIAN REGISTRY 8 2 10 2 0 2 1
KOREAN REGISTRY 4 0 4 5 0 5 1
KOREAN REGISTRY
OF SHIPS 2 3 5 0 0 0 0
LLOYDS REGISTER 19 26 45 0 7 7 6
MARITIMA ESTONIA 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
MARITIME
CLASSIFICATION 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NIPON KANI KYOKAI 45 26 71 21 5 26 9
ORGANISATION OF
MARITIME
CLASSIFICATION 2 0 2 12 0 12 1
PANAMA REGISTRY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
POLAND REGISTRY
OF SHIPS 1 1 2 4 0 4 1
RUSSIAN MARITIME
REGISTRY
OF SHIPS 11 5 16 17 1 18 4
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TURKISH LLOYDS 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
TURKISH MARITIME
ASSOCIATION 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
UKRAINAIN
REGISTRY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
VIETNAM REGISTRY 2 0 2 5 0 5 1
NO CLASS 4 8 12 4 9 9 4
TOTAL 168 229 397 99 71 170 62
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8.1.2 Summary of PSC Inspections for 2011 Port Total No. Of
Ships Called
No. Of Ships
Inspected
No. Of Ships with
Deficiencies
No. Of Ships
Detained
% of PSC
Inspections
Tema 1,353 168 99 1 12.4
Takoradi 557 229 71 1 41.1
Total 1,910 397 170 2 20.06
The table indicates that 20% of vessels that called at the ports of Tema and Takoradi
were subjected to PSC inspections. Thus the Authority exceeded the 15% target for
PSC inspections required under the Abuja MOU. Out of the 397 ships that were
inspected, 2 were found unseaworthy and detained by port state control officers. The
details are shown below:
NAME OF VESSEL CLASS FLAG PORT OF DETENTION
MV AFRICAN EAGLE INSB ST. VINCENT TAKORADI
MV MING FA OMCS SIERRA LEONE TEMA
The PSC inspections conducted during the year under review show that there has been
an increase in safety awareness amongst ship owners, operators and crew with the
number of deficient ships dropping significantly. The total number of inspections
carried on oil tankers, Anchor Handling and Tug Services (AHTS) and supply vessels
also increased in the port of Takoradi as compared to the previous year. This is due to
the oil exploration and production activities taking place off the coast of the Western
Region. The increase is shown in the graph below:
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Number of Ship Types Inspected at Takoradi Port in 2010 & 2011
8.2 Port State Control (PSC) inspections on Tankers at the Jubilee Fields The year 2011 also marked Ghana assumption of a new role as an oil exporting
country. The Ghana Maritime Authority therefore strategically put in mechanism to
ensure that only seaworthy tankers call at the Jubilee Fields offshore terminal to lift
crude oil. It therefore targeted 100% of tankers that call at the Jubilee Offshore
terminal for PSC inspections.
From January to December, 2011 a total of twenty (20) tankers called at the Jubilee
fields for liftings. All these tankers were subjected to port state control inspections to
ensure that their operations comply with regulations and standards relating to safety,
security and protection of the marine environment. With the exception of the first
vessel which was inspected at Tema Port Anchorage all the others were inspected at
the Jubilee Field Waiting Area. The Authority therefore achieved 100% target of PSC
inspections for tankers that called at the offshore terminal. The details of tankers
that lifted oil and the date of inspections are shown on table below:
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2010
2011
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Table: PSC inspections at Jubilee Fields in 2011
S/No. Name Of Vessel Gross Tonnage Flag Date
1 MT Spike 61,341.00 Malta 2-Jan-11
2 Genmar Argus 81,151.00 Marshall Island 16-Jan-11
3 NS Burgas 83,747.00 Liberia 7-Feb-11
4 MT Poetic 78,922.00 Greece 8-Mar-11
5 Minerva Vera 81,467.00 Greece 17-Mar-11
6 NS Bravo 83,747.00 Liberia 8-Apr-11
7 Serenea 81,502.00 Greece 19-Apr-11
8 Energy Skier 81,345.00 Isle Of Man 5-May-11
9 Felicity 81,427.00 Belgium 23-May-11
10 Energy Sprinter 81,345.00 Isle Of Man 4-Jun-11
11 Storviken 82,647.00 Norway 19-Jun-11
12 Yannis P 81,347.00 Liberia 2-Jul-11
13 Genmar Maniate 84,735.00 Marshall Island 17-Jul-11
14 B W Edelweiss 158,569.00 Hong Kong 1-Aug-11
15 Erviken 82,647.00 Norway 14-Aug-11
16 Serenea 81,502.00 Greece 28-Aug-11
17 African Spirit 79,668.00 Nassau 6-Sep-11
18 Mikela P. 81,347.00 Liberia 18-Sep-11
19 Yannis P 81,347.00 Liberia 1-Oct-11
20 Scf Khibiny 81,085.00 Liberia 21-Nov-11
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The port state control inspections conducted by the Authority at the offshore terminal
have so far indicated that tankers chartered for lifting of crude have high safety
standards.
9.0 Establishment of Search and Rescue (SAR) Centre The Authority is mandated to coordinate maritime Search and Rescue activities in
collaboration with other relevant agencies. In pursuance of this mandate the
Authority with technical and equipment assistance from the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) has established a National Maritime SAR Coordinating Centre at
Tema. The centre will be the focal point for providing assistance to persons in danger
of being lost at sea and coordinate maritime search and rescue operations. This
Centre is to be linked to the Regional Maritime SAR Coordinating Centre in Monrovia,
Liberia to provide effective search and rescue coverage for the countries in the sub
region.
During the period under review, the Authority in collaboration with the IMO organized
a training programme on the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems for staff
recruited to run the centre. The establishment of the SAR Centre is in line with
Ghana’s maritime obligations under the International Convention on Maritime Search
and Rescue which Ghana is a contracting party.
GMA official conducting PSC inspection on a tanker
at Jubilee Oil Fields
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10.0 Area To Be Avoided (ATBA) The Authority obtained approval from the IMO to establish an Area To Be Avoided
(ATBA) around the Deep Water Port (DWP). The ATBA was established in order to
further enhance safety of navigation and ensure security of both the offshore
installations and vessel traffic management in the vicinity of the Jubilee Field
Terminal. The ATBA would alert mariners to the presence of the FPSO Kwame
Nkrumah as well as underwater well heads and production system to ensure that
mariners including fishermen and vessels transiting the area will avoid interference
with terminal operations at the Jubilee Fields.
Officers monitoring at the Search and Rescue center, Tema
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11.0 Navigational Safety Notices The Authority has concluded bilateral arrangements with the United Kingdom
Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to publish hydrographic and safety information covering
the Ghanaian coast on navigational charts for dissemination to ships. As part of this
arrangement the Authority has obtained the co-ordinates of the various oil
exploratory rigs and production installation and issued Navigational Safety Notices to
mariners through UKHO concerning aids to navigation, the positioning and movements
of oil rigs and offshore installations within Ghanaian maritime jurisdiction for
publication.
Area to be avoided
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12.0 Maritime Security 12.1 ISPS Compliance The Authority superintends over the Ghana Maritime Security Act, 2004 (Act 675) to
ensure the safety and security of ships and port facilities. Act 675 implements the
International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The ISPS Code was developed
by the International maritime community to provide a system for securing maritime
terminals. Pursuant to the Act Documents of Compliance were issued to the ports of
Tema and Takoradi. During the year under review ISPS audits were carried out at the
ports of Tema and Takoradi as well as on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah by a Recognised
Security Organization (RSO) appointed by the Authority. The audit recommendations
have been implemented by the operators of these facilities resulting in the renewal of
the Document of Compliance for the Tema and Takoradi ports as well as the issuance
of an interim ISPS document of compliance for FPSO Kwame Nkrumah. The ISPS
Compliance has created a positive environment for ships to call at our ports and the
offshore terminal thereby facilitating Ghana’s international seaborne trade.
Oil Rig
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FPSO Kwame Nkrumah 12.2 Maritime Domain Awareness Programme To assist government and security agencies to enforce security measures in our
maritime domain, the Authority has initiated action to implement a Maritime Domain
Awareness Programme. This programme is designed to ensure availability of
comprehensive information about Ghana’s maritime domain through electronic
surveillance systems.
12.3 Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) The Authority, under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport, obtained
Parliamentary approval for a Finnish concessional loan facility of 16,625,835 Euros to
procure, install and operate a VTMIS for the purposes of establishing a 24 hour
electronic surveillance and monitoring of Ghana’s coastline including the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) to ensure the protection of our maritime resources as well as
offshore installations, oil terminals, gas pipelines and prevention of illegal,
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unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy and prevention of ship source
pollution.
The Contract Agreement for the project was signed on February 9, 2011 between the
Ghana Maritime Authority / Ministry of Transport and ELTEL Networks Corporation of
Finland.
The VTMIS consists of the following:
i. An integrated system comprising of eight (8) Remote Sensor Sites to be sited
along the entire coast of Ghana from Keta to Half Assini.
Director General of GMA interacting with the Finnish Delegation during the signing of the VTMIS
Agreement
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ii. Three (3) Remote Base Stations (RBS) along the Volta Lake (for the inland
waterways)
iii. Three (3) manned Area Control Centres (ACC) for the west, central and east
sectors, and one (1) National Control Centre (NCC).
iv. The Remote Sensor Sites will each have communication Towers and equipped
with marine radars, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and CCTVs for
detecting and identifying ships and boats. Marine communication radio
equipment with MF/HF and VHF frequencies and in compliance with the
International Maritime Organization(IMO) mandated Global Maritime Safety and
Distress Systems (GMDSS) and Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT)
requirements for receiving regular ship reports will also be installed.
v. The Remote Sensor Sites will be equipped with meteorological and hydrological
sensors to provide local weather data from the respective sites which will be
transferred to the Control Centres for broadcasting.
vi. All data from the Remote Sites would be transferred to the manned Control
Centres where operators will have display screens depicting vessel traffic. In
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addition there will be provision for ten (10) Monitoring Stations (MS) for
selected stakeholders such as the National Security, Fisheries Commission,
Narcotics Control Board, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the
Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Ports Harbours Authority, Regional Maritime
University and others to have a display each for monitoring vessel traffic.
Area Control Centre/National Control Centre For VTMIS
Tower & Portable Container
CCTV Camera with Pan & Tilt
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The 8 remote sensor sites along the coast have been identified and survey and soil
tests carried out by engineers. The identified sites are Keta, Big Ada, Tema, Winneba,
Cape Coast, Takoradi, Axim and Half Assini.
12.3.1 Benefits of the VTMIS Among the benefits that Ghana will derive from the implementation of the VTMIS are:
i. Improve security and safety of navigation and environmental protection in
relation to ship source pollution.
ii. Assist competent authorities to deter illicit transaction of goods, particularly
drugs and unauthorized movements within Ghanaian waters.
iii. Provide facilities for continuous monitoring of vessel movements around
submerged gas pipelines.
iv. Enhance the protection of fish spawning and feeding grounds by continuous
monitoring and also guard against IUU fishing.
v. Ghana ports will have early awareness of arriving vessels to improve port
operational efficiency.
vi. Ghana will now be able to participate fully in the GMDSS and in the Global ship
reporting system using the LRIT as mandated by IMO.
vii. Improve coordination in maritime Search And Rescue (SAR) and enable Ghana
to fulfil her commitment under the International Convention on Maritime
Search and Rescue SAR Convention.
viii. Assist the Ghana Maritime Authority to enforce maritime laws within Ghanaian
waters.
As part of the VTMIS implementation, a total of fifty (50) class ‘B’ AIS transponders
and five (5) class ‘A’ AIS transponders are to be deployed on non- conventional and
conventional ships respectively. This will automatically identify vessels within the
Ghanaian waters. The necessary information about the VTMIS communication
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equipment have been submitted to NCA together with application forms for license
and allocation of transmission frequencies.
13.0 Legislation As a regulatory body the Authority undertook a number of legislative initiatives in
2011 to support the maritime industry particularly the emerging oil and gas sector.
These initiatives resulted in the passage by Parliament of amendments to key
legislation as follows:
13.1 Ghana Maritime Authority (Amendment) Act 2011, (Act 825) The objective of this amendment was to make specific provision under the Ghana
Maritime Authority Act, 2002 (Act 630) for the Minister to promulgate regulations for
the purposes of fixing specific levies, fees and charges, to cover the administrative
costs associated with the discharge of the functions and duties specified in the Ghana
Maritime Authority Act, 2002.
Following the discovery of oil, the Authority was confronted with many new
challenges in particular, developing the necessary policy, administrative, legislative
and human capacity to support offshore oil and gas development.
The cost of meeting these new administrative challenges was significant and cannot
be funded exclusively from the existing sources of funds for the Ghana Maritime
Authority. The amendment empowers the Authority to apply standard global practice
to impose fees and charges for services and or levies on operators in the maritime
industry. The enhanced revenue will ensure that there are sufficient resources to
provide efficient and standard services to the maritime industry.
13.2 Ghana Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2011, (Act 826) The amendment was intended to inject local content into the oil and gas
development by encouraging Ghanaians to participate in the shipping activities
relating to offshore business. The Ghana Shipping Act, 2003 (Act 645) imposes
restrictions on the trading of foreign registered ships in Ghanaian waters by
preserving local trade in Ghanaian waters to Ghanaian ships. However, the current
definition of Ghanaian waters is limited to the 12 nautical mile territorial sea.
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The main object of this amendment is to extend the definition of Ghanaian waters to
include the waters within the 500 metre safety zone generated automatically under
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) around installations in
the exclusive economic zone beyond the territorial sea. This amendment would in
effect extend the scope of local trade to include the trade from shore to the any oil
and gas installations that will be established beyond the 12 nautical miles territorial
sea such as the Jubilee field which is approximately 63 nautical miles offshore.
The amendment also makes provision for the grant of permit to foreign vessels to
trade in Ghanaian waters in instances where there are no Ghanaian vessels available
or capable of providing those services so as not to create operational bottlenecks.
13.3 Ghana Maritime Security (Amendment) Act, 2011 (Act 824) These amendments were intended to extend the application of the Ghana Maritime
Security Act to offshore installations. The amendments will ensure that the
requirements of ISPS Code under the International Convention on the Safety of Life at
Sea (SOLAS) Chapter XI-2 dealing with special measures to enhance maritime security
are fully met in Ghanaian law. Ghana has implemented the International Ship and Port
Facility Security Code of the IMO through the Ghana Maritime Security Act 2004 (Act
675). However, the scope of application of that Act did not cover offshore oil or gas
installations beyond the territorial sea. This is because the Ghana Maritime Security
Act was enacted before the discovery of offshore oil and gas.
The amendments will therefore extend the application of the existing maritime
security legislative framework to cover Ghana’s maritime jurisdiction and also
incorporate audit and inspection provisions to ensure that the Ghana Maritime
Authority has the legislative powers necessary to audit and inspect both Ghanaian and
foreign-registered ships including Mobile Offshore Drilling Units and offshore
installations located in Ghanaian waters.
13.4 Legislative Instruments In addition to the above pieces of legislation, the Authority initiated actions
culminating into enactment by Parliament of the following legislative
instruments.
13.4.1 Ghana Shipping (Protection of Offshore Operations and Assets)
Regulations 2012, (L.I. 2010): Offshore platforms and pipelines pose
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significant hazard to navigation. These Regulations will empower the
establishment of safety zones and protected areas around the offshore
installations and subsea pipelines.
13.4.2 Ghana Maritime Authority (Maritime Safety Fees and Charges)
Regulations 2012(L.I. 2009): These regulations will provide for the
imposition of a maritime safety fees and charges on installations, ships,
pipelines, cables and other assets employed in the maritime domain.
This will generate funds to meet the administrative cost of services and
enable the Authority to develop the required human capacity to support
the offshore oil and gas sector. Additionally the Regulations will revoke
the Merchant Shipping Fees Regulations 1977 (L.I. 1132) which has
become out-dated and replace it with a new schedule of fees for the
services provided by the Authority.
14.0 Other Legislative Initiatives A number of draft legislation were also prepared by the Authority during the year
under review. The draft legislation which have been finalized by the Attorney
General’s Department and are expected to be considered by Parliament in 2012 are
listed as follows:
i. Marine Pollution Bill: The Bill aims to provide a legal framework to prevent
and control marine source pollution in general by consolidating the major
International Marine Pollution Conventions developed by the IMO. The
conventions that are incorporated in the Bill cover the following areas;
prevention, control, response, preparedness, liability and compensation for
pollution incidents. Additionally there are other relevant non-convention
provisions for the prevention and control of pollution to the environment from
marine sources. These provisions include the following: a duty to report
discharges of oil, insurance for operators of oil rigs and platforms, provisions
regulating the transfer of oil and provision for the Minister of Transport to
make Regulations. The Bill is to apply to all Ghanaian Ships, foreign ships while
in an area within Ghana’s Maritime Jurisdiction and installations located within
Ghana’s maritime Jurisdiction.
ii. Marine Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations: The objective of the
regulations is to provide rules for offshore installations to prevent pollution of
the marine environment by substances used or produced in offshore petroleum
exploration and exploitation.
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iii. Ghana Shipping (Manning Agents) Licensing Regulations: This draft is aimed
at regulating the activities of manning agencies and crewing companies with a
view to protecting the welfare of the seafarer.
15.0 Seafarers Documentation 15.1 Seafarer Examination and Certification The Authority is responsible for training and certification of Ghanaian seafarers in
accordance with the International Convention on the Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) which prescribes the global
minimum standards for seafarer training and certification. The Authority conducted
four (4) seafarer examinations in 2011 and issued two thousand three hundred and
seventy one (2,371) seafarer certificates of competencies in the various categories of
engineer officers, deck officers, radio officers and ratings. The Authority also issued
IMO basic mandatory certificates of proficiency to seafarers in accordance with the
STCW Convention. Seafarer certificates issued in the reviewed period are summarised
in the table below:
Seafarer certificates issued in 2011
TYPE OF CERTIFICATE
NUMBERS ISSUED
CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY (ENGINE AND DECK OFFICERS)
241
CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY (RATINGS )
643
CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY
1,331
GMDSS (RADIO)
156
TOTAL
2,371
The Authority during the year under review also put in measures to ensure that
Ghanaian seafarers are not only trained in accordance with the STCW but also high
premium is place on the certificate of competency issued by the Authority. These
measures include the following:
i. The implementation of the Quality Management System (QMS) established for
the seafarer examination and certification unit of the Authority. The QMS
ensures effective supervision of the curricula and training methods of the
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Regional Maritime University and also the processes for the issuance of seafarer
certificates.
ii. Enhancing new certificates of competency and seafarer Discharge Books with
additional security features to prevent faking of documentation,
iii. Creation of a strong room for securing certificates and examination questions,
iv. Installation of CCTV systems and other quality control measures to monitor
activities and forestall certificate fraud,
v. Internet connectivity to ensure prompt and effective responses to requests for
verification of Certificates of Competency issued to seafarers by the Authority.
The strong room
30
During the review period the Authority continued its collaboration with the Regional
Maritime University to improve the standards of competence of seafarers. Plans are
also underway to develop relevant syllabi and develop specialised training in
petroleum and gas tanker safety operations for officers and crew in anticipation of
the demand for such marine skills as a result of the oil exploratory and production
activities currently taking place in Ghana.
15.2 Eligibility Letters The Authority issues eligibility letters for applicants to undertake upgrading course at
the Regional Maritime University. In 2011, three hundred and eighty two (382)
applications comprising 180 engineer officers and 202 deck officers were received by
the Authority. Out of the total number, 315 applicants representing 82% of
applications were cleared to pursue upgrading courses whilst 67 applicants
representing 18% of applications were disqualified because the applicants lack the
required sea service.
15.3 Seafarer Discharge Books
GMA Server room
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During the year under review one thousand two hundred and fifty eight (1,258)
Seafarer Discharge Books were issued to seafarers. The breakdown is shown in the
table below:
Seafarers Discharged In 2011
15.4 Seafarer Medical Certificates The Authority is responsible for ensuring that Ghanaian seafarers have medical
certificates attesting to their fitness to work on board ships. In the review period the
Authority streamlined its procedures for the conduct of seafarers’ medical
examinations. Seven (7) medical doctors were appointed by the Authority to conduct
seafarer medical examinations at designated health centres in Tema, Takoradi and
Accra. The centres were chosen in order to make the services of the doctors easily
accessible by seafarers. The names of these medical officers have been sent to the
International Labour Organization (ILO) to be put into a data base as required by ILO
Convention No. 147 on Minimum Standards for Serving on Merchant Ships. The
Authority issued a total of two thousand and ninety three (2,093) medical certificates
to seafarers in 2011.
16.0 Seafarer Employment
One of the functions of the Authority is to ensure the engagement and welfare of
Ghanaian seafarers. In pursuance of this mandate and in support of the Government’s
Youth Employment Programme, the Authority has initiated a Seafarer Employment
Programme designed to promote the employment of Ghanaian seafarers onboard all
ships, particularly foreign ones.
In view of this, the Authority has undertaken the following measures:
SEAFARERS
DISCHARGED
NUMBERS %
Old Seafarers 345 28
New Seafarers 884 70
Replacement 29 2
TOTAL 1258 100 %
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i. Developed a strategic framework document in collaboration with the Ministries
of Transport, Employment and Social Welfare and with partnership support
from the United Nations Development programme (UNDP).
ii. Prepared draft regulations for ship manning agencies in a bid to fulfil the
requirements of section 107(2) of the Ghana Shipping Act, 2003 (Act 645) which
provides for the establishment of a licensing regime for seafarer recruitment
agencies. The draft regulations has been finalised by the Attorney-General’s
Department and is expected to be submitted to Parliament for passage in 2012.
iii. An independent evaluation of the Quality Management System (QMS) of the
Authority has been carried out by SGS Systems and ISO Certification processes
are currently on-going. This will give assurance to ship owners about the
standards of competence of Ghanaian seafarers.
iv. Submitted itself for voluntary audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency
(EMSA) a decentralised body of the European Union responsible for the
implementation of EU legislation on maritime safety to confirm the Authority’s
compliance with the requirements of the International Convention on the
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
Under the STCW countries have to enter into bilateral arrangements for the
recognition of seafarer certificates of competency before employing such
seafarers to work on their flag vessels. In line with the STCW Convention Ghana
has signed MOU’S with the major ship owning countries which allows for
Ghanaian seafarers to be employed on their flag ships.
However, with regard to vessels owned by European Union member states,
Directive No. 2008/106/EC requires that countries desirous of entering into an
MOU with EU member states for recognition of seafarer certificates must first
submit their training and certification systems to assessment by EMSA to attest
their compliance with the STCW Convention. In 2009, EMSA inspectors visited
the Authority and commenced the assessment of the training and standards of
competence of Ghanaian seafarers as well as the certification processes. There
were series of correspondence between the EU and the Authority in respect of
which some queries raised by the inspectors on information provided by the
Authority were addressed.
Recent communication from the EU indicated that the assessment by the EMSA
inspectors of the Authority’s compliance with the STCW Convention and the
evaluation of the information provided demonstrates that the Authority has
fully complied with the requirements of the convention. Consequently, the EU
33
has formally communicated its decision to recognise seafarer certificates of
competency issued by the Authority.
The EU recognition of Ghanaian certificates of competency is significant as it
opens a huge market window for Ghanaian seafarers to obtain shipboard
employment.
It is worth noting that Europe control about half of the world’s shipping
tonnage and therefore the success of the EMSA audit and the EU recognition
will create a tremendous opportunity for engaging seafarers on board flag ships
of all the 27 member countries of the EU.
v. Signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the recognition of seafarer
certificates with major ship owning countries (including Panama, Liberia,
Bahamas, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Singapore, Cyprus, Singapore, Ethiopia,
etc.) to facilitate the employment of Ghanaian seafarers on board their flag
vessels.
vi. Sponsored trips to London by the seafarer unions, namely, the Ghana Merchant
Navy Officers Association and the National Union of Seamen and supported by
staff of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and the Authority to
negotiate with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) which
resulted in the signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for Ghanaian
seafarers. The ITF’s policy is against wage discrimination and has invariably guided
against shipowners taken advantage of seafarers from developing countries by
paying them low wages. The CBA addresses issues relating to employment and
welfare including shipowners’ responsibilities on health and safety and provide the
international minimum wage level for Ghanaian seafarers on the international
maritime labour market. In effect the CBA provides certainty and gives incentives to
shipowners to employ seafarers from Ghana thereby creating a wider window for
shipboard employment for Ghanaian seafarers.
vii. Created a seafarer’s databank to provide information on Ghanaian seafarers
and to make statistics available to shipowners or potential employers about the
number of Ghanaian seafarers in the various categories of engineer officers,
deck officers and ratings.
17.0 Accession of Maritime Conventions: The Authority has through the Ministry of Transport submitted Cabinet memoranda for
the accession by Ghana of the following IMO Conventions:
34
Protocol of 2005 to the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against
the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention);
Protocol of 2005 to the SUA Protocol relating to Fixed Platform Located on the
Continental Shelf (SUA Protocol);
International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution
Damage,2001; and
1988 Protocol to the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS),1974
Once these conventions are acceded to by Ghana the Authority will take steps to
incorporate their provisions into domestic legislation. As a first step, the Authority
during the year under review accepted an offer for technical assistance from the IMO
to train Ghanaian legislative officers and update national legislation on the SUA
Convention and Protocol. The training was organised from 17th – 21st October 2011 and
was attended by representatives from the Authority and the Attorney General’s
Department.
18.0 Safety of Transportation on the Inland Waterways The Authority is responsible for the enforcement of safety measures to regulate
shipping and navigation on the inland waterways. In 2011, the following programmes
were implemented;
i. Inspections and Surveys
Surveys and inspection of boats were conducted by the Authority’s marine
surveyors on boats that are used on the Volta Lake in order to eliminate the
use of sub standard boats. The marine surveyors also mark boats and assign
loadlines to establish the maximum loading capacities for safe operations.
35
The Authority in the review period surveyed and assigned loadline marks to 107
transport boats. The boats surveyed and their stations are given in the table
below:
BOAT STATION NUMBER OF BOATS
Kpando-Torkor 10
Dzemeni 10
Dambai 6
Kete Krachi 6
Yeji 52
Tapa Abotoasi 23
Total 107
Passenger Ferry
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GMA surveyors inspecting and marking boat with loadlines
Marine surveyors inspecting boat on the Volta Lake
37
ii. Training of boat operators/mechanics
Training programmes were organized for boat operators and outboard motor
mechanics in order to improve their competencies and enhance safety of
transportation on the lake. In 2011, six hundred and ninety two (692) personnel
were trained at Dambai, Dzemeni, Kete-Krachi, Kpando-Torkor, Tapa Abotoasi
and Yeji.
Name of Station
No. of Personnel Trained
Dambai 45
Dzemeni 166
Kete-Krachi 80
Kpando-Torkor 86
Tapa Abotoasi 164
Yeji 151
Total 692
iii. Boat Safety Educational Programme
Safety educational programmes and exercises were conducted at Yeji, Kpando-
Torkor,Tapa Abotoasi, Kete Krachi, Dambai and Dzemeni . The educational
programme also includes free distribution of leaflets on the Inland Waterway
Safety Code, demonstration in basic seamanship and the use of navigational
safety devices such as life jackets and fire extinguishers.
38
Boat Operators undergoing educational safety training
iv. Enforcement of safety Measures
The Authority in collaboration with the Ghana Navy has instituted a Naval Task
Force (NTF) which is charged with the duty of enforcing the safety measures
through patrols and checks. Currently there are six (6) Naval Task Forces
stationed along the Volta Lake and one (1) at Half Assini (Jewi Wharf and
Newtown Wharf). The Volta Lake NTF’s are stationed at Yeji, Dzemeni, Tapa
Abotoase, Kete-Krachi, Dambai and Kpando Torkor. During the review period
the task force were rotated quarterly at the various stations. The physical
presence of the task force personnel at the boat stations has yielded
tremendous results and contributed in reducing significantly the perennial
accidents on the Volta Lake.
39
19.0 Bui Dam A team from the Authority visited the Bui Dam to offer technical advice to the Bui
Power Authority on the proposed creation of fairways within the hydro electric
project reservoir area. The Bui project was designed primarily for hydropower
generation but it also includes the development of opportunities for ecotourism and
fisheries. The ecotourism and fisheries sectors will involve the use of cruise and
fishing boats within the catchment area. Safety of navigation of the vessels within
these waters is paramount, it is therefore necessary that the appropriate safety
measures are put in place.
The Authority noted that trees in the reservoir area would be the main hazard to
navigation after flooding. It has therefore recommended to the Bui Power authorities
to clear all trees along the banks of the river and identify appropriate GPS positions
for the future deployment of the channel buoys before flooding the dam.
Naval Officers enforcing safety on the Volta Lake
40
20.0 Construction of MiDA Ferries
The Authority as part of an MOU with MiDA provided technical advice for the
implementation of two projects under the Millennium Challenge Compact between
the United States and Ghana. These projects included a ferry activity involving the
construction of two ro-ro ferries, the refurbishment of the floating dock at Akosombo
and the modernization of terminal facilities at Adawso and Ekye Amanfrom for the
Volta Lake Transport Company. Under the MOU, the Authority offered technical
advice by reviewing the terms of reference and the request for proposals. It also
participated in the evaluation of bids and issued its concurrence to the final designs
and construction bidding documents. With regard to the ferries the Authority
endorsed the safety plan and surveyed the construction of the ferries alongside the
classification society Germanischer Lloyd which was nominated for the job. In
providing the advice the Authority noted a number of technical defects the lack of
toilet facilities for passengers, the absence of sewage tank for storing human wastes,
the location of the emergency fire pumps in the engine room and the stowage of all
the liferafts on the starbord side of the vessel. These defects have been rectified as a
result the emergency fire pump was relocated outside the engine room and the
liferafts redistributed on each side of the ferry. This has improved the technical
specification of the ferry.
21.0 Cost Effective Provision of Shipping Services
The Authority is also mandated to ensure efficient, cost effective and orderly
provision of services by regulating shipping service providers. The Authority in the
previous year obtain technical assistance and collaborated with the IMO to organize a
trade facilitation workshop on the use the Single Window and Electronic Data
Interchange(EDI) for the clearance of ships and cargoes at the ports.
As an outcome of the workshop the Authority during the year under review initiated a
process of reconstituting the National Maritime Facilitation Committee. The
Committee will comprise representation from key agencies such as Customs, Ghana
Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Institute Freight Forwarders, Ghana Shippers’
Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, the Ministries of Trade and Transport among
41
others. The committee will coordinate national efforts to eliminate port operational
bottlenecks and enhance trade facilitation measures.
22.0 International Conferences In the period under review, the Authority participated in a number of international
maritime conferences including the meetings of the International Maritime Organization. These meetings include the following:
Legal Committee,
Marine Environment Protection Committee,
Maritime Safety Committee,
International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC),
the Council and General Assembly meetings.
Apart from the IMO sessions, the Authority also participated in the meetings of the
Maritime organization for West and Central Africa (MOWCA), the Abuja Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) for Port State Control in West and Central Africa and the
Board of Governors meeting of the Regional Maritime University.
23.0 IMO External Auditor The Authority participated actively in the deliberations of the 27th Regular Session of
the IMO General Assembly held in November, 2011 and facilitated the appointment of
the Auditor-General of Ghana as the External Auditor for the IMO and its allied
institutions namely, the World Maritime University in Sweden and the International
Maritime Law Institute in Malta.
24.0 Joint Commission
During the year under review the Authority participated in two Joint Commission
meetings , namely, the senior officials meeting of the Ghana – South Africa Permanent
Joint Commission for Co-operation held in Pretoria from 5th to 6th of April, 2011 and
the Technical Committee meeting of the Ghana –Angola Permanent Joint Commission
held in Luanda from 13th to 15th June, 2011 . The Authority discussed and agreed to
develop maritime relationships and to co-operate closely with the maritime
42
administrations in the respective countries. In both meetings there was an exchange
of draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the maritime sector.
25.0 Training and Development As part of the human resource strategy, to ensure a vibrant working environment by
equipping staff with the requisite knowledge and skill for effective performance the
Authority during the review period arranged post graduate training programmes in the
following course for three staff at the World Maritime University in Sweden and the
University College of London as follows:
Post graduate training programme in maritime affairs with specialization in
maritime education and training at the World Maritime University.
Post graduate training programme in maritime affairs with specialization in at
maritime law and policy at the World Maritime University.
Post graduate programme in Hydrographic Surveying at the University College
of London.
26.0 Challenges and Planned Programmes
26.1 Challenges
The main challenge confronting the Authority is the lack of funds to implement its
programmes:
Lack of patrol boats to enforce maritime safety measures at sea and on the
Volta Lake.
Lack of passenger reception and landing facilities at major boat stations on the
Volta Lake
Lack of office space to accommodate staff
26.2 Planned Programmes
26.2.1. Acquisition of Patrol Boats to enforce maritime safety measures at sea
and on the Volta Lake.
43
Patrol Boat
44
26.2.2 Acquisition of suitable inland waterways transports crafts. In view of increasing accidents on the Volta Lake and associated loss of human lives, it is necessary to acquire few of the much needed modified river crafts such as economy cross-lake passenger crafts and ferries including water taxis
Cross-lake passenger craft
Water Taxi
45
26.2.3 Construction passenger reception facilities at major boat stations on the
Volta Lake. All the major loading and landing stations of the Volta Lake
such as Yeji, Makango, Kete-Krachi, Dambai, Tapa Abotoase, Kpando
Torkor, Dzemeni and Amankwa-krom lack reception facilities. The
Authority has a programme to construct passenger reception facilities at
these major stations.
26.2.4 Construction of Jetties and suitable Landing Facilities for berthing of
vessels at major boat landing stations for smooth joining and leaving the
vessels by passengers and trucks. The jetties will also help to address
the problems associated with seasonal fluctuation of the water levels.
46
Proposed Landing Site
26.2.5 Construction of Head Office Building; The Authority has urgent need for
adequate office accommodation at its headquarters. The need has arisen
due to the statutory requirement that have imposed new functional
mandates and the need to recruit technical and other maritime staff for
effective performance.
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Head Office Complex Aerial View
HEAD OFFICE BUILDING
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