RMI issued a marine advisory 06/2025 advicing RMI’s requirment for seafarer’s certfication. Due to the recent increase in fraudulent practices related to seafarer certification required by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator (the “Administrator”) reminds owners, operators, manning agencies, Masters, and crewmembers working on board RMI-flagged vessels of the Administrator’s requirements and relevant international regulations.
The STCW Convention establishes mandatory standards for the training and assessment of seafarers, which are to be implemented by States Party to the Convention through relevant laws and regulations. Furthermore, each administration is required to ensure that these quality standards are enforced with regard to the training, examination, and certification of seafarers working on board its flagged vessels.
As a result of the recent increase in the number of questionable certificates being submitted to the Administrator for endorsement, seafarers holding STCW Convention certification issued by or under the authority of a government other than their place of citizenship may be required to present additional documentation in support of their application.
Seafarers found to have submitted documents that are not fully compliant with the STCW Convention requirements, or are suspected of having been obtained fraudulently, are reminded that, in accordance with Reporting Suspected Certificate Fraud (RMI Marine Notice (MN) 1-004-2), the Administrator may apply administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for fraud associated with seafarer documentation as provided by relevant national requirements.
Please refer to the Administrator’s requirements as stated in the following:
Reporting Suspected Certificate Fraud (MN 1-004-2).
RMI Maritime Regulations (MI-108), §1.06.5 and §1.06.6;
Requirements for Seafarer Certification (MI-118), §2.10 and §3.2.2;
Familiarization with National Maritime Legislation (MI-105A); and