**Executive Summary**
This Directorate General of Shipping circular provides guidance on qualifying sea service requirements for engine officers seeking Certificates of Competency. It reflects the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, effective since January 1, 2012. The circular outlines specific sea time requirements based on the type of certificate sought and propulsion machinery.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **STCW 2010 Implementation:** The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention are in effect since January 1, 2012.
* **Sea Service Requirements:**
* For Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (Class IV): Candidates need at least six months of engine room watchkeeping duties on ships with 750 kW or more propulsion power.
* For Second Engineer Officer (Class II): Candidates need at least 12 months of approved sea-going service as a qualified Engineer Officer on ships of 750 kW or more.
* For Chief Engineer Officer (Class I): Candidates need at least 36 months of approved sea-going service as Engineer Officer in charge of an Engineering watch on ships of 750 kW or more, including at least 12 months as holder of Class II CoC on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000 kW propulsion power or more.
* **Certificate of Competency Validity:** Certificates issued to candidates meeting the specified sea service requirements are valid for five years from the date of passing the examination.
* **Transitional Provisions (Up to December 31, 2016):** Candidates who completed sea service under the 1998 Merchant Shipping Rules will receive restricted CoCs and must complete an 11-day Refresher & Upgradation Course to validate them further.
* **MEO Class I Eligibility (from January 1, 2015):** Candidates seeking MEO Class I CoC must meet STCW 2010 requirements in para 2.3.
* **Detailed Sea Service Tables:** The document includes tables detailing qualifying sea service and propelling time requirements for MEO Class IV, Class II, and Class I candidates based on regulation/category and propulsion type (motor, steam, combined).
* **Endorsements:** A Class I certificate holder with service as assistant watchkeeper can appear for an endorsement of either type by examination. However, this is not applicable for any lower class of Certificate of Competency.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders:**
* Aspiring Engine Officers
**Impact:** Required to adhere to the revised sea service requirements for obtaining Certificates of Competency.
**Action Required:** Accumulate sea service according to the specifications outlined in the document before applying for certification.
* Seafarers with existing Certificates of Competency
**Impact:** Those who qualified under pre-2010 standards may be required to undergo additional training.
**Action Required:** If CoCs were issued under pre-2010 rules (before 31.12.2016), complete an eleven-day Refresher & Upgradation Course.
* Maritime Training Institutions
**Impact:** Must ensure their curriculum aligns with the new sea service requirements and provide necessary training for candidates.
**Action Required:** Update training programs to reflect the STCW 2010 amendments and related sea service criteria.
Key Entities Referenced
STCW Convention: International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. The document outlines qualifying sea service requirements in relation to the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention.
Directorate General of Shipping: Issuing authority for the circular regarding qualifying sea service requirements for Engine Officers to obtain Certificate of Competency.
Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998: Referenced Rules for candidates who have completed sea service as per existing regulations. Certificates of Competency issued under these rules are restricted up to 31.12.2016.
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING
Examination, Assessment & Certification IS/ISO Clause No. 7.1
(EAC Branch)
Ref: QMS: EACQP - 07 - Subject: Qualifying Sea Service requirements for Engineering File No.
1 Officers to obtain Certificate of Competency
Authorized by: CS / DG Circular No: STCW 2010 Training Circular No. 14 of 2012 Date: 06.03.2012
1. As the shipping Industry and the seafarers are well aware, the 2010 Manila
Amendments to the STCW Convention have entered into force on 1st January 2012, through the Tacit
Amendment Procedure as laid down in the STCW Convention.
2. The following instructions and tables give a clear guideline on the sea time
requirements and need to be followed by aspiring candidates for obtaining certificates of competency:
2.1 For certification of Officers in Charge of an Engineering Watch in a manned engine room
or Designated Duty Engineers in a periodically Unmanned Engine Room (Marine Engineer
Officer Class IV). Every candidate shall have performed engine room watch keeping duties as
appropriate for motor/ steam for a period of not less than six months in the engine department of
a sea going ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more
under the supervision of the Chief Engineer Officer or a qualified Engineer Officer.
2.2 For certification of Second Engineer Officer on ships powered by main propulsion
machinery of 3000 kW propulsion power or more (Marine Engineer Officer Class II). Every
candidate shall have not less than 12 months approved sea-going service as appropriate for
motor/ steam in the engine department of sea going ship as a qualified Engineer Officer on ships
of 750 kW or more.
2.3 For certification of Chief Engineer Officer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery
of 3000 kW propulsion power or more (Marine Engineer Officer Class I).
2.3.1 Every candidate shall have approved sea-going service as appropriate for motor/ steam
in the engine department of sea going ship as Engineer Officer in charge of an
Engineering watch on ships of 750 kW or more for a period of not less than 36months which shall include not less than 12 months as holder of certificate of
competency as Marine Engineer Officer Class II on ships powered by main propulsion
machinery of 3000 kW propulsion power or more.
2.3.2 However, in such cases the period of 36 months shall be reduced to 30 months, i.e. if 12
months of such sea-going service as appropriate for motor/ steam in the engine
department of sea going ship has been served as Second Engineer Officer on a sea-
going ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or
more, or pro rata.
2.1 Every candidate complying with the qualified sea service as specified in para 2.3 will be
issued Certificate of Competency for a period of five years from the date of passing examination.
2.1.1 However, candidates who have completed sea service as per the existing i.e. the
Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers),
Rules 1998 qualifying sea service requirements, will be issued the Certificate of
Competency which will be restricted up to 31.12.2016. Such candidates shall be required
to further validate their certificate by undergoing the eleven days Refresher &
Upgradation Course after completing the qualifying sea service as required by these
amendments.
3. Transitional Provisions
It may be noted that candidates are required to have qualified sea service for obtaining MEO Class I
Certificate of Competency as per the requirements of STCW 2010 as specified in para 2.3
w.e.f. 01.01.2015 in order to be eligible to appear for MEO Class I Certificate of Competency as per
these amendments.
4. Qualifying Sea Service requirements for issue of Certificate of Competency are detailed
below:
Table for candidates following a route from MEO Class IV level onwards as per these amendments onwards
Marine Engineer Officer Class IV Candidates
Regulation / Category Column A (Qualifying Sea Service) Column B (Propelling time)
Minimum watchkeeping on appropriate
STCW 2010 Regulation III/ 1-Officer Total minimum approved Sea service
Main Propulsion Machinery or UMS duties
in charge of Engineering watch after MEO Class IV Part A
(on ships 750 kW or more)
Motor (M) 6 months 4 months
Steam (S) 6 months 4 months8 months (4 months Motor + 4 months 6 months (3 months Motor + 3 months
Combined Steam & Motor
Steam) Steam)
* Endorsement (Steam or Motor) 3 months 2 months
Marine Engineer Officer Class II Candidates
Regulation / Category Column A (Qualifying Sea Service) Column B (Propelling time)
STW 2010 Regulation III/2 Min watchkeeping on Main Propulsion
Total minimum approved Sea service
Machinery or UMS duties (on ships 750 kW
after obtaining Class IV Part B (III/1)
2nd Engineer 3000 kW or more or more)
Motor (M) 12 months 8 months
Steam (S) 12 months 8 months
16 months (8 months Motor + 8 months 12 months (6 months Motor + 6 months
Combined (Steam & Motor)
Steam) Steam)
* Endorsement (Steam or Motor) 6 months 4 months
Marine Engineer Officer Class I Candidates
Regulation / Category Column A (Qualifying Sea Service) Column B (Propelling time)
Min watch keeping on Main propulsion
STCW 2010 Regulation III/2 Total minimum approved Sea service
machinery while qualified to serve as 2nd
after obtaining MEO Certificate of
Engineer (holding III/2 cert. on Ships of
Chief Engineer 3000 kW or more Competency Class II (III/2)
power 3000 kW or more)
24 months/ 18 months if served as
16 months/ 12 months if served as Second
Second Engineer Officer on ships of
Motor (M) Engineer Officer on ships of 3000 kW
3000 kW propulsion power or more for a
propulsion power or more
period of 12 months or pro rata.
24 months/ 18 months if served as
16 months/ 12 months if served as Second
Second Engineer Officer on ships of
Steam (S) Engineer Officer on ships of 3000 kW
3000 kW propulsion power or more for a
propulsion power or more
period of 12 months or pro rata
Combined (Steam & Motor) 32 months (16m Motor + 16m Steam) 24 months (12m Motor + 12m Steam)
* Endorsement (Steam or Motor) 9 months 6 months* Steam or Motor Endorsement to a COC applies to candidates who are in possession of COC for the grade in Motor or
Steam respectively.
5. Sea time for candidates appearing for Steam Certificate of Competency or for conversion from
Motor to Steam and Motor and Steam (Combined) is as mentioned above.
6. A candidate holding a Class I Certificate of Competency, Steam or Motor, who has completed
approved sea service as an assistant to watchkeeper on a Motor or Steamship respectively can appear
for an endorsement of either type, by examination, to be entitled to hold an endorsement to his Class I
Certificate of Competency. This is however, not applicable for any lower Class of Certificate of
Competency.
7. This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and ex-officio Additional Secretary
to the Government of India, under the power conferred in the Chapter IX Rule 47 of Merchant Shipping
(Standards of Certification & watch - keeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998.
Sd/-
[D. Mehrotra]
Dy. Chief Surveyor