Annual Report of the Ghana Maritime Authority

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;

2 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

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

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:

Ship Survey Certificates issued in 2011

SURVEY & Ghana Maritime Ghana Association Total No. of CERTIFICATE TYPE Authority Surveyors of Marine Surveyors Certificates issued SAFETY EQUIPMENT 53 59 112 SAFETY RADIO 61 81 142 IOPP 20 12 32 LOADLINE 2 11 13 SAFETY 1 8 9 CONSTRUCTION SAFE MANNING 28 7 35 INT. TONNAGE 2 6 8 TOTAL 167 184 351

GMA surveyors conducting Flag State Inspection on Ship

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:

Summary of Vessel Types Inspected In 2011

NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS TONNAGE TYPE OF VESSEL 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.

GMA official conducting port state control inspection at Tema port

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

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 11

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

8.1.2 Summary of PSC Inspections for 2011

Port Total No. Of No. Of Ships No. Of Ships with No. Of Ships % of PSC Ships Called Inspected Deficiencies Detained 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:

Number of Ship Types Inspected at Takoradi Port in 2010 & 2011

30 2010 20 2011 10

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:

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

GMA official conducting PSC inspection on a tanker at Jubilee Oil Fields

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.

Officers monitoring at the Search and Rescue center, Tema

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.

Area to be avoided

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.

Oil Rig

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.

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,

20 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.

Director General of GMA interacting with the Finnish Delegation during the signing of the VTMIS Agreement

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.

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

22 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

CCTV Camera with Pan & Tilt Tower & Portable Container 23

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

24 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.

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

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.

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

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,

The strong room

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.

GMA Server room

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

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

SEAFARERS NUMBERS % DISCHARGED Old Seafarers 345 28 New Seafarers 884 70 Replacement 29 2 TOTAL 1258 100 %

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:

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

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:

 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.

Passenger Ferry

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

GMA surveyors inspecting and marking boat with loadlines

Marine surveyors inspecting boat on the Volta Lake 36

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.

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.

Naval Officers enforcing safety on the Volta Lake

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.

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

40 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

41 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.

Patrol Boat

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

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.

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.

Head Office Complex Aerial View

HEAD OFFICE BUILDING