GMA & Danaos Shipping Strengthen Ties to Boost Global Placement of Ghanaian Seafarers
The Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has reinforced its strategic partnership with global shipping giant Danaos Shipping and its local representative, Safety Marine, in a major drive to increase the placement of Ghanaian seafarers on international vessels.
According to the Director General of the GMA, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, the Authority is streamlining certification processes and working to resolve long-standing visa challenges as part of an ambitious roadmap to expand seafarer promotion and recruitment in Ghana.
“The GMA is committed to walking the road with its partners to ensure that Ghana remains a premier hub for maritime labor in West Africa,” Dr Ali said.
Recruitment Drive
Dr. Ali made these remarks during a courtesy call by representatives from the Greece-based Danaos Shipping Company and Safety Marine.
The visit coincided with a three-day recruitment exercise held from January 26–28, 2026, during which the team screened over 150 Ghanaian seafarer ratings to bolster their global employment pool.
Beyond the recruitment drive, discussions between the GMA management and the Danaos team focused on fleet expansion, the strategic choice of Ghana as a recruitment hub, and resolving critical bottlenecks like visa acquisitions and the remote assessment of ratings.”
Expansion and Global Recruitment
The Crew Site Representative at Danaos Shipping, Xenophon Chatzis, revealed that the company, which currently operates 83 vessels, is expanding its fleet with nearly 20 new containerships.
Within the African region, Mr Chatzis noted that while Danaos maintains its own offices in Tanzania to run its largest operations on the continent, the company remains heavily invested in the Ghanaian workforce.
Currently, Danaos employs 220 Ghanaian seafarer ratings across its global fleet, providing qualified personnel for both deck and engine roles.
However, he identified critical bottlenecks, such as difficulties in obtaining Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP), which continue to hinder recruitment efforts.
These delays, often characterized by the shortage of discharge booklets and the logistical burden of seafarers returning home for further training after fulfilling mandatory sea time, undermine the competitiveness of Ghanaian seafarers and create barriers to their professional advancement.
Additionally, visa acquisition remains a significant hurdle. Countries such as Brazil do not currently recognize Ghana’s Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID), requiring formal visas that often delay deployments to key international ports.
“Ghanaian seafarers in our fleet approach their job with remarkable positivity and politeness, making it easy to work with them,” Mr Chatzis stated, noting that the company intends to grow its numbers through new cadet programs and quarterly recruitment drives.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Safety Marine, the local recruitment agency for Danaos, Jonathan Okutu, commended the GMA for its improved customer service, noting that queries are being responded to promptly and documentation is being prioritised.
Innovative Solutions
Responding to these concerns, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali proposed innovative solutions, including a remote assessment model that would allow seafarers to upgrade their competence levels while at sea.
“The GMA is taking steps to simplify international travel for all categories of seafarers by engaging directly with embassies and airlines to ensure smoother visa acquisition and transit,”Dr. Ali noted.
He further announced the development of a “White List” for recruitment and placement agencies to ensure a more rigorous and transparent hiring process.
The Deputy Director-General, Mubarick Masawudu, added that the GMA will soon launch a national program to revolutionize the maritime sector. This initiative will focus on marketing both the technical expertise and the “soft skills” of Ghanaian seafarers to the global market, ensuring that investments in training translate into long-term global careers.
Source : GMA
