STCW certificate verification by flag state
Under STCW Regulation I/2 and I/10, flag states must maintain a register of certificates of competency (CoCs) and endorsements they issue, and must make verification available to employers, port-state-control officers, and other flag administrations. Most major registries now operate online portals for instant CoC validation. Smaller administrations require a written request to the maritime authority. This page lists the verification route for every flag state tracked on Seafarer Index.
Top 10 flags — verification portals
- PhilippinesMARINA (Maritime Industry Authority)
Online CoC verification at marina.gov.ph. Enter certificate number and name.
https://marina.gov.ph/services/verification-of-seafarers-certificates/ - IndiaDG Shipping
Verification via the DG Shipping web portal. Search by CDC or CoC number.
https://dgshipping.gov.in/ - United KingdomMaritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Online CoC verification at gov.uk. Returns real-time validity status.
https://www.gov.uk/check-a-seafarers-certificate-of-competency - LiberiaLiberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR)
Contact LISCR Seafarers Department. Online verification portal available through LISCR's seafarer services.
https://www.liscr.com/seafarers - Marshall IslandsRepublic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator (RMIMR)
RMIMR (IRI) operates an online CoC verification system accessible at register-iri.com.
https://www.register-iri.com/maritime/seafarers/ - PanamaPanama Maritime Authority (AMP)
AMP provides online verification of seafarer credentials. Access via amp.gob.pa.
https://www.amp.gob.pa/newsite/spanish/pdf/libreta/verificacion_libretagente.asp - BahamasBahamas Maritime Authority (BMA)
BMA offers CoC verification via request to its seafarers division. Contact form at bahamasmaritime.com.
https://www.bahamasmaritime.com/seafarers/ - NorwayNorwegian Maritime Authority (Sjøfartsdirektoratet / SDIR)
SDIR provides certificate queries online. Contact Sjøfartsdirektoratet for full verification.
https://www.sdir.no/en/seafarers/certificates-of-competency/ - United StatesUSCG National Maritime Center (NMC)
Online Mariner credential lookup at maritime.dot.gov/national-maritime-center. Search by MMC number.
https://www.uscg.mil/nmc/ - GreeceHellenic Republic Ministry of Maritime Affairs (HRMM)
Verification via Hellenic Coast Guard Seafarers Directorate. Written requests processed via hcg.gr.
https://www.hcg.gr/en/nav/services/seafarers
All other flag states — administration contact
These flags do not have a documented online verification portal. Contact the flag administration directly for written certificate verification. All official administration URLs are drawn from the flag-state data.
| Flag state | Administration | Admin URL |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | General Maritime Directorate Albania | www.dpd.gov.al |
| Angola | Instituto Marítimo e Portuário de Angola | www.imopa.gov.ao |
| Anguilla | Anguilla Shipping Registry (UK Red Ensign) | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Antigua and Barbuda Registry of Ships | abregistry.ag |
| Argentina | Prefectura Naval Argentina | www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/22/2026-10333/use-of-foreign-built-small-passenger-vessel-in-united-states-coastwise-trade-sv-learning-curves |
| Australia | Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) | www.amsa.gov.au |
| Azerbaijan | State Maritime Agency of Azerbaijan | www.armada.az |
| Bangladesh | Department of Shipping, Bangladesh | www.dos.gov.bd |
| Barbados | Barbados Maritime Transport Division | tourism.gov.bb/Services/Sea |
| Belgium | Directorate-General Maritime Transport, Belgium | mobilit.belgium.be/nl/maritiem_vervoer |
| Belize | Belize Port Authority / International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) | www.immarbe.com |
| Bermuda | Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority (BSMA) | www.bermudashipping.bm |
| Bolivia | Administración de Empresas Portuarias Bolivianas (AEPB) | www.aepb.gob.bo |
| Brazil | ANTAQ - National Waterway Transportation Agency | www.gov.br/antaq |
| British Virgin Islands | Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (Cat 1 UK Red Ensign) | www.bvishipping.vg |
| Bulgaria | Executive Agency Maritime Administration (EAMA) | www.marad.bg |
| Cabo Verde | Instituto Marítimo e Portuário de Cabo Verde | www.imp.cv |
| Cambodia | Cambodia Shipping Registry | www.mpwt.gov.kh |
| Cameroon | Cameroon Maritime Affairs Authority | www.minmidt.cm |
| Canada | Transport Canada - Marine Safety | tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation |
| Cayman Islands | Cayman Islands Shipping Registry | www.cishipping.com |
| Chile | Directemar - Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Authority | www.directemar.cl |
| China | China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) | www.msa.gov.cn |
| Colombia | Dirección General MarÃtima (DIMAR) | www.dimar.mil.co |
| Comoros | Comoros Maritime Administration | portal.comorosmaritime.org/ |
| Cook Islands | Cook Islands Maritime Administration | www.maritimecookislands.com |
| Croatia | Croatian Maritime Administration | mmpi.gov.hr |
| Curacao | Curacao Maritime Authority | www.curacaomaritime.com |
| Cyprus | Department of Merchant Shipping, Cyprus | www.dms.gov.cy |
| Denmark | Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) | www.dma.dk |
| Djibouti | Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority | djiboutimaritimeregistry.dj/ |
| Dominican Republic | Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana | portuaria.gob.do/ |
| Ecuador | Dirección General de la Marina Mercante y del Litoral (DIGMER) | www.bahamasmaritime.com/inspectors-location/ecuador/ |
| Egypt | Maritime Transport Sector - Ministry of Transport, Egypt | mts.gov.eg |
| Estonia | Estonian Transport Administration | www.transpordiamet.ee |
| Falkland Islands | Falkland Islands Shipping Registry (UK Red Ensign) | www.falklands.gov.fk |
| Fiji | Fiji Maritime Safety Administration (FIMSA) | www.msaf.com.fj/ |
| Finland | Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) | www.traficom.fi/en |
| France | Direction des Affaires Maritimes (DAM) | www.ecologie.gouv.fr/direction-des-affaires-maritimes |
| Gabon | Direction Générale de la Marine Marchande Gabon | — |
| Georgia | Transport Agency of Georgia | www.mta.gov.ge |
| Germany | Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) | www.bsh.de |
| Ghana | Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) | ghanamaritime.gov.gh/ship-registry/ |
| Gibraltar | Gibraltar Maritime Administration | www.gibraltar.gov.gi/maritime/maritime-administration |
| Guyana | Maritime Administration Department of Guyana | marad.gov.gy/ |
| Honduras | Empresa Nacional Portuaria (ENP) - Maritime Registry | merchantmarine.gob.hn/registro-de-buques/ |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong Marine Department | www.mardep.gov.hk |
| Iceland | Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa) | www.samgongustofa.is |
| Indonesia | Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Indonesia | hubla.dephub.go.id |
| Iran | Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran | www.maritime.dot.gov/msci/2026-004-persian-gulf-strait-hormuz-and-gulf-oman-iranian-attacks-commercial-vessels |
| Ireland | Marine Survey Office (MSO), Ireland | www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-transport/ |
| Isle of Man | Isle of Man Ship Registry | www.iomshipregistry.com |
| Israel | Israel Shipping and Ports Authority | www.mot.gov.il/en/maritime |
| Italy | Comando Generale del Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto | www.guardiacostiera.gov.it |
| Ivory Coast | Port Autonome d'Abidjan | www.portabidjan.ci |
| Jamaica | Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) | jis.gov.jm/government/agencies/maritime-authority-of-jamaica/ |
| Japan | Japan Coast Guard / Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/ |
| Kazakhstan | Maritime Administration of Kazakhstan | — |
| Kenya | Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) | kma.go.ke/ |
| Kiribati | Kiribati Maritime Training Centre | www.kiribatimaritime.gov.ki/about-us/functions |
| Latvia | Latvian Maritime Administration (Latvijas Jūras administrācija) | www.lja.lv |
| Lebanon | Ministry of Public Works and Transport - Maritime Affairs | www.maritime.dot.gov/ |
| Libya | Libyan Maritime Transport Authority | — |
| Lithuania | Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration | ltsa.lrv.lt |
| Luxembourg | Maritime Administration of Luxembourg | gouvernement.lu/en/gouvernement/ministeres/mobilite-transports/administration-maritime.html |
| Malaysia | Marine Department Malaysia | www.marine.gov.my |
| Maldives | Transport Authority of Maldives | www.transport.gov.mv |
| Malta | Transport Malta - Merchant Shipping Directorate | www.transport.gov.mt |
| Mauritania | Marine Marchande Mauritania | mauritania.dosgov.org/home-mauritania/ |
| Mauritius | Mauritius Shipping Corporation / Maritime Safety Administration | www.ocorian.com/knowledge-hub/insights/mauritius-emerging-jurisdiction-ship-registration |
| Mexico | SecretarÃa de Marina - Subdirección General de Marina Mercante | www.gob.mx/semar |
| Moldova | Navrom - Naval Agency of Moldova | flagadmin.com/en/registration/moldova |
| Mongolia | Mongolia Ship Registry | www.monmarad.gov.mn/en/article?id=384 |
| Montenegro | Maritime Safety Department of Montenegro | www.gov.me/en/administration-for-maritime-safety-and-port-management |
| Montserrat | Montserrat Shipping Registry (UK Red Ensign) | — |
| Morocco | Direction de la Marine Marchande, Morocco | www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/public-forms/ma-29b-request-transfer-ownership-registry-and-flag-or-charter-lease-foreign |
| Mozambique | Instituto Nacional da Marinha (INAMAR) | www.inamar.gov.mz |
| Myanmar | Myanmar Maritime Administration | www.dma.gov.mm |
| Namibia | Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) | www.namport.com.na |
| Netherlands | Netherlands Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) | www.ilent.nl |
| New Zealand | Maritime New Zealand | www.maritimenz.govt.nz |
| Nigeria | Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) | www.nimasa.gov.ng |
| Oman | Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Oman | mtcit.gov.om/library-3/legislations-policies-8/laws-75/the-maritime-law-191 |
| Pakistan | Mercantile Marine Department, Pakistan | mercantilemarine.gov.pk/ |
| Palau | Palau International Ship Registry | www.palaureg.com |
| Papua New Guinea | Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) | www.nmsa.gov.pg |
| Paraguay | Dirección de la Marina Mercante, Paraguay | www.mopc.gov.py |
| Peru | Dirección General de CapitanÃas y Guardacostas (DICAPI) | www.dicapi.mil.pe |
| Poland | Office of Maritime Economy, Poland | www.gov.pl/web/transport |
| Portugal | Autoridade MarÃtima Nacional (AMN) | www.amn.pt |
| Qatar | Ministry of Transport and Communications, Qatar | www.mot.gov.qa/en/maritime-transport/objectives |
| Romania | Romanian Naval Authority (ANR) | www.rna.ro |
| Russia | Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport (Rosmorrechflot) | rs-class.org/en/ |
| Saint Helena | Saint Helena Shipping Registry (UK Red Ensign) | — |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | St Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry | www.skanregistry.com/ |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (SVGMA) | www.svg-marad.com/procedure.asp |
| Samoa | Samoa Shipping Corporation | www.samoashipping.com |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia Maritime Administration (SAMA) / Saudi Ports Authority | www.ports.gov.sa |
| Senegal | Agence Nationale des Affaires Maritimes (ANAM) | theoutlawocean.com/toolkit/global-fishing-legislation/senegal/vessel-registration-and-license-management |
| Seychelles | Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) | www.smsa.gov.sc |
| Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone Maritime Administration | mota.gov.sl/services/maritime |
| Singapore | Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) | www.mpa.gov.sg |
| Slovenia | Slovenian Maritime Administration | www.gov.si |
| South Africa | South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) | www.samsa.org.za |
| South Korea | Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea | www.mof.go.kr |
| Spain | Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (DGMM) | www.mitma.gob.es/marina-mercante |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Ports Authority - Mercantile Marine Division | www.slpa.lk |
| Suriname | Maritime Authority of Suriname | www.mas.sr |
| Sweden | Swedish Transport Agency - Maritime Division | www.sjofartsverket.se/en/ |
| Taiwan | Maritime and Port Bureau, Taiwan | www.motcmpb.gov.tw |
| Tanzania | Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation | www.tasac.go.tz |
| Thailand | Marine Department, Thailand | www.md.go.th |
| Togo | Togolese Maritime Authority | www.togoregistrar.com/ |
| Tonga | Tonga Maritime Administration | www.maritime.dot.gov/ |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Maritime Services Division Trinidad & Tobago | www.mowt.gov.tt |
| Tunisia | Office de la Marine Marchande et des Ports (OMMP) | www.ommp.nat.tn |
| Turkey | Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, Turkey | www.denizcilik.gov.tr |
| Turkmenistan | Turkmenbashi Sea Ports Administration | — |
| Tuvalu | Tuvalu Ship Registry | www.tvship.com |
| Ukraine | Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine - Sea Transport Department | vrf.marad.gov.ua/?lang=en |
| United Arab Emirates | Federal Transport Authority - Land & Maritime (FTA) | www.fta.gov.ae |
| Uruguay | Prefectura Naval Uruguay | www.officialguidetoshipregistries.com/ogsr-ship-registries-database/uruguay |
| Vanuatu | Vanuatu Maritime Services Limited (VMSL) | www.vanuatumaritime.com |
| Venezuela | Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuáticos (INEA) | www.inea.gob.ve |
| Vietnam | Vietnam Maritime Administration (VINAMARINE) | www.vinamarine.gov.vn |
| Yemen | Yemen Ministry of Transport — Maritime Affairs | — |
Primary sources
- · IMO STCW Convention and STCW Code (imo.org)
- · ILO MLC 2006 — seafarer certification obligations (ilo.org)
- · Paris MoU — crew documentation inspection data (parismou.org)
- · Tokyo MoU — STCW crew deficiency statistics (tokyo-mou.org)
See also
- · All flag states
- · Flag-state risk explained
- · MLC 2006 ratification by flag state
- · Port-state-control regimes
- · Reference: STCW
- · Compare flag states
- · Your rights: flag state obligations
- · Flag-state rankings
Portal URLs and contact details are provided for informational purposes. Seafarer Index does not guarantee availability or accuracy of third-party verification systems. Always verify directly with the flag administration before relying on certificate status for employment or compliance decisions.