Extension of Certificates of Competency / Certificate of Proficiency for seafarers-reg

W ffi #nffi sgs"ffil fiovBfrfilM$l$T uF lf{HA q&'fi"gsr q};r lruxil\rtgrftv or s${tflprnils lr6ffi{Trrt-{r,-ffi nt'"qffi g tft f; frsRATE sH N [RA]- SF $]*l ppN l*S, lV6 U fijl SAI File No: L3-39/5/2020-ENGG - DGS Date:30/0912O2O DGS Order 26 of 2020 Subject: Extension of Certificates of Competency / Certificate of Proficiency for seafarers- reg. 1. Recognizing that the impending lock-down, due to COVID-l9 pandemic, will prevent seafarer signing-off from their respective ships, the Directorate vide DGS Order 6 of 2020 dated 23.03.2020 extended the CoC/CoP/CoE of seafarers, who were sailing on-board Indian flagged vessels and Indian seafarers sailing on foreign Flag ships, for a maximum period of One month or till they sign off, whichever is earlier, to prevent stoppage of ships due to expiry of mandatory Certificates under STCW Convention,I9TS as amended and SOLAS 74 as amended. 2. The un-predictability in the ending of the lock-down period lead to uncertainty in opening period of Maritime Training Institutes, which in-turn affected Seafarers. As a result, the seafarers were unable to complete mandatory STCW Courses required for revalidation of their CoC/CoP/CoE. This has led the Directorate to take many of the following pre-emptive steps as the situation demanded to ensure continued operation of supply chains: 2.l.Addendum No. I to DGS Order 6 of 2020 dated 03.04.2020: Extending the validity of all CoC/CoP/CoE expiring between 23 March 2020 and l't October 2020 for a period of 6- months from date of expiry printed on the Certificate. 2.2.DGS Order 13 of 2020 dated2l May 2020: Extension to the validity of all CoC/CoP which were expiring between l't March and 3l't December 2020 (both dates inclusive), for a period of 6 (six) months from the expiry date printed/typed on the relevant certificate (CoC/CoP), irrespective of whether the seafarer is/was on ship at the time of expiry or not. 3. DGS Order 16 of 2020 dated 22.06.2020: Extension to the validity of Seafarers CoC/CoI which were expired or expiring on/before 31 December 2020 until 31 Decembet 2021from the date of expiry provided that the seafarer on the date of expiry of his CoC/CoP demonstrates rage r ot +continued professional competence via appro".ed sea-going service as detailed in attached annexure to the Order. This order was issued for following: 3.l.The Directorate recognized that the 6-months extension given vide DGS Order 1312020 may not suffice due to unpredictability of sign on/off of seafarers caused by world-wide lock down and ship may be prevented from sailing due to expiry of mandatory STCW certificates required for Seafarers. Further the closure of MTI has prevented completion of mandatory courses required for revalidation. 3.2.Recognizing that the Article VIII of the STCW Convention 1978, as amended permits extension/dispensation of CoC/CoP for a maximum period of 6-months. llll 3.3.Recognizing that Regulation, of the STCW Convention, 1978 as amended permits revalidation of Certificates for a period of 5-years provided the concerned seafarer should demonstrate continuous professional competence via approved sea-going service in accordance with Paragraph 1.1 of Section A-I/11 of the STCW Code, as amended. 3.4.Recognizingthat Paragraph 3 of the Section A-Vl1 permits approved sea-going service as a means of compliance with Paragraph 3 of Regulation Vl1 of the STCW Convention, 1978 as amended for Master and Officer provided the concerned officer shall establish continued professional competence by serving on board tankers for a total period of atleast three months during the preceding five yea$. 4. Standard Operating Procedures dated 30.06.2020 was issued due to requests received from Seafarers who were willing to join ship but their CoC/CoP were expiring after 31 December 2020 and that their companies were asking them to obtain revalidation till the tenure of contract period. To facilitate these Seafarers, the said SOP provided extension of CoC/CoP till 3l December 2021 for those seafarers whose certificates are expiringafter 31" Dec 2020 and who intend to join ship prior to 31 October 2020 provided they demonstrate continuous professional competence by way of approved sea-service. 5. DGS Order 20 of 2020 dated 03.08.2020 was issued to facilitate seafarers to revalidate their CoC/CoP using a Three-Tier Mechanism of Training for conduct of STCW Courses via Virtual Classes/Live Vide Sessions and accordingly modified the earlier Orders/SOP limiting extension availing period under DGS Order 16 of 2020 and SOP dated 30.06.2020 till31'tAugust2020. DGS Order 24 of 2020 dated 24.08.2020 was issued in demand of Industry, and noting that many seafarers at far-flung places may have faced some intemet connectivity, extending the date mentioned in Paragraph 5 from 3l August 2020 to 30 September 2020 thereby continuing extensions under DGS Order 16 of 2020 or SOP dated 30.06.2020 ti1130.09.2020. Page2 of 47. Considering that the suggestions of the stake holders to permit further extension specially for Officers and Ratings who are finding it diffrcult to do refresher training through the three tier system of virtual classes/exams due to connectivity issues. 8. Taking into consideration of the foregoing, the Director General of Shipping in exercise of its Powers under Section 456 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 hereby grants deemed extension of CoC/CoP till 3l .12.2021 or for one-contact, which-ever is less provided that no extension has been availed by Masters, officers and rating under previous orders/ SoPs issued by this Directorate and shall meet the following conditions: 8.1.Masters and officers who have joined / shall join ship on/prior to 3l October 2020 provided they demonstrate continuous professional competence as per Annex I from the date of their joining. 8.2.Ratings who hqve joined / shall join ships on/prior to 31 December 2020 provided they I demonstrate continuous professional competence as per Annex from the date of their joining. 9. The above extension is to be considered as deemed revalidation without any necessity for formal application or fees. Further there is no need to request for any confirmation e-mail or extension letter but the concerned seafarer has to retain onboard a copy of this order with the original expired or to be expired certificate for the guidance of officials so as to fulfil the requirement of para l1 of Reg U2 of STCW Convention. 10. Seafarers and shipping companies, including Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) are required to ensure ihut the seafarer concerned possess a print-out oftheir sea service record from the seafarer profile of the DGS e-governance system. Further, the shipping companies need to fulfiI their responsibilities required under Regulation Ul4 and Section A-lll4 of the STCW and shall veriff the conditions mentioned under above para 8.0 and 9.0 are duly fulfilled and accepted by the concerned Administration. tl wlJ \t"'v'"{. \'(Jttn-ntl (oX;; ""#lf[10 Director General of Shipping & Additional Secretary to the GoI. Page 3 of 4ANNEX I 1. Regulation l/LL of the STCW Convention- Revalidation of Certificates .t Every Master, Officer and Radio Operator holding a Certificate issued or recognized under any Chapter of the Convention other than Chapter Vl, who is serving at sea or intends to return to sea after a period ashore, shall, in order to continue to qualify for seagoing service, be required, at intervals not exceeding five years, to: .2 Meet the standards of medical fitness prescribed by Regulation l/9; and .3 Establish continued professional competence in accordance with section A-L/LL of the STCW Code. 2. Every master, officer and radio operator shall, for continuing seagoing service on board ships for which special training requirements have been internationally agreed upon, successfully complete approved relevant training. 3. Every master and officer shall, for continuing seagoing service on board tankers, meet the requirements in paragraph 1 of this regulation and be required, at intervals not exceeding five years, to establish continued professional competence for tankers in accordance with section AllLL, paragraph 3 of the STCW Code. - 4. Section A-I/LL of the STCW Convention Professional competence Continued professional competence as required under regulation l/11shall be established by: .1 approved seagoing service, performing functions appropriate to the certificate held, for a period of at least: .1.1Twelve months in total during the preceding five years, or .1.2 Three months in total during the preceding six months immediately prior to revalidating; .2 Continued professional competence for tankers, as required under Regulation l/11, shall be established by: .L Approved seagoing service, performing the duties appropriate to the tanker certificate or endorsement held, for a period of at least three months in total during the preceding five years; or .2 Successfully completing an approved relevant training course or courses. Page 4 of 4