We received a question: if I submit an application to the Maritime Administration for a new rank, does my current certificate remain valid, or is it cancelled? 🤔
Let’s break it down 👇
The current version of the Regulation, approved by CMU Resolution No. 1499, contains Clause 112:
“A seafarer’s qualification document may be cancelled only on the basis of a court decision that has entered into legal force.” ⚖️
Clause 112 specifies the cases in which the Maritime Administration must apply to the court for document cancellation: specifically, when inaccurate or forged data is discovered in a seafarer’s documents during an additional check, or in cases prescribed by the results of a marine casualty investigation.
In other words, submitting an application for a new or next-level certificate of competency does not, in itself, constitute grounds for cancelling an existing qualification document. ✅
This also aligns with Article 51 of the Merchant Shipping Code of Ukraine:
“Deprivation of rank and the withdrawal of a certificate of competency or qualification certificate are permitted only by court decision.”
There is also an important provision directly in Clause 2 of Resolution No. 1499 itself: qualification documents issued before the Resolution entered into force “remain valid until their expiration date” (or indefinitely, if issued without an expiration date).
Therefore, the conclusion is 👇
If a seafarer holds a valid certificate of competency plus an endorsement and submits documents—for example, to obtain the next rank—the mere submission of the application does not terminate the validity of the existing documents. ✅
An old document does not automatically become invalid simply because an application for a new one is being processed. Its cancellation requires a court decision that has entered into legal force—per Clause 112 of Resolution No. 1499.
Are you planning to obtain or revalidate a rank? ⚓️
We’ll review and help you assemble your document package before submission to avoid rejection. 📄
Type “+” in the comments, and our manager will get in touch with you. 📩
Seamen’s Club 🇺🇦