Date: 2017-01-17Category: DGS CircularState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Mandatory requirement for submission of successful completion of training course on High Voltage system for Certificate of Competency examination/revalidation by engineer officers and electro-technical officers.
**Executive Summary**
This circular from the Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India, Mumbai, outlines the mandatory requirements for completing a training course on High Voltage (HV) systems for seafarers seeking to obtain or revalidate their Certificate of Competency (CoC). The circular addresses the implementation of STCW Convention 1978 amendments related to HV systems. Key deadlines are February 1, 2017, and July 1, 2017.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **STCW Convention Amendments:**
* The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention 1978 require seafarers to provide evidence of meeting minimum requirements, including HV system training, to ensure their CoCs remain valid for service on ships after December 31, 2016.
* The specifics of the HV system training requirements are detailed in the STCW Code, Sections A-III/1, A-III/2, and A-III/6.
* Requirements for Management level engineer officers & electro-technical officers and for operational level engineer officers are covered in Training circular no. 1 of 2016 dated 15th March 2016 and Training circular no 3 of 2016 dated 15th July 2016 respectively, and came into force on 1st January 2017.
* **Mandatory HV Training:**
* Seafarers assessed for any engineering grade or electro-technical officer examinations and applying for their CoC after February 1, 2017, must complete the applicable HV course before applying.
* Seafarers with existing CoCs containing the limitation "Not valid for service on ships fitted with High Voltage (i.e. over 1000V) system beyond 1st January 2017" must complete the applicable HV course before July 1, 2017, to have the limitation removed.
* Seafarers desiring to revalidate their CoC on or after February 1, 2017, must successfully complete the HV training prior to revalidation.
* Seafarers who have been issued revalidated CoC with limitation "Not valid for service on ships fitted with High Voltage (i.e. over 1000V) system beyond 1st January 2017" must complete the applicable HV course before July 1, 2017.
**Impact Analysis**
**Seafarers Applying for CoC or Revalidation**
* **Impact:** Seafarers must successfully complete the High Voltage course to receive or revalidate their CoC. Applications for CoC will not be processed if HV training is not completed. Existing CoCs with limitations regarding HV systems will need to be updated to remove the limitation.
* **Action Required:** Complete the applicable HV course (8 hours for MEO Class IV or 50 hours for ETO/MEO Class I/II) prior to applying for CoC or revalidation. Remove limitation on existing CoC after completing the HV Course.
**Maritime Training Institutes**
* **Impact:** Institutes must provide the required High Voltage training courses.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the HV courses meet the standards set by the Directorate General of Shipping.
**Directorate of Shipping/Mercantile Marine Departments**
* **Impact:** The directorate needs to ensure the correct implementation of the circular. Mercantile Marine Departments need to update certificates.
* **Action Required:** Issue CoCs without limitations to those who have completed required training. Remove CoC Limitations after completion of training.
Key Entities Referenced
STCW Convention 1978: International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, as amended, sets qualification standards for seafarers.
Directorate General of Shipping: The primary authority issuing circulars related to training and certification of seafarers in India.
Certificate of Competency (CoC): A certificate issued to seafarers demonstrating competency to serve in specific roles on ships, subject to certain limitations or conditions.
Manila Amendments: Amendments to the STCW Convention requiring seafarers to meet specified minimum requirements for their certificate to remain valid.
STCW Code: Part of the STCW Convention that contains detailed specifications and standards of competence for seafarers.
4. REALIZING THAT there have been difficulties being faced by Maritime Administrations in
complying with the certification requirements of seafarers, the lnternational Maritime Organization
(lMO) had issued MSC. 1 t Cic. 1560 dated 9th December 2016 recommending the Port State
Control authorities to take a pragmatic approach till 1"t July 201 7 while taking action under the
control procedures in Article X and Regulation l/4 of the STCW Convention 1978 as amended until
l"tJuly 2017 and accordingly the Directorate had issued advisory vide Engineering circular no
3/2016 dated 29th December 20'16, file no. ENG-PSC-66 (1)t2007.
5. REALZING ALSO THAT the Directorate have been issuing COC to both management level &
operational level engineer officers and also to electrotechnical Officers who do not submit
evidence of having completed training on High Voltage systems with imposing CoC limitation as
"From the 1't January 2017 this certificate is not valid for service on ships fitted with High Voltage
(over 1000V) systems".
6. lN RECOGNITION of the specification of minimum standard of competence as contained in table
A-llll1, A-llll2 and A-lll/6 of the STCW Code, as amended, the engineer officers and electro-
technical officers are required to possess competency in high voltage systems in addition to other
requirements of STCW 2010 amendments for issuance of CoC without any limitation as per
STCW 2010 amendments.
7. THEREFORE, taking cognizance of the minimum standard of competency requirements of the
STCW Code, the competent authority of the Directorate has taken the following decision.
a. All seafarers who have been assessed for any engineering grade or electro-technical officer
examinations and applying for their CoC after 1"t Feb 2017 are required to successfully
I
complete the applicable high voltage course ( 0B hours for MEO Class lV or 50 hours of
High Voltage Safety & Switch Gear for ETOiMEO Classl/ll) prior applying for their CoC,
failing which their application for issuance of CoC shall not be processed.
b. All seafarers who have been issued engineering grade or electrotechnical officer CoC with
limitation "Not valid for service on ships fitted with High Voltage (i.e. over '1000V)
system beyond 1"t January 20'17" are required to successfully complete the applicable
high voltage course before 1"t July 2017. Upon completion of the High voltage course,
such seafarers should ensure that the limitation on their CoC is deleted at the examination
centre of a Mercantile Marine Departments.c. All those seafarers in possession of engineering grade CoC, issued under STCW Regulation
lll/1 and lll/2 or electro-technical officer CoC issued under STCW Regulation lll/6, desiring
to revalidate their CoC on or after 1"t February 2017 arc also required to have successfully
completed the applicable high voltage course prior applying for revalidation.
d. All those seafarers who have been issued revalidated CoC with limitation "Not valid for
service on ships fitted with High Voltage (i.e. over 1000V) system beyond 1't
to
January 2017" are required successfully complete the applicable high voltage course
before 1tt July 2017 . Upon completion of the High voltage course, such seafarers
should ensure that the limitation on their CoC is deleted at the examination centre of a
Mercantile Marine Departments.
(A.8.
Engineer & Ship Surveyor
vr/tl
To,
1. All Maritime Training lnstitute
2. Principal Officers, MMD, Mumbai/Chennai/ Kolkata/ Kochi/ Kandla
3. Shipping Masters, Mumbai/ Kolkata/ Chennai
4. INDOS Cell, DGS, GOl, Nau Bhavan Building, Mumbai-1
5. Nautical Branch, DGS, GOI
6. Engineering Branch, DGS, GOI
7. Training Branch,OGS,Go I
8. Hindi Cell (To translate in Hindi and put up in website
9. INSfu FOSMA/ MASSA/ ICSSA/ MUU IMEI/ CMMI/ NUSI
10. computer cell, DGS, GOI with a request to upload this on the official website
11. E-governance Cell, DGS, GOI
12. Guard File
13. Sr. PS to DG(S) for information
14. Sr. PS to Addl. DG (S) for information
'15. Sr. PS to CS/NA for information