- Office of Electronic Communications

Communication on the submission of applications and the renewal of GMDSS certificates

Due to the special situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) and bearing in mind the significant difficulties in renewal of the following GMDSS certificates:

a / First Class Radio Electronic Certificate;

b / GMDSS Second-Class Radio Electronic Certificate;

c / GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC);

d / GMDSS Restricted Operator's Cetificate (ROC),

following the guidelines as set out in the circular of the International Maritime Organization No. 4204 / Add.5 of 17 March 2020, we would like to inform you that:

1 / Seafarers whose GMDSS certificates have expired or will expire in the near future meeting the conditions for their renewal pursuant to the provisions of the Regulation of the Minister of Administration and Digitial Affairs of 16 January 2015 on the certificates of radio equipment operator (Journal of Laws of 2015 item 99), in addition to the current form of submitting applications to the President of UKE, they can submit applications, along with the required attachments and a photo, also in electronic form, using the PUE or ePUAP platform.

2 / Due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2), which completely prevent seafarers currently employed on ships from submitting an application for certificate renewal, it is assumed that GMDSS certificates held by seafarers who meet the conditions for their renewal, GMDSS certificates expired on March 1, 2020 and later or will expire in the near future, are valid until September 1, 2020.

At the same time, we would like to inform you that due to the lack of international arrangements in this area, such extension of the validity of a certificate may not be taken into account by all maritime administrations of other countries.

Information about the extension of the validity of GMDSS certificates is also posted in Polish on the Public Information Bulletin website and on the website dedicated to confirming the validity of GMDSS certificates.