Tanzania
- Who issues it
- Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), Registrar of Seafarers, for mainland seafarer certificates; Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) for Zanzibar; Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) for port permissions; Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for GMDSS operator certification.
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
Do you need a licence?
Pleasure craft need a vessel licence to operate or anchor in ports covered by the 2024 Ports Regulations. Mainland small-ship safety rules cover paid pleasure craft from 4 m. Personal skipper-certificate thresholds and Zanzibar's recreational rules remain unconfirmed.
Boat licence
- What it lets you do
- Allows the pleasure craft to operate or anchor in ports covered by the 2024 Ports Regulations; this is a vessel licence, not a skipper certificate.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Rating forming part of a navigational watch / Able Seafarer Deck
STCW II/4; II/5- What it lets you do
- Two separate deck-rating certificates for watchkeeping and able-seafarer duties on seagoing ships of 500 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of less than 500 GT (NCV)
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- Navigation watch officer on ships under 500 GT on near-coastal voyages.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Master (near-coastal) on ships less than 500 GT
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- Command of ships under 500 GT on near-coastal voyages.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 GT or more
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- Navigation watch officer on seagoing ships of 500 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Chief Mate / Chief Mate on ships of between 500 and 3,000 GT
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- Separate grades for ships from 500 to under 3,000 GT, and ships of 3,000 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Master / Master on ships of between 500 and 3,000 GT
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- Separate command certificates for ships from 500 to under 3,000 GT, and ships of 3,000 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Restricted Radiotelephone Operators Certificate (VHF only)
- What it lets you do
- Marine VHF radiotelephony; listed in the statutory radio-manning table.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
GMDSS Restricted Operators Certificate
ROC- What it lets you do
- Listed for near-coastal ships of 300 GT or more in the statutory radio-manning table.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
GMDSS General Operators Certificate
GOC- What it lets you do
- Listed for ships of 300 GT or more on unlimited voyages in the statutory radio-manning table.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ready to study for it?
The Academy is free with an account: lessons for every topic, timed mocks marked like the real exam, and your progress saved.
Official sources: Office of the Attorney General — Ports Regulations, 2024, regulations 104–105 · TASAC — Merchant Shipping (Small Ships, Local Cargo Ship Safety, Small Ship Safety, Surveys and Inspections for Vessels Engaged on Local and Coastal Voyages, Inland Waters) Regulations, 2004, regulation 3 · TASAC — Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning) Regulations, 2016, certification requirements, foreign certificates and Table 7 · TASAC — Merchant Shipping (Establishment and Operation of Aids to Navigation) Regulations, 2023, regulation 4(2) · TASAC — Merchant Shipping (Establishment and Operation of Aids to Navigation) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 · TASAC — Updated Application Form for Oral Examination, Deck Officers · Zanzibar Maritime Authority — Application for Boat Master/Engineer’s Licence · Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority — Telecommunications and Internet, GMDSS licensing