These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern the use of the website globalmaritimecertification.com and the maritime documentation and certification consultancy services provided by Global Maritime Certification Ltd ("GMC", "we", "us"), company number 17461578, registered office at 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom.
By requesting or using our services, you ("the Client", "you") agree to these Terms.
1. Our services
Global Maritime Certification Ltd is a private maritime documentation consultancy. We assist seafarers and other clients with the preparation, review and processing of maritime certificates and related documentation for submission to the relevant flag administration or other competent authority.
GMC is an independent private consultancy and is not a government body, consulate, flag administration or maritime authority.
Any final decision to approve, issue, verify or endorse a document remains with the relevant flag administration or competent authority.
GMC does not guarantee that an application, certificate or document will be approved or endorsed by a particular authority.
2. How our service works
Our usual service process is as follows:
- You contact GMC through WhatsApp, email or another contact method provided on our website.
- We explain the requested service, documentation requirements, applicable fees and expected processing arrangements.
- Once you decide to proceed, you provide the documents required for the relevant service by email to info@globalmaritimecertification.com, or by another secure method specifically agreed with GMC.
- Documents received for processing may be stored temporarily in a dedicated, access-restricted Microsoft OneDrive folder for the relevant client and service.
- Where appropriate, GMC may provide the client with access to the relevant document folder. Clients must keep any access link confidential and must not share it with unauthorised persons.
- Payment is arranged by bank transfer using the bank details and payment instructions provided by GMC by email. GMC does not process card payments through its website.
- GMC processes the application and, where applicable, submits or coordinates the required documentation with the relevant flag administration or competent authority.
- Once the requested service has been completed and the final documents have been provided to the client, working copies of the client's documents are deleted in accordance with our Client Document Upload & Data Security Notice and Privacy Policy.
Our website is primarily informational and promotional. It does not provide an online checkout, client account or document-upload facility.
3. Client responsibilities
The Client agrees to:
- provide accurate, complete and genuine information and documents;
- provide any additional information reasonably required to process the requested service;
- make payment in accordance with the agreed payment terms;
- ensure that documents provided to GMC are genuine and have not been altered or falsified;
- keep any private document-access link confidential; and
- promptly notify GMC if the Client becomes aware of any unauthorised access to their documents.
GMC may refuse or discontinue a service where documents appear to be false, altered, misleading or unlawfully obtained.
GMC is not responsible for delays, additional requirements or refusals arising from incomplete, inaccurate, misleading or invalid information or documents supplied by the Client.
4. Fees and payment
The applicable fee for a service will be communicated to the Client by WhatsApp or email before the service is commenced.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is made by bank transfer to the bank account specified by GMC.
GMC does not collect card details or payment information through the website.
Additional third-party charges, government or flag administration fees, endorsement fees, verification fees, shipping costs, translation costs or other charges may apply where relevant to the requested service. Any applicable additional charges will be communicated to the Client where reasonably possible before they are incurred.
5. Processing times
Processing times vary depending on the service, the completeness of the documents supplied and the processing requirements of the relevant flag administration or other competent authority.
Any processing time communicated by GMC is an estimate unless expressly confirmed otherwise in writing.
GMC cannot guarantee processing times imposed by third-party authorities and is not responsible for delays caused by authorities, verification procedures, changes in requirements, technical issues or other circumstances outside GMC's reasonable control.
6. Applications and third-party authorities
GMC assists with the preparation and processing of applications but does not control the decisions, requirements, fees or processing procedures of flag administrations, maritime authorities, governmental bodies, training centres or other third parties.
The Client acknowledges that:
- an application may be delayed or rejected by the relevant authority;
- additional documents or information may be requested;
- requirements may change after an application has been submitted; and
- any decision to issue, refuse, suspend or endorse a certificate or document belongs to the relevant competent authority.
Where a third-party authority changes its requirements or fees, GMC may inform the Client of the change and any resulting additional cost before proceeding where reasonably practicable.
7. Cancellations and refunds
If you wish to cancel a service, please contact GMC as soon as possible at info@globalmaritimecertification.com.
Where a cancellation is requested, GMC will consider the stage reached in the service, any work already performed and any third-party fees or costs already incurred.
Where applicable, refunds will be handled in accordance with the applicable law and the circumstances of the individual service.
Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or restrict any statutory consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.
8. Our responsibilities
GMC will provide its services with reasonable care and skill and will use reasonable efforts to process the Client's request in accordance with the agreed service.
GMC is not responsible for matters outside its reasonable control, including decisions, delays or additional requirements imposed by flag administrations, governmental authorities or other independent third parties.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by applicable law.
Subject to applicable law, GMC's liability for losses directly arising from a particular service will be considered in the context of the service provided, the circumstances of the loss and the applicable legal rights of the Client.
9. Intellectual property
Unless otherwise stated, the content of globalmaritimecertification.com, including text, logos, graphics, designs and other original materials, belongs to Global Maritime Certification Ltd or is used with permission.
You may not reproduce, copy, distribute or commercially exploit our website content without our prior written permission, except where permitted by applicable law.
10. Privacy and personal data
GMC processes personal information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Information about how GMC collects, uses, stores, shares and deletes personal information is provided in our:
Clients should read these documents before providing personal documents to GMC.
11. Complaints
If you have a complaint about our services, please contact us at info@globalmaritimecertification.com.
We will review the complaint and respond within a reasonable period.
12. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Where a Client is a consumer, nothing in these Terms is intended to remove or restrict any mandatory consumer rights or protections that apply to the Client under applicable law.
13. Changes to these Terms
GMC may update these Terms from time to time.
The "Last updated" date at the beginning of this document indicates when the Terms were most recently revised.
Updated Terms will apply to services requested after the revised Terms have been published, subject to any mandatory legal requirements.
14. Contact
For questions concerning these Terms or our services, please contact:
Global Maritime Certification Ltd
Company No. 17461578
71–75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London WC2H 9JQ
United Kingdom