Cook Islands aims to be a flag of choice for quality classed tonnage and superyachts.

The Flag is based in the Cook Islands in Rarotonga and is the only Small Island Developing State with a serious open register that is actually based in their home country. The advantage of this is that Maritime Cook Islands is very close to their government and has an ability to get quick and sensible answers to difficult questions that take other Flags weeks and months.

Maritime Cook Islands is the administrator of the Cook Islands Ship Register. Under an agreement with the Ministry of Transport they have delegated to them responsibility for all Flag State responsibilities under the various IMO conventions and instruments.

Maritime Cook Islands has more than 160 surveyors around the world who can attend on board to assist with issues a client may have. Cook Islands has formal agreements with the IACS Class Societies and five other selected non-IACS societies.

The Cook Islands flag has grown rapidly. They have more than 450 vessels with a total of over 1,250,000 Gross Tons registered.

Required documents:

  • Filled out Cook Island application form (with signature and fingerprints).
  • Valid International passport copy (pages showing personal data).
  • Photo in color passport size (in high resolution).
  • Valid Medical Certificate on Honduras form. You may send once your case is approved by the administration.
  • CoC and its Verification of authenticity from the issuing maritime administration or SB or discharge book for ratings.
  • Continuous discharge book, or seaman’s book showing experience: periods served, capacity, tonnage / Kw of the ship.
  • Sea service record / experience letter/s.
  • A letter of intent addressed to the administration. Draft of letter will be provided upon your request.
  • Sea services required for each application depend on the candidate’s current capacity (rank) – check the relevant section hereinafter
  • NOTE 1 : For UPDATE/RENEWAL cases for Indian nationality, no photo/screenshot of the seafarer doing online training is required.
  • NOTE 2 : For UPDATE/RENEWAL cases for non-Indian nationality, the seafarer will be contacted by the training center GIRIK (located in India) or ALS HMTC (located in Greece), and he will be requested to connect (via zoom or skype or any other similar program) with the training center, so that the training institution will be able to take a photo/screenshot of him doing training online theoretically.
  • NOTE 3 : For UPGRADE cases for Indian nationality, the seafarer must attend GIRIK training center (located in India) premises as a proof that the seafarer participated in training on site.
  • NOTE 4 : For UPGRADE cases for non-Indian nationalities, the seafarer must be taken a photo inside GIRIK training center (located in India) or ALS HMTC (located in Greece) premises as a proof that the seafarer participated in training on site, and also visa stamp of entering in India for the training (from those countries that visa is required in order to enter India or Greece).

Required sea services for each rank as per STCW Convention (as amended):

MASTER II/2 or II/3

  • 12 months as Master (if his existing COC is Master)
  • 12 months as Chief Mate (if his existing COC is Chief Mate)

CHIEF MATE II/2 or II/3

  • 12 months as Chief Mate (if his existing COC is Chief Mate)
  • 12 months as Deck Officer (if his existing COC is Deck officer or OICNW)

OINW II/1

  • 36 months as Deck Rating

CHIEF ENGINEER III/2 or III/3

  • 12 months as Chief Engineer (if his existing COC is Chief Engineer)
  • 12 months as 2nd Engineer (if his existing COC is 2nd Engineer or 1st Engineer)

2ND ENGINEER III/2 or III/3

  • 12 months as 2nd Engineer (if his existing COC is 2nd Engineer)
  • 12 months as Engine officer (if his existing COC is 3rd Engineer or OICEW)

OIEW III/1

  • 36 months as Engine Rating

ELETROTECHNICAL OFFICER (ETO) III/6

  • 12 months as ETO (if his existing COC is ETO)
  • 30 months as electrician

ABLE SEAFARER DECK or BOSUN II/5

  • 18 months as Deck rating

RFNW or ABLE SEAMAN II/4

  • 6 months as Deck rating

ABLE SEAFARER ENGINE III/5

  • 12 months as Engine rating

RFEW or OILER or FITTER III/4

  • 6 months as Engine rating

ELECTRICIAN (ELECTROTECHNICAL RATING III/7)

  • 12 months as electrician (or similar duties)

WIPER or ORDINARY SEAMAN

  • No seagoing services required