The ship must be constructed and certified in compliance with the relevant international conventions, including the SOLAS, MARPOL, LOAD LINE and MLC Conventions.
The ship must be constructed and certified in compliance with the rules of a recognized classification society.
Ships registered in an EU country must comply with the “EU Directive on Marine Equipment” (the “Wheel Mark Directive”) regarding certain equipment. Equipment which is not wheel-marked is acceptable if the classification society on behalf of DMA finds that this equipment is of a standard equivalent to that of wheel-marked equipment.
Maritime Labour Convention
Danish ships must comply with the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Parts of the MLC’s international requirements have been implemented in Danish legislation via national regulation on occupational health and accommodation.
The operational national regulations on occupational health in ships are found in Notice A, which is available from the DMA webpage.
Technical regulations on occupational health and accommodation are found in Order No. 172 of 2022.
Danish regulation and interpretations above international regulations ect.
Danish regulation and interpretations which are above international regulations, requirements and standards – e.g. IACS standards – are listed below.
- People trapped inside a refrigerated room must be able to raise an alarm and escape the rooms even if doors are locked.
- Noise regulation: If the ship is not covered by the new international requirements on noise - SOLAS, regulation II-1/3-12, a noise measurement report shall be submitted to DMA for evaluation. A noise measurement from the time of the building of the ship will be sufficient.
- In all new ships approved to carry carcinogens in bulk (e.g. crude oil, petrol, benzene, vinyl chloride, butadiene, etc.), a separate bathroom/changing room must be provided if it is assessed that there is a risk of work clothes being contaminated. There shall be direct access from open deck to the room. The crew must be able to take off contaminated clothes and get cleaned in order to avoid contamination of the accommodation. Separate laundry facilities for contaminated clothes must be available.
If the crew is to work with epoxy resins or isocyanates on board, a bathroom/changing room, with hand free faucet for washbasin, shall be provided. This can be a common changing room equipped with hand free faucet and wash basin.
- Local point ventilation / extraction systems must be installed at permanent workstations where dust, fumes, gases, aerosols or similar unhealthy substances or matter are produced – e.g. welding benches, cleaning tubs, chemical mixing areas, mixing tables in paint shops and test benches for fuel injectors. The air outlet must be led to the open deck.
- Vertical ladders of more than 5 meters must be fitted with wire or rails for fixing the fall arrest harness.
- Galley
- Galley equipment must be of the same standard as CE certified equipment.
- It must be possible to lock tilting pans in all the positions used during cooking and cleaning.
- Point extraction must be fitted above the galley range.
- Floors must be fitted with non-skid material.
- Rotating/cutting equipment and large mixers must be shielded/safeguarded.
The DMA is prepared to consider equivalent solutions, as long as the intentions behind the provisions are complied with.
Hospital accommodation
In case where the ship is equipped with cabins for each individual seafarer and each cabin is equipped with toilet and bath, a hospital need not be installed. In its stead a treatment room which is suitably equipped including washbasin and emergency treatment area to be provided. Only one bed need be installed in the treatment room.
Ships' medicine chests
Danish national regulations stipulate rules on the contents of the medicine chest and the training of the person in charge of medical care (Notice A, chapter IX). The master and the person in charge of medical care (it can the same person) must have medical training according to EU regulation. Officers in charge of medical care from outside EU/EEA must have a 4-days supplementary course. The course can be obtained in Denmark, Manila and Mumbai.
More about it on our website
Danish Recognition Certificate (DRC)
In general, masters and officers must hold an appropriate Danish Recognition Certificate (DRC).
Officers other than the master can serve on Danish vessels with a Certificate of Receipt of Application (CRA) without holding a DRC for a period of three months if so requested by the ship owner after the application is submitted and validated by the DMA.
Nationality of master, other officers and crewmembers
As a general rule, a master can acquire a DRC if s/he is a citizen of an EU/EEA country. It is also possible to get permission to engage non-EU/EEA citizens as masters of specific vessels. For other officers and crewmembers they must be from the Danish list of countries with an agreement on recognition. If the institute from which the crew member holds certification is not approved s/he must go through an operational interview.
Courses in Danish shipping legislation
Management-level officers must pass relevant courses in Danish shipping legislation. Masters are required to pass Danish Maritime Legislation course for Foreign Masters, whereas other senior officers are required to pass Danish Maritime Legislation course for Senior Officers.
Courses in Danish shipping legislation are arranged by Danish Shipping’s Danish Shipping Academy in Manila, Mumbai, Gdynia and Copenhagen and by the maritime academies in Denmark.
This course is offered as an online/e-learning course by Danish Shipping.
For more information, please visit:
Medical examination
Seafarers serving on Danish vessels must hold a Health Certificate for Seafarers. The certificate can be obtained from authorized medical staff abroad.
Please consult our website for further information
Safety and Health Course
In cargo ships where the safe manning, including the master, numbers five persons or more, a safety organization must be established. One officer and one ship's assistant must have successfully completed a §16 course (Notice A Ch. XI). The courses are offered by approved training providers in Denmark as well as abroad. For example, the maritime academies in Denmark offers §16 course. Abroad Danish Shipping’ Danish Shipping Academy in Manila, Mumbai, Gdynia offers §16 courses. This course is also available as an online e-learning course by Danish Shipping or by Sea, Health and Welfare.
Ship’s cook
Persons may serve as ship's cooks without holding a Danish certificate of competency if they hold a valid certificate of endorsement pursuant to Order No. 1305 of 05/12/2019.
Further information on our website
Minimum safe manning
Information about the safe manning document is also available on our DMA website
Please note that the DMA will have to make an individual assessment of the safe manning requirements.
Remember – your Point of Contact will help you with all the information and assistance you need.