Minimum Safe Manning Document

Minimum Safe Manning is defined and the Minimum Safe Manning Document is issued by the Maritime Safety Inspectorate (MSI) of the Maritime Administration of Latvia in accordance with the requirements of the Cabinet of Ministers 2006 Regulation No.80 “Regulations Regarding the Minimum Safe Manning of Ships”.
The shipowner submits his proposal for Minimum Safe Manning to MSI. If the shipowner wishes a deviation from the above mentioned Regulations for Minimum Safe Manning then he should add a justification for intended deviations. MSI evaluates intended deviations taking into account the principles for Safe Manning provided in the Regulations and agrees the final crew composition with the shipowner.
Since January 1, 2025, the Maritime Safety Inspectorate no longer allow the minimum crew composition for newly registered cargo ships sailing outside the Baltic Sea and whose composition is planned to include only two officers of the navigational watch.