Germany opens bridge to non-EU captains

AI Summary

Germany amended its Safe Manning Ordinance, permitting non-EU nationals to serve as masters and senior officers on German-flagged ships. This change relaxes one of Europe's strictest crewing restrictions in the maritime sector.

Germany has relaxed one of the more restrictive crewing requirements among major European maritime nations, allowing non-EU nationals to serve as masters and senior officers aboard German-flagged ships. An amendment to the country’s Safe Manning Ordinance now gives owners the option to use masters and officers from outside the EU and European Economic Area, provided …