Marshall Islands publishes Coronavirus disease updates

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator has published Marine Safety Advisory (MSA) No. 22-22 with the amendments to inform stakeholders that the validity of specific Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) seafarer documentation has been extended to 30 June 2023.

This MSA was published on November 22nd, 2022.

Global surveillance is continual, and cases persist worldwide.

WHO remains the primary source of advice on trading and traveling to regions and countries where COVID-19 risks exist.

Physical inspections have resumed in most areas of the world with only a few exceptions.

To lessen the pressures tied to local and national based mitigation measures surrounding COVID-19, the Administrator will permit a general extension for the validity of the following RMI certificates to 30 June 2023:

• Certificates of Competency (CoCs);  
• Certificates of Proficiency (CoPs);  
• Medical Certificates;  
• Seafarer Identity and Record Books (SIRBs);
• Urgent Authorization (UA);
• Certificate of Receipt of Application (CRA; and
• Acknowledgement of Application.

The International  Convention on Standards of  Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Medical Certificates are valid for three months from the expiration date in accordance with STCW Regulation I/9. The validity of STCW Medical Certificates, which are due to expire, are granted an extended validity to 30 June 2023.  

The Administrator will honor all extensions of national CoCs and CoPs issued by IMO White Listed parties by extending RMI Certificates of Endorsement accordingly.

The extended validity has been allowed to provide enough time for seafarers to apply for recertification once the pandemic has ended and to avoid interrupting the critical flow of goods and services during this unprecedented emergency.

For more information, please see the link below:

RELEVANT DOCUMENT (AVAILABLE ONLY TO SUBSCRIBERS):

Coronavirus Disease Updates