Making the application
Governing: MS Notice 92 Rev.2 (28 Jun 2022); CY Notice 15. Builds on: Module 1.
One route in
Since MS Notice 92 Rev.2 (28 June 2022), endorsements are applied for online through the Seafarer Portal (seafarers.transport.gov.mt). The notice says the application may be made by the seafarer, a representative or the employer. On yachts that usually means the management company's crew department, though a captain running a small yacht may do it himself.
CAUTION — A paper route still appears on one government page The servizz.gov.mt WEB729 listing still describes a printed form sent to Lija with delivery "2 months". MS Notice 92 Rev.2 describes a portal-only process. Use the Portal; treat WEB729 as out of date unless TM tells you otherwise.
The upload list
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Competency | Clear scan, both sides if printed on both |
| Existing endorsements | Any current Malta endorsement being revalidated |
| GMDSS certificate | Deck officers: GOC or ROC must go in with the CoC (CY Notice 15) |
| Tanker certificates | Not relevant on yachts; leave blank |
| Identity | Valid passport, seaman's record book or official ID |
| Signature | Seafarer's own |
| Photograph | Colour, full face, white or light background |
The Portal highlights missing or incorrect information. If TM asks for something, it must arrive within 15 days of the request or the application is treated as abandoned, and you start again.
The deck GMDSS point
CY Notice 15 says non-Maltese deck CoCs (II/1, II/2, II/3, VII/2) "must be endorsed alongside a valid GMDSS General or Restricted Operator's Certificate". In practice the Malta endorsement lists both certificates. Two consequences:
- A deck officer whose GOC has lapsed will stall at this step, even with a valid CoC.
- A small-yacht officer who holds only an SRC has a problem. CYC 17.3.1 accepts SRC for the radio operator on yachts under 300 GT in Sea Area A1, but the endorsement notice asks for GOC or ROC. The two documents do not fit neatly together; ask TM.
Engineers
Engineer CoCs (III/1, III/2, III/3, III/6) go through the same Portal with the same identity documents. There is no GMDSS requirement. See Engineers on Malta Yachts for which engineer certificates Malta accepts without endorsement.
TIP — The avoidable rejections From experience of any flag's portal: an expired passport scan, a photo cropped from a group picture, a CoC scanned without the reverse (where the limitations are printed), and a name on the CoC that does not match the passport. Check all four before you press submit.
After submission
The Portal lets you download a printable acknowledgement for temporary use (Seafarer Portal page). Lesson 2.3 covers what that document is worth. Lesson 2.2 covers fees and timings.