Administrative
Resolution No. (5) of 2024
Concerning
the
Requirements and Procedures for
Vessel Crew Licensing[1]
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The Executive Director of the Dubai Maritime
Authority,
Law No. (11) of 2010
Concerning the Licensing of Vessels in the Emirate of Dubai;
Law No. (3) of 2023
Concerning the Dubai Maritime Authority;
Executive Council
Resolution No. (11) of 2013 Issuing the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (11) of
2010 Concerning the Licensing of Vessels in the Emirate of Dubai and its
amendments; and
Administrative Resolution
No. (4) of 2024 Approving the Minimum Safe Manning Manual for Vessels in the
Emirate of Dubai,
Does hereby
issue this Resolution.
The
following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Resolution, will
have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies
otherwise:
|
UAE: |
The United Arab Emirates. |
|
Emirate: |
The Emirate of Dubai. |
|
DMA: |
The Dubai Maritime Authority. |
|
Executive Council Resolution: |
Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2013
Issuing the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (11) of 2010 Concerning the
Licensing of Vessels in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments. |
|
Waters of the Emirate: |
The waters of the Emirate lying between the
Dubai-Sharjah border and the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border, and extending to the
exclusive economic zone, including the internal waters of the Emirate, such
as Ports, harbours, marinas, canals, waterways, and creeks. |
|
Vessel: |
Any vessel of any type or structure whatsoever
operated on the Waters of the Emirate to transport Passengers or Goods for
personal, commercial, sports, or tourism purposes. |
|
Vessel Operator: |
A natural person who holds a Permit issued by the
DMA authorising him to navigate a Vessel. This includes a Master, Nokhada,
and the operator of a Wooden Ship designated for fishing, cargo transport, or
other commercial purposes, as well as the operator of a recreational Vessel
or boat. |
|
Crew Member: |
A natural person who works on board a Vessel on a
continuous basis and in any capacity. This includes a Pilot, Seaman, Marine
Engine Operator, or Marine Electrician. |
|
Permit: |
A document issued by the DMA in accordance with the
requirements and rules stipulated in the Executive Council Resolution and
this Resolution, authorising a natural person to navigate and work on board a
Vessel. |
|
Qualifying Courses: |
The mandatory courses that must be successfully
completed in order to obtain the Permit. These include courses related to
Maritime Safety, Maritime Navigation, maritime communications, and any other
courses specified by the DMA in accordance with the Manual. |
|
Maritime Safety: |
A set of rules, measures, procedures, and methods
aimed at protecting lives, property, and the marine environment from risks
and accidents arising from the use of Vessels and the conduct of Maritime
Activities. |
|
Maritime Navigation: |
A set of activities and techniques employed to navigate
a Vessel efficiently and safely. This includes, without limitation, the use
of nautical charts and maps, control of the Vessel, communications with the
Vessel, determination of its position, and the prior planning of its intended
route. |
|
Academic Qualifications and Experience Certificates: |
|
|
Theoretical Examination and Assessment: |
An oral or written examination conducted by the DMA
for a natural person seeking to obtain a Permit, for the purpose of verifying
his knowledge of the Maritime Navigation Rules and Maritime Safety, and of
any other matters as prescribed by the DMA under the Manual. |
|
Practical Examination and Assessment: |
A practical examination conducted by the DMA for a
natural person seeking to obtain a Permit, for the purpose of verifying his competence
and ability to navigate a Vessel, based on the category and type of the
Vessel, as prescribed in the Manual. |
|
Manual: |
A document adopted by the DMA and published on the
Electronic System, setting out the standards and requirements for the evaluation
and equivalence of maritime certificates and licences, the mandatory medical
examinations to be undertaken, Qualifying Courses, Academic Qualifications
and Experience Certificates, and the scope and requirements of the
Theoretical Examination and Assessment and the Practical Examination and
Assessment, as well as other matters to be complied with for the purpose of
obtaining the Permit. |
|
Electronic System: |
A digital platform operated by the DMA through which
Permits are issued. |
The
types of Vessel Crew Permits will be as follows:
1.
Vessel navigation Permit; and
2.
Vessel Crew Member work Permit.
a.
The
Operators
of the following Vessels are required to obtain a Permit for their operation:
1.
Recreational Vessels;
2. commercial Vessels;
3. Wooden Ships;
4. Abras;
5. fishing Vessels; and
6. any other Vessel as determined
pursuant to the relevant resolution of the Executive Director of the DMA.
b.
Sports
Vessels
owned by rental companies licensed by the competent entities in the Emirate are
exempt from the requirement to have a Permit.
A
person working on board a Vessel in any operational, service, security, or
other capacity, on a continuous basis, must obtain a Work Permit for Vessel Crew
Member, regardless of whether his role is specified in the Vessel’s Minimum
Safe Manning Document.
a.
No person may operate or work on a
Vessel unless he has obtained the required Permit.
b.
An
applicant submitting an application to the DMA
for a Permit must:
1.
not,
at the time he is issued with the
Permit, be less than:
I.
sixteen
(16) years of age, for persons applying for a Permit to navigate or work on
board a Recreational Vessel;
II.
eighteen
(18) years of age, for persons applying for a Permit to navigate or work on
board a commercial Vessel; or for a Master’s Permit, first mate’s Permit,
Seaman’s Permit, a Permit to navigate a Wooden Ship or an Abra, or an
Assistant Marine Engine Operator’s Permit (1,500 kW or 3,000 kW), depending on
the type and category of the Vessel as specified in the Manual; and
III.
twenty
(20) years of age, for persons applying for a Pilot’s Permit, Marine
Electrician's Permit, or for an Assistant Marine Engine Operator’s Permit (750
kW, 1,500 kW, or 3,000 kW), depending on the type and category of the Vessel as
specified in the Manual;
2.
successfully
complete the Qualifying Courses
accredited by the DMA based on the category and type of the Vessel and the type
of Permit applied for, as specified in the Manual.
3.
hold
the Academic and Experience Certificates
required to navigate or work on board the Vessel, based on its category and
type, and according to the type of Permit applied for, as specified in the
Manual;
4.
be
knowledgeable of local Maritime
Navigation rules applicable to the type of Permit applied for, as specified in
the Manual;
5.
pass
the Theoretical
Examination and Assessment, the Practical Examination and Assessment, or both,
depending on the category and type of the Vessel, as specified in the Manual;
6.
be
medically fit to navigate or work on board the Vessel, as prescribed by the DMA
and specified in the Manual;
7.
pay
the fees prescribed by the DMA for issuing the Permit; and
8.
meet
any other requirements set forth in the applicable legislation.
c.
An
applicant submitting an application to the DMA
for a Permit to navigate a Vessel used for fishing must:
1.
be
a UAE national;
2.
hold
a Nokhadha or assistant Nokhadha card issued by the Ministry of
Climate Change and Environment; and
3.
be
familiar with the local Maritime Navigation rules.
a.
A Permit application must be
submitted, through the Electronic System, on the form prescribed by the DMA for
this purpose. The application must be supported by the following documents:
1.
one (1) colour passport-size
photograph;
2.
for UAE nationals, a copy of the
family book (Khulasat Qaid), passport, and identity card issued by the
competent authority in the UAE; and for non-UAE nationals, a copy of the
passport and a valid UAE residence permit and identity card issued by the
competent authority in the UAE;
3.
a copy of the certificate proving the Academic Qualifications and Experience Certificates
required to work on board the Vessel, depending on the category and type of the
Vessel, as specified in the Manual;
4.
a copy of the certificates proving completion of the required Qualifying Courses, depending
on the category and type of the Vessel, as specified in the Manual;
5.
a
copy of the medical fitness certificate issued
by medical authorities recognised by the DMA, after fulfilling the requirements
outlined in the forms published on the Electronic System; and
6.
a copy of any other documents specified on the Electronic System.
b.
The DMA will review the Permit application and
all required documents, and verify the authenticity of the Academic
Qualifications and Experience Certificates and the successful completion of
Qualifying Courses, in accordance with the equivalency tables for navigation
certificates and Permits set out in the Manual.
c.
The DMA will approve the Permit application within:
1.
one (1) working day from the date of passing either the Theoretical Examination and
Assessment, or the Practical Examination and Assessment, or both, depending on
the category and type of the Vessel, as specified in the Manual, for
applications for a Vessel navigation Permit; or
2.
three (3) working days from the date of submitting the application and verifying that
all the required conditions for obtaining a Vessel Crew Member Permit have been
met.
d.
If a Permit application is incomplete or does not meet the
conditions and procedures specified in this Article, the DMA will grant the
applicant a grace period not exceeding ninety (90) days from the date of
application submission to complete the required documents and address the
deficiencies identified by the DMA. If not completed within this period, the
application will be deemed cancelled.
e.
No fees will be charged during the grace period mentioned in
paragraph (d), except for the fees related to the theoretical and practical
assessments, which will be payable for each retake following a failed attempt.
The
DMA may issue a temporary Permit to navigate or work on board a Vessel for a
period not exceeding three (3) months, subject to the requirements and
procedures stipulated in Articles (5) and (6) of this Resolution. In this case,
a copy of the UAE visit visa or entry permit issued to the applicant, who is
not a UAE national or resident, must be submitted.
1.
Maritime Navigation rules;
2.
Maritime Navigation techniques and navigational equipment;
3.
international regulations for preventing collisions at sea;
4.
seamanship and maintenance of Vessels and their equipment;
5.
responsibilities and duties of Masters;
6.
Vessel manoeuvring and control;
7.
Maritime Safety and marine emergency procedures; and
8.
any other areas specified in the Manual.
The
scope of the Practical Examination and Assessment for an applicant for a Vessel
navigation Permit will be determined based on the category and type of the
Vessel, as specified in the Manual, and may include the following areas:
1.
operation of the equipment and machinery of the
Vessel in a proper and safe manner;
2.
control of Vessel speed and
determination of safe speed, in accordance with the international regulations
for preventing collisions at sea;
3.
compliance with Maritime Navigation
rules during Vessel navigation;
4.
proper use of Maritime Navigation
technologies and navigational equipment;
5.
tying and untying of the Vessel’s
mooring ropes in a safe manner;
6.
berthing of the Vessel at the dock
in a safe and effective manner;
7.
execution of manoeuvres and control
of the Vessel in a safe and effective manner;
8.
proper implementation of Maritime
Safety procedures and marine emergency procedures; and
9.
any other areas specified in the
Manual.
An
electronic register, to be known as the Vessel Crew Register, will be
maintained by the DMA, in which the names of persons licensed to navigate Vessels and
persons working on board of Vessels will be recorded. This register will
include the following information:
1.
the name and nationality of the Permit holder;
2.
the Permit number and date of issuance;
3.
the type and category of the Vessel associated with the Permit;
4.
the address and contact details of the Permit holder;
5.
the academic qualifications, and maritime or professional permits
obtained, by the Permit holder; and
6.
any additional information specified by the DMA.
Any
person may, in special and justified cases dictated by the public interest, and
pursuant to a resolution of the DMA’s Executive Director, be exempted from any
of the conditions and requirements stipulated in this Resolution for obtaining
a Permit to navigate or work on board a Vessel, provided that this does not
compromise Maritime Safety or Maritime Navigation in the Waters of the Emirate.
The
penalties and sanctions stipulated in the Executive Council Resolution will be
imposed on any person who violates the provisions of this Resolution.
Any
provision in any other administrative resolution is hereby repealed to the
extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Resolution.
This
Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force
on the day on which it is published.
Dr. Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al
Maktoum
Executive Director
Dubai Maritime Authority
Issued in Dubai on 7 November 2024
Corresponding to 5 Jumada al-Ula 1446 A.H.
©2025 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the
Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort has been made to produce an
accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the
purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the
original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.