Ghanaian seafarer certificates recognized on Spanish-flagged vessels: what changes for shipowners in 2026

Key data

Shipowners of Spanish-flagged vessels have had a formal pathway since June 2026 to incorporate Ghanaian crew into their workforce. The bilateral agreement signed between the General Directorate of the Spanish Maritime Authority and the Maritime Authority of Ghana on September 7 and October 29, 2012 — and published in the BOE on June 11, 2026 — establishes the complete framework for Spain to recognize nautical certificates issued by Ghana in accordance with the STCW Convention.

Publication in the BOE is not a minor formality: it is the step that converts this international commitment into applicable regulation in the Spanish legal system, with direct effects on crew contracts, qualifications, and shipowner responsibilities.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement creates a mutual recognition mechanism for nautical certificates under the umbrella of the STCW Convention (the international standard for training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers). In practice, it works as follows:

• The Spanish Maritime Authority can issue endorsements that validate Ghanaian certificates for service aboard Spanish-flagged vessels.
• Ghana commits to maintain auditable training standards and to allow inspections by Spanish authorities.
• Ghana must notify any changes in its training or certification procedures within a maximum period of 90 days.
• Ghanaian seafarers exercising management functions (officers, masters, chief engineers) must demonstrate specific knowledge of Spanish maritime legislation.

Economic and operational impact

For Spanish shipowners, this agreement has a direct operational impact on crew management. Ghana is one of the African countries with the strongest maritime tradition and consolidated nautical training under the STCW Convention, which expands the pool of candidates available to fill positions on Spanish-flagged vessels.

The specific operational implications are:

• Reduction of hiring barriers: Ghanaian certificates no longer require a complex homologation process; an endorsement from the Spanish Maritime Authority is sufficient.
• Prior verification obligation: The shipowner must ensure that the Ghanaian seafarer has a valid endorsement before incorporating them into the crew.
• Differentiated requirement for officers: Ghanaian officers and management personnel must demonstrate knowledge of Spanish maritime regulations, which may require additional training or specific testing.
• Risk of standard changes: If Ghana modifies its training procedures and fails to notify within the 90-day period, endorsements issued under previous standards could be called into question. The shipowner must actively monitor this.
• Possibility of agreement termination: With 12 months' notice, either party can terminate the agreement, which would affect the validity of new endorsements. Long-term crew contracts must account for this contingency.

Who does it affect?

• Shipowners and shipping companies with Spanish-flagged vessels: They are the primary affected parties. They can hire Ghanaian crew with recognized certificates through endorsement.
• Nautical management and crewing companies: They must update their document verification processes to include endorsements issued under this agreement.
• Ghanaian seafarers with STCW certification: They can request Spanish endorsement to work on Spanish-flagged vessels.
• Ghanaian officers and management personnel: They have the additional requirement of demonstrating knowledge of Spanish maritime legislation.
• General Directorate of the Spanish Maritime Authority: It is the competent body to issue endorsements and conduct inspections of Ghanaian training centers.

Practical example

A Spanish shipping company with three general cargo vessels under Spanish flag needs to fill the position of second officer. It finds a Ghanaian candidate with STCW certification issued by Ghana's Maritime Authority.

The process to follow is as follows:

1. Verify that the Ghanaian certificate is issued in accordance with the STCW Convention and that Ghana has not modified its training procedures without notifying within the 90-day regulatory period.
2. Request from the General Directorate of the Spanish Maritime Authority the endorsement that validates the certificate for service on Spanish-flagged vessels.
3. Since the second officer exercises management functions, verify that the candidate demonstrates knowledge of Spanish maritime legislation (specific requirement of the agreement).
4. Once the endorsement is obtained, incorporate the seafarer into the crew with full legal coverage.

If the agreement were terminated by either party with the 12-month notice, the shipping company would need to plan in advance for coverage of those positions with crew of other nationalities or with direct Spanish certification.

What should companies do now?

1. Review current crew contracts with Ghanaian seafarers to verify they have the endorsement issued by the Spanish Maritime Authority under this agreement.
2. Update crewing processes to include verification of Spanish endorsement as a mandatory step before incorporating Ghanaian crew.
3. Identify which positions are management functions (officers, chief engineers, masters) and require Ghanaian candidates to demonstrate knowledge of Spanish maritime legislation.
4. Establish an alert system for possible changes in Ghana's training standards: the agreement requires Ghana to notify within 90 days, but the shipowner must actively monitor to avoid assuming risks.
5. Include contingency clauses in long-term crew contracts that account for the scenario of agreement termination (12-month notice).
6. Consult with the General Directorate of the Spanish Maritime Authority the updated procedure for requesting endorsements following formal publication in the BOE on June 11, 2026.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-12610)

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-12610