No. 1 of 2026 - RECOGNITION OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY FOREIGN ADMINISTRATIONS UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, 1978 (STCW 1978
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
SHIPPING CIRCULAR
NO. 01 OF 2026
MPA Shipping Division
460 Alexandra Road
#21-00, mTower
Singapore 119963
http://www.mpa.gov.sg
11 February 2026
Applicable to: Holders of Certificate of Competency (COC), Certificate of
Proficiency (COP) and GMDSS General/Restricted Operator Certificate
(GOC/ROC) issued by a foreign administration, as well as flag States, port States,
shipowners, ship managers, agents and entities of persons engaged in the services
of seafarers holding COC, COP and GOC/ROC issued by a foreign administration.
RECOGNITION OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY FOREIGN ADMINISTRATIONS
UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING,
CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, 1978 (STCW 1978), AS
AMENDED
This circular informs the industry of the Singapore’s recognition of certificates
issued by or on behalf of foreign administrations, under the International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, (STCW
1978), as amended.
2 The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), in its role as the maritime
administration of Singapore, conducts evaluation and verification prior to the
recognition of STCW certificates issued by or on behalf of foreign administrations,
pursuant to STCW regulation I/10.
3 This recognition is based on the fulfilment of relevant requirements prescribed
under the STCW Convention and Code by foreign administrations, such as maritime
training, certification and quality standards, followed by the signing of an undertaking
between both parties. The list of recognised foreign administrations is listed in the
Annex.
4 Notwithstanding the above, MPA retains the right to reject any certificates that
do not meet our requirements.
5 Any queries relating to this Shipping Circular shall be emailed to
COC@mpa.gov.sg.
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6 This circular supersedes Shipping Circular No. 21 of 2017.
CHEAH AUN AUN
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
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ANNEX
LIST OF FOREIGN ADMINSTRATIONS RECOGNISED BY SINGAPORE UNDER THE STCW 1978, AS AMENDED
CHINA,
ARGENTINA 11 PEOPLE'S 21 FINLAND 31 INDONESIA 41 LITHUANIA 51 PANAMA1 61 SOUTH AFRICA 71 VIET NAM
1
REPUBLIC OF
PAPUA NEW
2 AUSTRALIA 12 CROATIA 22 FRANCE 32 IRELAND 42 MALAYSIA 52 62 SPAIN
GUINEA
ISLAMIC REP
3 AZERBAIJAN 13 CYPRUS 23 GEORGIA 33 43 MALTA 53 PHILIPPINES 63 SRI LANKA
OF IRAN
CZECH
4 BAHAMAS 14 24 GERMANY 34 ITALY 44 MEXICO 54 POLAND 64 SWEDEN
REPUBLIC
DEMOCRATIC
PEOPLE'S
5 BANGLADESH 15 25 GHANA 35 JAMAICA 45 MONTENEGRO 55 PORTUGAL 65 THAILAND
REUBLIC OF
KOREA
6 BELGIUM 16 DENMARK 26 GREECE 36 JAPAN 46 MYANMAR 56 ROMANIA 66 TUNISIA
HONG NETHERLANDS,
RUSSIAN
7 BRAZIL 17 EGYPT 27 KONG, 37 JORDAN 47 KINGDOM OF 57 67 TÜRKIYE
FERDERATION
CHINA THE
8 BULGARIA 18 ESTONIA 28 HUNGARY 38 KENYA 48 NEW ZEALAND 58 SERBIA 68 UKRAINE
KOREA,
SLOVAK UNITED
9 CANADA 19 ETHIOPIA 29 ICELAND 39 REPUBLIC 49 NORWAY 59 69
REPUBLIC KINGDOM
OF
UNITED STATES
10 CHILE 20 FIJI 30 INDIA 40 LATVIA 50 PAKISTAN 60 SLOVENIA 70
OF AMERICA
1 The recognition applies only to Panama Certificate of Competency (COC) holders who have completed preparatory courses for COC acquisition from either:
a) Universidad Maritime Internacional De Panama (UMIP), or
b) Columbus University, Facultad De Ciencias Marinas Y Tecnologicas
When applying for a Certificate of Endorsement (COE), applicants must submit certificates from these institutions alongside their COC.
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