**Executive Summary**
NT/Exam Circular No. 04 of 2017, dated 14.12.2017, addresses type-specific training requirements for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). It clarifies the applicability of M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012 regarding ECDIS training for deck officers on Indian ships, based on IMO clarifications. The document highlights the responsibilities of companies to ensure seafarer familiarization with installed equipment.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Background and Regulations:**
* Directorate General of Shipping issued M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012 regarding ECDIS carriage requirements on Indian Ships.
* Regulation I/14 of STCW and section 6.3 of the ISM Code impose responsibilities on companies to ensure seafarers are familiarized with ship-specific duties and equipment.
* M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012, Para 16 stipulated that all deck officers complete "specific type" training of ECDIS equipment installed on the Indian ships.
* **IMO Clarification and Change in Requirements:**
* IMO clarified in STCW.7/Cir 24/Rev.1 dated 16th June, 2017 that type-specific training for ECDIS equipment is not required.
* The knowledge and proficiency required should be generalized for basic operation of all ECDIS equipment.
* **Current Applicability:**
* The requirement of completion of training for the specific type of ECDIS equipment by deck officers, as stated in Para 16 of M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012, is no longer applicable.
* **Company Responsibilities:**
* Companies remain responsible for ensuring that seafarers are familiarized with the installed equipment on their ships, according to regulation 1/14 of the STCW convention and section 6.3 of the ISM Code.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Shipping Companies**
* **Impact:**
* No longer required to provide type-specific ECDIS training to deck officers.
* Maintain responsibility for ensuring seafarers are familiar with the ECDIS equipment installed on their ships.
* **Action Required:**
* Ensure seafarers employed on their ships are familiarized with the installed ECDIS equipment as stipulated in regulation I/14 of the STCW convention and section 6.3 of the ISM Code.
**Stakeholder: Deck Officers/Seafarers**
* **Impact:**
* Type-specific ECDIS training is no longer mandatory.
* Expected to have a generalized understanding and proficiency to operate all types of ECDIS equipment.
* **Action Required:**
* Ensure familiarization with the ECDIS equipment installed on the ships they are assigned to.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Shipping: The issuing authority for the NT/EXAM Circular, regulating training requirements for ECDIS.
Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS): The subject of the circular, concerning training requirements for its use on ships.
M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012: A previous notice issued by the Directorate General of Shipping regarding ECDIS carriage requirements, which this circular modifies.
International Convention on standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers [STCW], 1978: An international convention that sets standards for training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers.
International Safety Management code [ISM]: An international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.
wrr*t orrt
3{r{f, g{fiR/ GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
fd ctrrilr riara-q I MIN ISTRy oF SHIppING
dfd-6-d FdrfrhrrFrq/ DTRECToRATE GENERAL oF sHtpptNc
|frstr: 022 - 2sis2o4o/tDt3 "fua ftF*rf, 9 fr dfril/"BETA BUILDING,,glhFLOOR Tele: 022 - 257520401112/3
S-+g: ozz - 2s7szo29 t3s 3{rg-fu6 td *eqs l r-THTNK TEcHNo cAMpus Fax: 022 - 25752029 I 35
! $!.. -. r{ ri : !!E!!!D-d8!(4!l.U 6rE{ 4fu ts I KAN"IUn VILLAGE ROAD E-mail : ds.shin:dss@r.lic.i n
ttt: www.dsshiooi 6rg{ Erri (fE) / KANJUR MARG (EAST) W e b : gty:y.dd!pp!-U&so-vj!
+iqg - +oo 042 / MUMBAI - 4oo 042
NT/EXAM. CIRCULAR NO. 04 of 2017
Authorized Examination, Assessment & Certification (EAC) IS/ISO Clause
by Branch No. 7.5.1
Chief Subject: Type - Specific training requirements for NT Exam Circular
Examiner of Electronic Chart Display and Information System No.04 of 2017
Master and (ECDIS) - reg.
Mates
File No: 75-NT (20)12011-Pt. I Date: 14.12.2017
The Directorate General of Shipping issued M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012
(F.No.75-NT (l)12011) dated 27.01.2012 concerning the carriage requirements for
Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) on Indian Ships.
2. Para 5 of the Regulation lll4 of the International Convention on standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers [STCW], 1978, (as amended),
imposes responsibilities on companies to ensure that "sedarers, on being assigned to
any of its ships, are familiarized with their specific duties and with all arrangements,
installations, equipments etc". Also section 6.3 of the International Safety
Management code [ISM] stipulates that"The Company should establish procedures to
ensure that new personnel and personnel transferred to new assignments related to
safety and protection of the environment are given proper familiarization with their
duties". Accordingly, the said M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012 at Para 16, under the
heading Training and Certification stipulated that "all deck fficers shall complete
training for the 'specific type' of ECDIS equipment installed on the Indian ships on
which they are working". w,
Page I of23.
Subsequently, The International Maritime Organization UMO] has vide para 12
of the Annex to its circular STCW.7/Cir 24lRev.l dated 16'h June, 2017 clarified that
"No requirement exists for the approved training on ECDIS equipment to be type-
specific. The knowledge, understanding and proficiency required to be demonstrated
is generalized to ensure seafarers have the necessary skills for basic operation ofall
type of equipment. "
4. [n view of the clarification from IMO, the requirement of completion of
training for the specific type of ECDIS equipment by the deck officers stated at para
16 of the M.S. Notice No. 03 of 2012 is no longer applicable.
5.
Companies remain responsible for ensuring that seafarers employed on their
ships are familiarized with the installed equipment as stipulated in regulation 1/14 of
the STCW convention and section 6.3 of the ISM Code.
6. This issues with the approval of Chief Examiner of the Master and Mates.
Youl
(Capt. P.C. Meena)
Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG [Tech.]
Page2 of2