**Executive Summary**
This NT/ENGG Circular No. 01 of 2017, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping on April 24, 2017, addresses a discrepancy in the reference to STCW regulations on the Certificate of Competency (CoC) notes page. It mandates a correction for CoCs complying with the 2010 amendments to the STCW 1978 Convention. This change is to prevent issues during Port State Control (PSC) inspections.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Background:**
* The STCW Convention 1978 was amended by the 2010 Manila Amendments, effective from January 1, 2012.
* The transition period for Manila amendments ended on January 1, 2017, requiring all seafarers to be certified in accordance with STCW 2010 amendments.
* STCW 1978 Convention as amended in 1995 with “Regulation I/2, Para 9" requires original certificates to be kept available on board.
* **Issue:**
* Some CoCs issued by the Directorate incorrectly refer to Regulation I/2, paragraph 9 of the STCW Convention on the front pastedown endpaper page.
* The 2010 amendments changed the number of Paragraphs in Regulation I/2 to 11 instead of 9.
* **Directive:**
* For all Indian CoCs complying with the 2010 STCW amendments, the notes on the front pastedown endpaper page must be updated to read: "The original of this certificate must be kept available in accordance with Regulation I/2, paragraph 11 of the Convention while serving on a ship."
* MMDs must endorse CoCs revalidated or upgraded to 2010 amendments, which contain the incorrect reference, with a stamp stating the correct regulation (Regulation I/2, paragraph 11) in the additional pages of the CoC booklet.
* **Seafarer Action:**
* Seafarers with CoCs upgraded to the 2010 amendments can visit the nearest MMD to have their CoCs stamped accordingly.
* No additional fees will be charged for this stamping.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact**
* Ensures that Indian CoCs are compliant with the latest STCW regulations, thus avoiding potential issues during Port State Control (PSC) inspections.
**Action Required**
* Update the notes on the front pastedown endpaper page of the CoC as follows: "The original of this certificate must be kept available in accordance with Regulation I/2, paragraph 11 of the Convention while serving on a ship."
**Impact**
* Must endorse CoCs with the correct regulation reference and assist seafarers in getting their CoCs stamped.
**Action Required**
* Endorse CoCs revalidated or upgraded to 2010 amendments, which contain the incorrect reference, with a stamp stating the correct regulation (Regulation I/2, paragraph 11) in the additional pages of the CoC booklet.
**Impact**
* May need to visit the nearest MMD to have their CoCs stamped with the updated regulation reference.
**Action Required**
* Seafarers with CoCs upgraded to the 2010 amendments can visit the nearest MMD to have their CoCs stamped accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
STCW Convention 1978: International convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978.
Certificate of Competency (CoC): A certificate issued to seafarers demonstrating their competency to perform certain duties on a ship.
Directorate General of Shipping: The authority issuing this circular and responsible for maritime affairs in India.
Mercantile Marine Departments (MMDs): Departments responsible for implementing maritime regulations and endorsements on CoCs.
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NTIENGG. Circular No.01 of 2017
Authorized by Examination, Assessment & Certification (EAC) IS /ISO Clause
Branch No.7.5.1
(l) a) (3)
Chief Examiner Sub: Correction in Certificate of Competency (CoC) NT/ENGG. Circular
of Engineers / on notes page No. 01 of 2017
Master & Mates
F. No. 33-NT(6y2012 Dated: 24.04.2017
l. NOTING THAT the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping [STCW]
Convention 1978 have been amended by the 2010 Manila Amendments with an entry into force from
0ltt January 2012 onwards.
2. NOTING ALSO THAT the transition period for Manila amendments ended on 0l't January
2017 and from this date onwards all seafarers are required to have certified in accordance with to
STCW 2010 amendments.
3. NOTING FURTHER THAT STCW 1978 Convention as amended in 1995 with "Regulation
ll2,Para 9" required that original of the certificates issued in accordance with Regulation I/10 of the
convention must be kept available on board while serving on a ship.
4. REALIZING THAT some Certificate of Competency's [CoC's] issued by the Directorate
specifies this requirement in the form of notes on the front pastedown endpaper page of the CoC as:
"The original of this certificate must be kept available in accordance with Regulation I/2, paragraph
9 of the Convention while serving on a ship".
5. REALZING ALSO THAT the changes in STCW 1978 Convention, brought about by the
ll
2010 amendments has changed the number of Paragraphs in RegulationV} to instead of 9 in the
1995 amendments to STCW 1978 Convention. The said requirements regarding availability of
original certificate is at Paragraph 1l of Regulation ll2 of 2010 amendments instead of Paragraph 9.
6. REALZING FURTHER THAT the CoC's issued by the Directorate in accordance with 1995
amendments to STCW 1978 convention have been upgraded after completion of the necessary STCW
requirements by means of endorsements in the CoC's for compliance. However, notes with
Regulation I/2, paragraph 9 of the Convention on the front pastedown endpaper page of the CoC's
have remained unchanged.
Page 1 of 27.
THEREFORE, in order to prevent issues relating to Indian CoC's during Port State Control
[PSC] Inspections, it is hereby directed that all Indian CoC's complying with 2010 amendments to
STCW 1978 convention, the notes on the front pastedown endpaper page of the CoC is to be now
read as following:
"The original of this certilicate must be l@pl available in accordance with Regulation I/2, paragraph
1 1 of the Corwention while serving on a ship".
8.
The Mercantile Marine Departments [MMDs] are hereby directed that CoC's revalidated or
upgraded to 2010 amendments to STCW 1978 convention with containing notes of "Regulation I/2,
paragraph 9 of the Convention" ot the front pastedown endpaper page, shall be endorsed with a
stamp that "The originol of this certificale musl be kepl available in accordance with Regulalion
42, paragraph I1 of lhe Convenlion while serving on a ship" in the additional pages of CoC
booklet.
9.
Seafarers in possession ofCoCs upgraded to 2010 amendments may approach nearest MMD
at their convenience to get their CoCs stamped accordingly. No additional fees will be charged for the
same.
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*fuc41.**
1calt. olniet J Joseph)
Nautical Surveyor - cum - Dy. DG (Tech)
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