Maritime Administration Department- GUYANA

What Maritime Administration Department- GUYANA does

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is Guyana's statutory maritime regulatory authority, established under the Guyana Shipping Act (Act No.7 of 1998) and headquartered in Georgetown. It is the sole agency responsible for monitoring, regulating, and coordinating all maritime activities within Guyana's waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, including implementation of IMO conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and the ISPS Code. MARAD operates four core divisions — Ports and Harbours, Maritime Safety, Port Security, and Seafarer Services — supported by an Offshore Operations Unit and an Office of the Director General, employing approximately 70 staff.

MARAD's service portfolio spans vessel registration and licensing, seafarer certification and welfare, maritime safety inspections, hydrographic surveys and navigation charts, pilotage at Georgetown and New Amsterdam ports, ISPS Code compliance across 20 regulated port facilities, and Search and Rescue coordination. The department has progressively digitized service delivery through online portals for Certificate of Clearance, EEZ Permits, Crude Transfer Applications, Vessel Requests, and Seafarer Registration, alongside a public Notice to Mariners system issuing 200+ safety notices annually covering offshore oil and gas operations in the Stabroek Block.

MARAD's funding combines statutory government budget allocation with transaction-based fees including harbour dues, vessel registration and licensing fees, seafarer certification fees, and crude transfer rates (0.47-0.63 USD per ton depending on weekday/weekend/holiday plus a 1,250 USD admin fee). Its regulated stakeholder base spans ship and boat owners, seafarers, shipping companies, terminal operators, importers/exporters, and partner government agencies including the Guyana Revenue Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, and the Guyana Energy Authority.

Name

Maritime Administration Department- GUYANA

Legal name

Maritime Administration Department

Website

https://marad.gov.gy

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Guyana's statutory maritime regulatory authority, administering vessel registration, seafarer certification, port security oversight, hydrographic services, and offshore EEZ operations under the Guyana Shipping Act (Act No.7 of 1998).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Regulatory Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD), Regulatory & Sanctions Compliance Screening for Maritime Operations (Trade Controls, AML) (TLAHANAL), Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN), Environmental, Spill Prevention & Response Compliance (MARPOL, SOPEP/SMPEP, Waste) (TLAHANAI)

Keywords

• Maritime regulatory services
• Vessel registration licensing
• Seafarer certification services
• Port security management
• Maritime safety inspections

Headquarters

HQ city

Georgetown

HQ country

Guyana

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Core operational funding provided through government budgetary allocations as a statutory department established under the Guyana Shipping Act (Act No.7 of 1998)
2. Harbour Dues and Fees: Collection of harbour dues from vessels using Guyana's ports and harbours. Schedule of Harbour Dues published and administered by the Ports & Harbours Division
3. Crude Transfer and Trading Fees: Fees charged for crude oil transfer operations including weekday, weekend, and holiday rates per ton (NRT), plus loitering charges, admin/processing fees of 1250 USD, and bank charges
4. Vessel Licensing and Registration Fees: Fees collected for vessel licensing, registration, inspection certificates, and related maritime documentation services
5. Seafarer Certification and Licensing Fees: Fees for certification, licensing of seafarers including discharge books, certificates of competency, and endorsement recognitions

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is the statutory national maritime regulatory authority of Guyana, administering the Guyana Shipping Act (Act No.7 of 1998). It regulates all maritime activities through four operational divisions (Ports and Harbours, Maritime Safety, Port Security, and Seafarer Services), delivers vessel registration and licensing, seafarer certification, pilotage, hydrographic surveys, ISPS Code compliance audits, and issues EEZ permits and crude transfer authorizations for offshore petroleum operators.

Product overview

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) of Guyana operates as a unified government services platform offering maritime regulatory and operational services. The core offering consists of integrated divisions: Ports and Harbours Division (port management, pilotage, dredging, hydrographic surveys), Maritime Safety Division (vessel inspections, surveys, seafarer certification, SAR), Port Security Section (ISPS compliance), and Seafarer Services (seafarer welfare, licensing). Online service modules include EEZ Permit Applications, Crude Transfer Applications, Vessel Registration/Licensing, Seafarer Registration, Certificate of Clearance, and Incident Reporting. The platform also disseminates Maritime Safety Information through Notice to Mariners and provides access to Maritime Laws, Bulletins, and Press Releases. MARAD supports Guyana's growing offshore oil operations with specialized crude transfer rates and offshore permit services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ports and Harbours Division Services Manages and develops ports in Guyana, providing pilotage services to international vessels at Georgetown and New Amsterdam ports. Handles buoyage, dredging of ship channels, hydrographic surveys, and produces navigation charts for rivers in Guyana.
• Maritime Safety Division Services Conducts inspections and surveys of vessels, including hull, machinery, and equipment. Handles registration and licensing of ships, training and certification of seafarers, marine pollution prevention, and Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR).
• Port Security Services Ensures implementation and maintenance of International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code requirements. Conducts Port Facility Security Audits every five years and annual verifications across 20 listed port facilities in Guyana.
• Seafarer Services Handles engagement, health, welfare, and occupational safety of seamen serving on Guyana ships and Guyanese citizens on foreign ships. Responsible for safe manning of Guyana ships and licensing of seamen. Serves as focal point for resolving seamanship complaints.
• Vessel Registration Services Comprehensive vessel registration services including new vessel registration, provisional registration certificates, change of ownership, deletion certificates, and renewal of registration certificates for ships operating under the Guyana flag.
• Vessel Licensing Services Licensing services for fishing vessels, pleasure crafts, bateaus, cargo vessels, passenger vessels, and government vessels operating in Guyana waters. Includes licensing for the Riverboat TURN System.
• Seafarer Licensing Services Licensing for Boatmasters, Boat Engineers, Harbour Licences, Water Taxi Bowman Credentials, and Certificates of Competency for Master and Engineer positions on qualifying vessels.
• Seafarer's Registry Maintains the registry of seafarers including new discharge books, revalidation, replacement services, and processing requirements for recognition of endorsements for Guyanese seafarers serving on foreign ships.
• EEZ Permit Application Online application process for obtaining permits to operate within Guyana's Exclusive Economic Zone. Requires comprehensive ship particulars, engine details, ownership information, and geospatial data for offshore operations.
• Crude Transfer Application Application service for crude oil transfer operations including ship-to-ship transfers, ballast water management, and garbage management plan documentation within Guyana's EEZ.
• Crude Transfer Rates Published fee schedule for crude lifting operations in Guyana's EEZ: 0.47 USD/ton NRT on weekdays, 0.53 USD/ton NRT on weekends, 0.63 USD/ton NRT on holidays, plus 0.125 USD/ton NRT loitering charges and 1,250 USD admin/processing fees.
• Maritime Safety Information Publishes Notice to Mariners (NtM) and Navigation Warnings covering offshore operations including drilling activities, FPSO operations, seismic surveys, and port operations for maritime users in Guyana's waters and EEZ.
• Certificate of Clearance Online application for vessel clearance certificates covering port of entry (Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Essequibo), docking/undocking services, pilotage, and destination documentation.
• Incident Report System Online incident reporting system for all vessels, boats, and ships including location, date/time, vessel types, injuries, casualties, and other incident details to support maritime safety oversight.
• Ports and Harbours Services Operational services covering dredging and surveying applications, hydrographic surveys, and marine construction applications for both private works and MARAD-conducted operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regulation and safety oversight of 20+ port facilities and unlimited registered vessels across Guyana's maritime zones
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and moderate.

• Shipping Association of GuyanacoreOthersCollaborative relationship with the Shipping Association of Guyana for port security compliance, regulatory coordination, and industry representation. The Association represents shipping industry interests and works with MARAD on port facility security audits and ISPS code implementation.
• ISPS Regulated Port Facilities (20 facilities)coreOthersMARAD works with 20 regulated port facilities including Bosai Mineral Group, Demerara Shipping, Guyana Oil Company, Guyana Shore Base Inc., and others to ensure ISPS code compliance, conduct security audits every five years, and maintain port security standards.
• Guyana Revenue AuthoritymajorOthersInter-agency coordination for customs documentation, import/export verification, and trade compliance at ports. GRA works with MARAD on vessel clearance and cargo documentation requirements.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) GuyanamajorOthersCoordination on marine pollution prevention, environmental compliance for offshore operations, and environmental impact assessment for maritime activities including dredging and port development.
• Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU)majorOthersLaw enforcement coordination for maritime drug trafficking suppression under the Maritime Drug Trafficking (Suppression) Act, Chapter 1007. Joint operations and intelligence sharing for anti-narcotics efforts at ports and in territorial waters.
• Guyana Police ServicemoderateOthersGeneral law enforcement coordination for maritime security, water taxi incident response, and criminal investigation support for maritime incidents.
• Guyana Energy AuthoritymajorOthersCoordination for energy sector maritime operations including offshore petroleum exploration and production activities within Guyana's EEZ.
• Ministry of Public Utilities and AviationmajorOthersParent ministry oversight and policy direction for MARAD's maritime administration functions. Ministry provides governmental oversight and inter-ministerial coordination.
• International Maritime Organisation (IMO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMARAD serves as the key agency for implementation and enforcement of IMO conventions, codes, and practices in Guyana. This includes SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and ISPS Code implementation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator: One of the largest open registries globally, providing flag-state administration, technical services, and regulatory oversight. Comparable as a competing flag state offering registration services to international vessel owners.
• Panama Maritime Authority: Operates the world's largest ship registry with comprehensive regulatory and port authority functions. Comparable in regulatory scope (registration, certification, port security) but vastly larger in scale and international reach.
• Bahamas Maritime Authority: One of the world's largest open ship registries with established regulatory infrastructure for vessel registration, seafarer certification, and compliance. Comparable as a Caribbean maritime regulator with a far larger scale and international footprint.

Direct peers

• Maritime Authority of Jamaica: Jamaica's national maritime administrator responsible for ship registration, seafarer certification, and regulatory compliance. Comparable as a Caribbean flag-state authority with a focus on open-registry competitiveness and international shipping.
• Suriname Maritime Authority: Suriname's national maritime authority overseeing vessel registration, port state control, and offshore operations coordination. Directly comparable given geographic proximity, similar regulatory scope, and shared oil-and-gas exploration activity off the Guianas coast.
• Maritime Services Division - Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad & Tobago's national maritime regulatory authority with parallel responsibilities for vessel registration, seafarer certification, port security, and ISPS Code enforcement. Highly comparable as a Caribbean flag-state administrator serving an oil-and-gas-active maritime sector.
• Antigua & Barbuda Department of Maritime Services: National maritime administrator handling vessel registration and seafarer licensing in a small Caribbean jurisdiction. Comparable regulatory scope to MARAD in a similar small-state context.
• Barbados Maritime Ship Registry: Barbados operates a competitive ship registry and provides flag-state administration, seafarer certification, and regulatory oversight. Comparable as a Caribbean flag-state administrator seeking to attract international tonnage.

Others

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): The UN specialized agency that sets international maritime conventions (SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, ISPS) implemented by MARAD. Comparable as the upstream regulatory and convention-setting body whose frameworks MARAD enforces nationally.
• Environmental Protection Agency (Guyana): Guyana's domestic environmental regulator coordinating with MARAD on marine pollution prevention, dredging oversight, and offshore environmental compliance. Comparable as a closely partnered adjacent regulator within the same national governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maritime-administration-department-guyana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maritime Administration Department- GUYANA