News & Regulatory Updates
Selected regulatory and operational updates for shipowners, managers, surveyors and maritime stakeholders. HCS summaries are operational guidance only; the original authority remains the controlling source.
ZMA / TZIRS Circulars & Notices — 2026
Only circulars and notices currently published by the Zanzibar Maritime Authority are listed here. Titles and dates below follow the official ZMA circular index.
Reporting on Statutory Surveys and Certification Status to TZIRS
ZMA/TZIRS requires authorized ROs and RSOs to notify survey or audit attendance at least three days in advance; submit written confirmation and certificate copies within 30 days after specified issues or endorsements; warn TZIRS at least 20 days before expiry where full-term certification or an in-window survey cannot be completed; report invalid certification immediately; and submit monthly activity and survey-status reports on the first day of the following month. Overdue surveys or certificate extensions require prior TZIRS authorization. These are operative requirements effective 20 October 2026.
Official circular ↗Fraudulent Use of the Tanzanian Flag by Vessels Deleted from TZIRS
ZMA confirms that the 19 vessels listed in Annex 1 are deleted from TZIRS and are not entitled to claim Tanzanian nationality or use Tanzanian registry documents. Stakeholders must obtain direct written verification before relying on such documents, preserve relevant evidence and report suspected cases. The circular entered into force on 14 October 2026 and remains effective until amended, superseded or withdrawn.
Official circular ↗Monthly Submission of Updated Crew List
ZMA requires every TZIRS-registered vessel to submit an updated, signed PDF crew list by the 5th calendar day of each month, even if there are no crew changes. Owners, operators, Masters and relevant agents should send it to both seafarers@tzirs.tz and info@tzirs.tz and retain submission records.
Official ZMA source →Recognition of Certificates of Competency and Certificates of Proficiency under Regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended
For seafarers serving on TZIRS-registered vessels, inclusion of a State in the circular’s reference list does not mean automatic recognition. Any endorsement remains subject to valid STCW I/10 arrangements, verification of the underlying certificate and TZIRS requirements. Managers and manning agents should confirm eligibility before relying on recognition.
Official ZMA source →Mandatory Declaration and Notification of the ISM Company
Operational focus: ensure the declared ISM Company information and any changes are handled in accordance with the official Administration circular and current registry procedures.
Official ZMA source →Joint Paris MoU – Tokyo MoU Concentrated Inspection Campaign
Operational focus: ships trading in relevant PSC regions should review the official circular and prepare records, equipment and crew for the published concentrated inspection campaign.
Official ZMA source →Revocation of Circular No. FSI/12/2025 and New Official Contact Details
Operational focus: use the Administration’s current official contact details and avoid relying on superseded contact information.
Official ZMA source →AUTHORIZATION OF RO’s & RSO’s
Operational focus: statutory work should be accepted only after confirming the applicable written authorization, organization status and service scope.
Official ZMA source →TZIRS OVERSIGHT AND AUDIT PROGRAMME FOR RO’s & RSO’s
Operational focus: recognized organizations should maintain controlled evidence, records and readiness for Administration oversight and audit activities.
Official ZMA source →APPOINTMENT OF TZIRS AGENTS – DESIGNATION, OVERSIGHT & FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
Operational focus: agents should work only within their documented appointment and verify the Administration’s published designation, oversight and financial requirements.
Official ZMA source →APPROVED PROTECTION AND INDEMNITY (P&I) CLUBS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES
Operational focus: insurance evidence should be checked against the Administration’s current approved P&I / insurer information before acceptance.
Official ZMA source →STRAIT OF HORMUZ- CONTINUED ESCALATION AND MANDATORY IMPLEMENTATION OF IMO MSC CIRCULAR /Cir.2026-06
Operational focus: vessels and managers with exposure to the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters should review the official advisory before voyage planning and operational decisions.
Official ZMA source →OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Operational focus: retain the official ZMA publication as the authoritative reference and check the original release for its complete context.
Official ZMA source →SEAFARERS’ WELFARE AND COMPLAINT REPORTING NOTICE
Operational focus: owners, managers and Masters should review the official notice for the Administration’s current seafarer welfare and complaint-reporting information.
Official ZMA source →IMO COUNCIL EXTRAORDINARY SESSION, DECISIONS AND UPDATED OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE “STRAIT OF HORMUZ”
Operational focus: review the Administration’s updated Strait of Hormuz guidance when assessing voyage, security and crew-safety arrangements.
Official ZMA source →ESCALATION OF ATTACKS AGAINST MERCHANT VESSELS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Operational focus: route planning and security decisions for exposed voyages should be checked against the official advisory and subsequent ZMA updates.
Official ZMA source →ISSUANCE AND USE OF ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATES
Operational focus: electronic certificate issuance and use should follow the Administration’s published circular and its stated controls.
Official ZMA source →HEIGHTENED RISK TO MERCHANT SHIPPING DUE TO REGIONAL MILITARY TENSIONS ON ARABIAN GULF
Operational focus: use the official advisory as a current-source reference when assessing security risk, routing and operational exposure in the affected region.
Official ZMA source →ACTIONS REQUIRED FOLLOWING PSC INSPECTIONS & DETENTIONS ON TZIRS VESSELS
Operational focus: after PSC inspections or detention, managers should consult the official circular for the Administration’s required follow-up process and reporting expectations.
Official ZMA source →REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF (P&I) CLUBS & INSURANCE COMPANIES
Operational focus: check P&I clubs and insurers against the Administration’s published approval requirements before relying on insurance evidence.
Official ZMA source →MANDATORY INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
Operational focus: owners and managers should verify applicable insurance and financial-security evidence directly against the official circular.
Official ZMA source →Selected maritime updates.
The Home page intentionally shows only three items. The News page can carry the fuller regulatory watch.
Workshop supports routeing and ship-reporting proposals in Latin America
An IMO regional workshop in Lima (26–30 October) is strengthening understanding of SOLAS regulations V/10 and V/11, the General Provisions on Ships’ Routeing, and the preparation of proposals for NCSR and MSC consideration. Topics include traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, precautionary areas, areas to be avoided and deep-water routes. This is a capacity-building activity; it does not itself establish or amend a mandatory routeing or ship-reporting system. Any new or revised measure remains subject to IMO evaluation and adoption.
Read official source →Study sets phased pathway for an Indian alternative marine fuel hub
An IMO-supported study assesses demand, pricing and competitiveness for alternative marine fuels in India. It recommends safe and competitive bunkering at selected ports in 2026–2030, scaling proven operations and preparing for ammonia in 2030–2035, and multi-fuel bunkering and green shipping corridors in 2035–2047, with methanol identified as the most suitable starting fuel. This is a strategic study and proposed pathway; it does not create a new mandatory IMO requirement or entry-into-force date.
Read official source →ISM compliance campaign mandatory through 31 December 2026
Circular FSI/17/2026 entered into force on 21 October 2026 and applies to all Tanzania Zanzibar International registered vessels and the relevant owners, ISM companies, operators, Masters and ROs. Each applicable vessel must complete Appendix A, signed by the Master and acknowledged by the Company/DPA, and submit it in PDF within the campaign period. ROs must independently re-verify the applicable items, sign a separate verification copy and report discrepancies or serious deficiencies without delay. Non-compliance may lead to administrative action. The campaign ends on 31 December 2026, while outstanding corrective actions and follow-up duties remain in force.
Official circular and checklist ↗IMO launches Blue Solutions for lower-emission ports and shipping
The IMO Blue Solutions project will support Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam in assessing practical measures such as port and vessel electrification, cleaner technologies, greenhouse-gas baselines and national action plans. Phase 1 is expected to run until January 2031. This is a technical-cooperation initiative under GreenVoyage2050; it does not introduce a new mandatory requirement or entry-into-force date.
Read official source →TZIRS orders urgent review of statutory certificate extensions
Marine Safety Advisory 05/2026 applies to all TZIRS vessels holding, requesting or operating under a statutory certificate extension and to all authorized ROs. Owners, operators and Masters shall verify the legal basis, purpose, period and voyage restrictions; ordinary commercial trading is prohibited unless expressly permitted. Authorized ROs shall urgently review issued and pending extensions, refer cases outside delegated authority to TZIRS for written direction, and report potentially non-compliant cases immediately. Issued on 25 October 2026 and effective immediately until amended or withdrawn, the Advisory applies existing Convention, HSSC and PSC requirements rather than creating a new treaty rule.
Official ZMA advisory ↗West and Central Africa advance maritime digitalization
An IMO-supported workshop in Accra brought together authorities from nine West and Central African countries to promote the IMO Compendium, Maritime Single Windows and Port Community Systems. The event supports implementation and regional harmonization; it does not introduce a new requirement. The existing FAL Convention mandate for Maritime Single Windows remains applicable.
Read official source →New statutory survey and certification reporting requirements
Circular FSI/16/2026 introduces operative reporting duties for authorized ROs and RSOs: advance attendance notification, defined 30-day certificate-reporting periods, 20-day expiry warnings, immediate invalidity notices and monthly status reporting. Overdue surveys and certificate extensions require prior TZIRS authorization. The circular entered into force on 20 October 2026.
Official circular ↗M/V LIRA refused access to the Paris MoU region
Paris MoU reports that M/V LIRA (IMO 8516744), flying the Tanzanian flag, left detention in Olbia on 3 October but did not call at the agreed repair yard in Piraeus. The vessel is refused access to Paris MoU ports and anchorages until the Italian maritime administration accepts the evidence provided and the ship fully complies with applicable Convention requirements. This is a vessel-specific PSC action, not a new general requirement.
Official notice ↗IMO Middle East incident record reaches 121 confirmed cases
IMO’s official incident record lists 121 confirmed incidents and 24 seafarer fatalities as at 27 October 2026. The latest entries include damage to LEONORA KOSAN northeast of Limah, Oman on 23 October, damage to SOYIA and a second attack on AL DASMA on 20 October, and damage to CHLOE (MIVERVA V) on 19 October. This is an operational risk update and does not introduce a new regulatory requirement.
Official IMO record ↗Deleted TZIRS vessels: Tanzanian flag claims require direct verification
Circular FSI/15/2026 confirms that 19 listed vessels are deleted from TZIRS and are not entitled to use the Tanzanian flag or registry documents. Stakeholders must verify directly with ZMA/TZIRS, preserve evidence and report suspected fraudulent use. This is an operative Administration requirement, effective 14 October 2026.
Official circular ↗Francophone African States strengthen maritime decarbonization engagement
An IMO workshop in Abidjan (6–8 October) brought together 80 participants from 18 countries to strengthen understanding of MARPOL Annex VI, the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy and implementation challenges. The announcement reports regional capacity-building and cooperation; it does not introduce a new mandatory requirement or entry-into-force date.
Read official source →2025 Ballast Water Management CIC results
The Tokyo MoU report records 6,930 CIC inspections and 30 associated detentions. Owners, managers and surveyors should focus on BWMS operation, crew familiarity and accurate ballast water records.
Official report →Dakar maritime single window: assessment completed
IMO’s 5–9 October mission assessed the Port of Dakar’s processes and requirements for a maritime single window. A roadmap will guide development; the announcement does not confirm that the system is operational. The requirement for IMO Member States to establish, maintain and use maritime single windows has applied since 1 January 2024. Owners and agents should check port-specific reporting arrangements.
Read official source →New assessment frameworks for marine research
At LC 48/LP 21 (5–9 October), London Convention and Protocol parties adopted frameworks for assessing three marine geoengineering research methods. These support case-by-case research decisions, rather than general approval of commercial deployment. Parties also approved guidance on end-of-life management of fibreglass-reinforced vessels and alternatives to disposal at sea.
Read official source →Tokyo MoU revises Flag State and RO performance methodology
Tokyo MoU will assess flag and RO performance using detention rates and, for ROs, links between deficiencies and statutory certificates. Related-RO data collection begins on 1 January 2027, with the first revised ratings applied to ship risk profiles on or after 1 July 2028. Flag administrations and ROs should review PSC detention trends and certificate issuance or endorsement traceability.
Read original →Strengthening Flag State oversight in Asia
IMO training focused on Flag State obligations and oversight of recognized organizations under the RO Code.
Read original →Commercial-shipping incidents reported near Hormuz
Voyage planning, crew safety and insurance exposure remain key operational concerns for the region.
Read original →Alternative-fuel ship orders reach a two-year high
Renewed contracting activity highlights continuing investment in future-fuel capability and technical readiness.
Read original →