The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) invites you to experience quality shipping with a special focus on safe ships, safe Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU) and health and the environment.

MODU’s registered in DIS must comply with international regulations, requirements and standards. In this folder you will receive information on the Danish requirements and interpretations which are above the international level.

This is a guide for drilling contractors, shipping companies, consultants and managers (Company) responsible for the building or transfer of MODU’s to the Danish International Ship Register (DIS). The guide describes the regulations, requirements and procedures applicable when a MODU is built or transferred to DIS.

The DMA has a specialized offshore/drilling group who will assist the company throughout the approval process in identifying the persons – both within the DMA as in other relevant public authorities or private organizations in Denmark – needed by the Company through the approval process. Communication will be direct, informal and precise.

The DMA has established a Point of Contact scheme for a Company considering registration of MODU’s under the Danish flag. The first time a Company contacts the DMA, a ship surveyor from the DMA is appointed as the Company’s Point of Contact – the direct link between the Company and the DMA.

The Point of Contact will assist and guide you during the whole process.

Send an e-mail to cfs@dma.dk to request a Point of Contact and we will contact you.

The DMA can offer you a consultancy survey before you make a decision whether or not to transfer to the Danish flag. This way the DMA can inform you of the requirements for your particular MODU to facilitate a seamless transfer to the Danish flag, which will enable you to estimate the costs involved.

Detailed information on registration may be obtained from our colleagues in the Register of Shipping either by e-mail srg@dma.dk or by telephone +45 72 19 60 00.

The actual approval process begins as soon as the owner has signed and submitted the official notification forms (one for each MODU) to the DMA. The owner will then receive detailed information about the approval and certification process.

MODU’s built to the Danish International Ship Register

• Approval, survey and certification are fully delegated to the classification societies recognized by DMA (ABS, BV, DNV, KR, LR, NK, PRS, CCS, IRS and RINA).
• When the approval process is completed and the MODU is ready for delivery, the DMA will issue the national certificates to the

MODU’s transferred to the Danish International Ship Register

• Generally, MODU’s transferred to the Danish flag must comply with the relevant rules and regulations in force when the MODU was built and, in addition, regulations that have been introduced for existing MODU’s since the building
• MODU’s transferred to the Danish flag must comply with specific national regulations to the satisfaction of DMA.
• The DMA offers to meet with the owners to review the documentation and plan the forthcoming During this meeting, the DMA will as far as possible, identify the areas where the MODU potentially needs modifications or upgrading.
• The DMA will charge a fee (currently approximately EUR 00) for each hour spent regarding the approval process. The DMA may require an amount to be deposited prior to initiating the approval process.
• The DMA requires non-asbestos documentation for MODU’s built before 1 July 2002. For MODU’s built after 1 July 2002 and before 2011 a Non asbestos declaration must be signed and forwarded by owners.
• The owners must request the classification society to carry out a Change of Flag Survey in accordance with IMO Resolution 1140(31) and to issue provisional Danish statutory certificates to the ship

The unit must be constructed and certified in compliance with relevant international conventions, including the MODU code as amended, MARPOL and MLC Conventions. The MLC Convention applies only to the required crew according to the minimum safe manning, when the MODU is in transfer.

The MODU must be constructed and certified in compliance with the rules of a recognized classification society.

MODU’s registered in an EU country must comply with the “EU Directive on Marine Equipment” (the “Wheel Mark Directive”) regarding certain equipment. Equipment that is not wheel-marked is acceptable, if the classification society on behalf of DMA finds that the equipment has a standard equivalent to that of wheel-marked equipment.

If the unit is transferred from a non-EU flag, the unit must not contain ozone-depleting substances as it is prohibited to import ozone-depleting substances into the EU (Regulation (EC) no. 1005/2009, 16 September 2009.)

Danish regulation and interpretations which are above international regulations, requirements and standards – e.g. IACS standards – are listed below.

National regulations, requirements and interpretations

• People trapped inside a refrigerated room must be able to raise an alarm and escape the rooms even if doors are locked.

• 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.

  For existing MODU’S being transferred to Danish flag, DMA may accept operational procedures as equivalent.

• Local point 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.

Notice A, MLC, the Danish medicine chest and Danish courses are applicable if the MODU have a Minimum Safe Manning Document and signed on crew, while the MODU is afloat.  

Hospital accommodation

In case where the MODU 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. 

Maritime Labour Convention

Danish MODU’s 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: 

Ships' medicine chests

Danish national regulations stipulate rules on medicine chest contents and the education of medical examiners on board ships (Notice A, chapter IX). The master and the person in charge of medical care (it can be the same person) must have medical training according to EU regulation. Officers in charge of medical care 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

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.

Danish Recognition Certificate (DRC)

(NB - Only applicable if there is a Minimum Safe Manning certificate)

In general, masters and officers must hold an appropriate Danish Recognition Certificate (DRC).

Other officers than the master can serve on Danish MODU’s with a Certificate of Receipt of Application (CRA) without holding a DRC for a period of three months if so requested by the Company after the application is submitted and validated by the DMA.

Nationality of master, other officers and crewmembers

Generally, a master can only acquire a DRC if s/he is a citizen of an EU/EEA. It is also possible to get permission to engage non-EU/EEA citizens as masters of specific MODU’s. For other officers and crewmembers they must be from the Danish list of countries with an agreement of recognition. If the institute is not approved the crewmember 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 at the Danish Shipping Academy in Manila, Mumbai, Gdynia and Copenhagen and by maritime academies in Denmark.

This course is offered as an online/e-learning course by Danish Shipping.

For more information, please visit:

• The Danish Shipping
• Marstal Maritime Navigation Centre
• SIMAC
• Skagen Skipperskole

Further information on training and course providers on our website.  

Medical examination

Seafarers serving on Danish MODU’s 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 merchant ships where the safe manning, including the master, numbers five or more persons, a safety organization must be established. One officer and one rating 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.

Remember – your Point of Contact will help you with all the information and assistance you need.