**Executive Summary**
Merchant Shipping Notice 04 of 2021, issued on July 15, 2021, provides clarification regarding the Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator (LCHS) course requirement for officers of nautical discipline seeking Management level DCE (Advanced oil DCE). Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the LCHS course is temporarily not mandatory for issuance of a Certificate of Proficiency (COP). This relaxation is valid until December 31, 2022.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **LCHS Course and Certification:**
* The Directorate received queries regarding the requirement for the LCHS course for the issue of Management level DCE for officers with responsibilities related to oil tanker cargo operations.
* STCW Convention requires Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers, and any person with immediate responsibility for oil tanker cargo operations to hold a certificate in advanced training (Advanced oil tanker DCE).
* M.S.(STCW) Rules 2014 and TEAP Part A specify the completion of approved advanced training and a 5-day full-mission liquid cargo handling simulator course for deck officers on oil tankers to obtain a COP in Advanced Oil tanker cargo operation.
* **Temporary Relaxation of LCHS Course Requirement:**
* While the STCW Convention does not explicitly require the LCHS course, it has been made mandatory for Indian COP to ensure knowledge is complemented by realistic training.
* Due to COVID-19, the LCHS course is temporarily not mandatory for COP issuance.
* COP issued without the LCHS course will be valid until December 31, 2022.
* Officers are encouraged to complete the LCHS course as soon as it resumes.
* Upon completion of the LCHS course, the full-term 5-year certificate will be issued.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Officers of nautical discipline seeking Management level DCE (Advanced oil DCE)
* **Impact:** The requirement to undergo the LCHS course for obtaining a COP is temporarily relaxed due to COVID-19. They can obtain a COP valid until December 31, 2022, without the LCHS course.
* **Action Required:** Officers are encouraged to complete the LCHS course as soon as it resumes to obtain a full-term 5-year certificate.
Key Entities Referenced
STCW Convention: International convention setting standards for seafarers, relevant for mandatory training requirements.
Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator (LCHS) course: A simulator course for officers handling liquid cargo, the mandatory status of which is being clarified.
Directorate General of Shipping: The Indian government agency issuing the notice and responsible for maritime affairs.
M.S.(STCW) Rules 2014: Indian rules implementing the STCW Convention, mentioned in relation to Certificate of Proficiency requirements.
भारतसरकार/ GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
ोत ररवहनमत्रं ालय /MINISTRY OF SHIPPING
नौवहनमहाबनदशे ालय, मुंबई
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F.No. No: 7-NT (36)98-Vol-II 15 July’2021
Merchant Shipping Notice 04 of 2021
Subject: Clarification regarding Liquid Cargo Handling simulator course for issue of
Management level DCE ( Advanced oil DCE) for officers of nautical discipline– reg.
1. The Directorate has received several queries from candidates regarding the
requirements for undergoing Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator (LCHS) course for issue
of Management level DCE (i.e. Advanced oil tanker DCE) for person with immediate
responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of cargo, tank cleaning
or other cargo-related operation on oil tankers (i.e. for officers of nautical discipline).
2. Chapter V, Regulation V/I-I, para 3 & 4 of the STCW Convention requires
Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person
with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of
cargo, tank cleaning or other cargo-related operations on oil tankers to hold a certificate
in advanced training for oil tanker cargo operations ( i.e. Advanced oil tanker DCE).
3. For obtaining Certificate of Proficiency (COP) in Advanced Oil tanker cargo
operation, Rule 52(4)( c) of M.S.(STCW) Rules 2014 requires completion of approved
advanced training for oil tanker cargo operations, and approved full mission liquid
cargo handling simulator for deck officers on oil tankers. Further, Chapter V, section
V/I, para 2.4 of TEAP Part A, specifies successful completion of an approved full-
mission liquid cargo handling simulator course of 5 days’ duration for Deck Officers on
oil tankers.
4. The STCW Convention does not specify requirement for undergoing the said
liquid cargo handling simulator course. However, it has been made mandatory for
obtaining Indian COP to ensure that knowledge of Indian COC holders is
complemented through realistic training, exercises and experience in handling oil
tankers in a simulator based practical ship-like environment.
5. Considering that liquid cargo handling simulator course is currently not being
conducted due to ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it is decided that the LCHS course is
temporarily to be treated as not mandatory for issuance of a Certificate of Proficiency
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
बीटा बब ल्ड ींग, 9वी मबंिल, आई थिंक टेक्न ो क् स,कािं रु गौव रोड,कािं रू माग ग( ूवग), मंबई – 400042
9th Floor,BETA Building, I-Think Techno Campus, Kanjur Village RoadKanjurmarg (E) / Mumbai –400042
फोन/Tel.: 91-22-25752040/1/2/3, फ्क्स /Fax.: 91-22-25752029/35 ई-मले /E-mail: dgship-dgs@nic.inवबे साईट/Website: www.dgshipping.gov.inin Advanced Training for Oil Tanker cargo operations. In such cases COP in Advanced
Training for Oil Tanker cargo operations will be issued for a period up to 31st
December’2022. All officers who obtain the COP based on this relaxation are however
urged to complete the LCHS course as soon as it resumes. On completion of the LCHS
course, the full term certificate for 5 years will be issued.
6. This is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping &
Additional Secretary to the Govt. of lndia
(Capt G.P.Shenoy)
Nautical Surveyor-cum DDG [Tech]
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
बीटा बब ल्ड ींग, 9वी मबंिल, आई थिंक टेक्न ो क् स,कािं रु गौव रोड,कािं रू माग ग( ूवग), मंबई – 400042
9th Floor,BETA Building, I-Think Techno Campus, Kanjur Village RoadKanjurmarg (E) / Mumbai –400042
फोन/Tel.: 91-22-25752040/1/2/3, फ्क्स /Fax.: 91-22-25752029/35 ई-मले /E-mail: dgship-dgs@nic.inवबे साईट/Website: www.dgshipping.gov.in