**Executive Summary**
DGS Order No. 08 of 2022, issued on February 15, 2022, addresses the extension of STCW certificates with 18 months' validity, in light of COVID-19 related disruptions. It extends the validity under specific conditions for seafarers who completed the 3-Tier programme, providing relief to those unable to complete practical training. The order outlines various cases and conditions for certificate extension.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Extension of STCW Certificates:**
* Extends STCW certificates issued with 18 months' validity after completion of the 3-Tier programme.
* No additional practical training at Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) is required for this extension.
* This circular is not applicable for seafarers who have obtained certificates with a validity of five (5) years.
* **Eligibility and Conditions for Extension:**
* **Case 1:** Seafarers with six months' sea service within the 18-month certificate validity receive a 12-month extension from the expiry date.
* **Case 2:** Seafarers currently on board receive an extension until sign-off or 12 months, whichever is earlier.
* **Case 3:** Seafarers ashore intending to join a ship by February 28, 2022, receive an extension until sign-off or 12 months, whichever is earlier.
* **Case 4:** Seafarers ashore with expired or expiring certificates intending to join a ship after March 1, 2022, receive a 12-month extension from the expiry date, provided they complete the DGS e-learning course (Tier-I) at no additional cost.
* **Documentation and Responsibilities:**
* Seafarers must have a printout of their sea service record and applicable Tier-I course completion record.
* Shipping companies must demonstrate their responsibilities as per STCW regulations.
* **Courses Affected (Annex I):**
* The order applies to STCW courses listed in Annex I, which were restricted to 18 months validity from date of issue and were done without any practical. These courses include: Basic Safety Course, Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than fast rescue boats, Proficiency in fast rescue boats, Advanced Fire Fighting, Medical First Aid, Medical Care, Refresher in Personal Survival Techniques, Refresher in Proficiency in Survival Craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats, Refresher in Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Refresher in Advanced Fire Fighting, Refresher in Proficiency in fast rescue boats, Refresher and updating course in Medical First Aid, Refresher & updating course in Medical care
**Impact Analysis**
**Seafarers**
**Impact:**
Beneficial extension of STCW certificate validity, allowing them to continue working without immediate need for practical training, especially those affected by COVID-19 disruptions. They now have additional clarity on the specific conditions under which their certificates are extended, depending on their current situation (at sea, ashore, etc.).
**Action Required:**
Ensure they meet the specific eligibility criteria based on their case (sea service, intended join date, etc.). Ensure they have the required documentation (sea service record, Tier-I course completion), and take necessary Tier-1 course.
**Shipping Companies and Recruitment/Placement Service Providers**
**Impact:**
Shipping companies are responsible for ensuring the seafarers they employ meet the requirements of the extension.
**Action Required:**
Verify seafarers have the required documentation and fulfill their responsibilities as per STCW regulations, especially Regulation I/1 and Section A-I/14, to ensure compliance.
**Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs)**
**Impact:**
Reduced immediate demand for practical training courses, but may see increased demand for the DGS e-learning course (Tier-I) under Case 4.
**Action Required:**
No direct action required as practical training is not necessary for this extension, but should ensure seafarers are aware of the DGS e-learning course (Tier-I) if applicable.
Key Entities Referenced
STCW Certificates: Certificates of competency required under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, which are the subject of this order's extension policy.
Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): The Indian regulatory body responsible for maritime affairs, issuing the order and overseeing its implementation.
Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs): The institutes authorized to conduct practical training for STCW courses, referenced in the context of completing training requirements and the 3-Tier Programme for certificate revalidation.
DGS Order 20 of 2020: The previous order that established the 3-Tier approach for re-validating STCW certificates during the COVID-19 pandemic, which this order extends.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F. No.20-16/4/2020-0lo TRG - DGS Datez 15.02.2022
DGS Order No. 08 of 2022
Subject: Extension of all those STCW certilicates which have been issued with a vatidity
of 18 months'- reg.
l.
Recalling para 8 of DGS Order 20 of 2020 dated, O3lO8l202O, wherein this Directorate has
proactively taken pragmatic approach to re-validate STCW related certificates by way of 3-
Tier approach during the COVID pandemic restrictions.
2.
Whereas in the said 3-Tier approach, certificates were restricted to 18 months' validity from
date of issue for STCW courses listed in Annex I (pending completion of practical training).
3. Whereas in subsequent orders, Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has permitted
Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) to resume practical training in phased manner as and
when the restriction was eased up. On completion of such practical training STCW
certificates have been extended for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance of 18
months' certificate.
4.
Whereas, the DGS has received representations from various stakeholders requesting to
address the difficulties of all thosS: seafarers whose 18 months' valid certificates are expiring
in coming months asthe durin#ftent wave of Covid-I9 pandemic some seafarers have not
-been able to complete the requisite practical training to obtain 5 years' valid certificate.
5.
Having considered the requests made by the stakeholders, the Directorate has now decided to
extend the STCW certificates issued with a validity of 18 months, after completing the 3-
Tier programme, but without undergoing practical training at MTI under the following terms
and conditions:
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case seafarers who have completed six (6) months' sea-service within the validity of
18 months STCW certificate their certificate stands extended by t2 months from date of
expiry.
Case 2: Seafarers who are currently on board as on date of issue of this circular their 18
months' validity certificates stands extended till sign-off or 12 months whichever is
earlier.
case 3: seafarers who are now ashore and intend to join ship on or before 2gth Feb,2o22
their 18 months' valid certificate stards ertended tilt sign-off or 12 months whichever is
earlier.
case 4: seafarers who are now ashore, whose 18 months' valid certificate have expired
or are going to expire, but intend to join on board ship on or after l't March 2022, their
18 months' valid certificate stands extended by 12 months from the date of expiry
provided these seafarers complete the DGS eJeaming course (Tier-I) at no additional
cost for obtaining such extension.
6. Seafarers and the shipping companies, including Recruitment and placement Service
providers are required to ensure that the seafarers concemed should have a print-out oftheir
sea service record and applicable Tier-I course completion record (if any) from the seafarers
Master checker profile. Further, the shipping companies need to demonstrate their
I/l
responsibilities as required under Regulation and section A-vl4 of the STCW on
"Responsibilities of Companies".
7.
This circular is only applicable for all those seafarers who have obtained 18 months valid
STCW certificates after going through the 3-Tier programme. This circular is not applicable
for seafarers who have obtained certificates with validity offive (5) years, these seafarers for
revalidating their certificates need to undergo the refresher courses as per the existing
procedures.
L
(Amitabh Kumar
Director General of Shipping
Page 2 of3I
Annex
List of courses which were done without any practical were restricted to l8 months, validity
from date of issue -
1) Basic Safety Course,
2) Personal Sun ival Techniques,
3) Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
4) ProJiciency in survival Crafi and Rescue Boats other than fost rescue boats, proficiency in
fast rescue boats,
5) Advanced Fire Fighting,
6) Medical First Aid,
7) Medical Care,
8)
Refresher in Personal Suryival Techniques,
9)
Refresher in ProJiciency in survival Craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats,
10) Refresher in Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting,
1 l) Refresher in Advanced Fire Fighting,
12) Refresher in ProJiciency in fast rescue boats,
13) Refresher and updating course in Medical First aid,
l4) Refresher & updating course in Medical care
Page 3 of3