Søfartsstyrelsen
Søfartsstyrelsen is the Danish Maritime Authority, a state agency issuing seafarer certificates, registering Danish-flagged ships, and enforcing maritime safety under IMO conventions. It serves seafarers, shipping companies, recreational sailors, and fisheries through digital self-service platforms and a mobile app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersKorsør, Denmark
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Søfartsstyrelsen does
Søfartsstyrelsen (the Danish Maritime Authority) is a Danish state agency (statslig styrelse) operating under the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, headquartered in Korsør, Denmark with 254 employees. Founded in 1988, it serves as Denmark's exclusive flag-state administration, responsible for maritime safety regulation, ship inspection and registration, seafarer certification under STCW/MLC conventions, maritime navigation data, environmental and climate regulation for shipping, and maritime sanctions enforcement. Its primary user segments are professional seafarers, shipping companies operating Danish-flagged vessels, recreational sailors, and commercial fisheries.
The agency's core technology platform is a digital self-service infrastructure comprising services.dma.dk for certificate and document applications, the My Maritime mobile app (iOS/Android, launched October 2021) for offline credential management and sea-time registration, the Digitalt Skibsregister (shipregistration.dma.dk) for ship ownership records, and verify.dma.dk for public STCW certificate authentication. Supporting operations include the Center for det Maritime Sundhedsvæsen on Fanø for maritime medical training and approved maritime physicians for health certification.
Søfartsstyrelsen is funded through Danish government appropriations supplemented by statutorily fixed service fees — including 625 DKK per Søfartsbog (seafarer's book), 855 DKK per certificate application, annual ship-register fees, and inspection charges. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the digital platforms and a physical customer-service office in Korsør. The agency is not a commercial enterprise and has no external shareholders, funding rounds, or M&A history; strategic activity is limited to internal product launches (Future Lab in 2023), international cooperation agreements with peer maritime authorities, and pilot training schemes for alternative-fuel certifications.
Søfartsstyrelsen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Søfartsstyrelsen
- Legal name
- Søfartsstyrelsen
- Website
- https://sfs.dk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Søfartsstyrelsen is the Danish Maritime Authority, a state agency issuing seafarer certificates, registering Danish-flagged ships, and enforcing maritime safety under IMO conventions. It serves seafarers, shipping companies, recreational sailors, and fisheries through digital self-service platforms and a mobile app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Søfartsstyrelsen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Regulatory Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- 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), Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD), Regulatory & Sanctions Compliance Screening for Maritime Operations (Trade Controls, AML) (TLAHANAL), Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN), Medical Assistance & Ship-to-Shore Healthcare Coordination (TLAHAJAG)
Keywords
Where Søfartsstyrelsen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Korsør
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Søfartsstyrelsen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Funded through general government taxation as a Danish regulatory authority
- Certificate and Document Fees: Fees charged for issuing seafarer books (625 DKK), certificates (855 DKK), and other maritime documents
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Seafarer's Book (Søfartsbog) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Certificate Application Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels2 records
Søfartsstyrelsen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Søfartsstyrelsen (Danish Maritime Authority) is a Danish state agency under the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs that regulates maritime activity in Denmark. It issues certificates, seafarers' books, medical certificates and ship inspection approvals; operates the Danish ship register; and provides digital self-service platforms (services.dma.dk, verify.dma.dk, shipregistration.dma.dk) and a mobile application (My Maritime) for seafarers, shipping companies, fisheries and recreational sailors.
Product overview
Søfartsstyrelsen (Danish Maritime Authority) operates as a unified digital services platform offering maritime administration services. The core offering comprises the Selvbetjeningsløsninger (Self-Service Platform) at services.dma.dk, supplemented by the My Maritime mobile app for on-the-go access. Supporting services include the Digitalt Skibsregister (Digital Ship Register) for ship registration, Certificate Verification Service for STCW credential authentication, and various maritime documentation services including Søfartsbog (Seafarer's Book), Kvalifikationsbevis (Certificates of Proficiency), Radiobevis (Radio Certificates), and Sundhedsbevis (Health Certificates). The organization also provides maritime education management, sea time registration, ship inspection services, navigation information, and sanctions enforcement. The My Maritime app serves as a companion to the self-service platform, enabling seafarers to manage credentials digitally while offline.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- My Maritime: Mobile application for seafarers to manage their maritime credentials, register sea service time, and access digital certificates.
- Digitalt Skibsregister
Products and services
- Danish Ship Registration Statutory registration of vessels under the Danish flag, operated through the shipregistration.dma.dk online portal for shipowners, operators and shipping companies.
- Seafarer Certification Services Issuance of seafarer certificates, certificates of competency, medical fitness certificates and seafarers' books for professional and recreational mariners through services.dma.dk.
- Certificate Verification Service Online verification service at verify.dma.dk that allows third parties (ports, employers, authorities) to confirm the authenticity of Danish Maritime Authority-issued certificates.
- My Maritime Mobile Application Official mobile app that gives seafarers access to their certificates, seafarers' book and other personal maritime credentials on smartphones.
- Ship Inspection Services Statutory inspection of Danish-flagged and visiting vessels to verify compliance with safety, environmental and technical requirements.
Companies that use Søfartsstyrelsen
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Søfartsstyrelsen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Søfartsstyrelsen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IMO (International Maritime Organization)coreSøfartsstyrelsen implements IMO regulations including SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and MLC conventions. The agency participates in IMO Council meetings and implements international maritime standards.
- Danish Ships Inspection Council (Skibstilsynsrådet)coreAdvisory council for maritime safety established pursuant to Danish Act on Safety at Sea. Oversees pilot schemes for alternative certification models.
- Danish Maritime Training ProviderscoreCollaborative partnership with Danish training providers for IGF and methanol simulator-based training pilot scheme for seafarer certification.
- Maritime Authority of GhanaminorSector cooperation agreement supporting maritime authority development and capacity building.
- Maritime Authority of KenyaminorSector cooperation agreement supporting maritime authority development and capacity building.
- Maritime Administration of ChinaminorSector cooperation agreement supporting maritime authority development and international maritime policy coordination.
- Approved Maritime Education and Training InstitutescorePartnership with Danish maritime schools and training institutions for issuing certificates of competency, seafarer training, and professional certification.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Søfartsstyrelsen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator (IMMA): One of the world's largest open ship registries operating flag state administration under International Maritime Registries. Although a private administrator rather than government agency, it directly competes for flag state customers that Søfartsstyrelsen serves.
- Norwegian Maritime Authority (Sjøfartsdirektoratet): Norway's national maritime authority with directly comparable functions: ship registration, seafarer certification under STCW, maritime safety oversight, and flag state administration. Operates the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) and provides identical regulatory services to Danish-flagged vessels.
- Transport Malta: Malta's transport regulator including maritime services covering ship registration, seafarer certification, and flag state administration. Malta is one of the largest ship registries in Europe, providing a high-volume comparable to Denmark's smaller but well-regarded registry.
- Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen): Swedish maritime and transport regulator handling ship registration, seafarer certification, and maritime safety oversight. Closely comparable to Søfartsstyrelsen in Nordic regulatory context with similar STCW implementation and ship survey functions.
- UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA): UK's maritime regulatory authority delivering flag state implementation, seafarer certification, ship inspection, and maritime safety enforcement. One of the largest national maritime authorities globally and a direct functional counterpart to Søfartsstyrelsen.
- Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom): Finnish maritime and transport regulator with matching seafarer certification, ship registration, and maritime safety functions. Another Nordic peer with similar regulatory mandate and STCW implementation scope.
Broad incumbents
- Panama Maritime Authority (AMP): Operates the world's largest ship registry by tonnage with flag state administration, seafarer certification, and maritime safety functions. A major competitor for ship registration customers and a global benchmark for maritime authority digitization.
- Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA): Singapore's integrated maritime and port authority combining regulatory oversight with port operations. Significantly larger and more globally influential than Søfartsstyrelsen, but the digital-first regulatory model and seafarer certification functions are directly comparable.
- DNV (Maritime): Global classification society and maritime assurance provider with overlapping functions in ship surveys, certification, and regulatory advisory. While Søfartsstyrelsen is the flag state authority, DNV operates as a recognized organization conducting delegated statutory work on behalf of Denmark and other maritime administrations.
Others
- IMO (International Maritime Organization): United Nations specialized agency that sets international maritime regulations (SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, MLC) which Søfartsstyrelsen implements. Not a competitor but the upstream regulator whose frameworks shape all of the agency's operational mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Søfartsstyrelsen social profiles
Digital presenceSøfartsstyrelsen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Søfartsstyrelsen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Søfartsstyrelsen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Søfartsstyrelsen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Søfartsstyrelsen
What does Søfartsstyrelsen do?
Søfartsstyrelsen (Danish Maritime Authority) is a Danish state agency under the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs that regulates maritime activity in Denmark. It issues certificates, seafarers' books, medical certificates and ship inspection approvals; operates the Danish ship register; and provides digital self-service platforms (services.dma.dk, verify.dma.dk, shipregistration.dma.dk) and a mobile application (My Maritime) for seafarers, shipping companies, fisheries and recreational sailors.
Is Søfartsstyrelsen a public or private company?
Søfartsstyrelsen is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Søfartsstyrelsen founded?
Søfartsstyrelsen was founded in -1. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Søfartsstyrelsen based?
Søfartsstyrelsen is headquartered in Korsør, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Søfartsstyrelsen make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are certificate and Document Fees.
Who are Søfartsstyrelsen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator (IMMA), Norwegian Maritime Authority (Sjøfartsdirektoratet), Transport Malta, Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen), UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom). Broad incumbents are Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and DNV (Maritime). IMO (International Maritime Organization) is listed as an others.
Does Søfartsstyrelsen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Søfartsstyrelsen.
What industry is Søfartsstyrelsen in?
Søfartsstyrelsen's product category is Maritime Regulatory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIALAF, Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals), with a secondary code of TLAHANAD, Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support). Its NAICS code is 4883 and its SIC code is 4400.