Validity of combined certificate for basic safety training, as required as per Chapter VI, Part A of Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, 1978 as amended

w 6.ilr ps- rrrFl{rG ..,.,.]., qrcd (l-f6'l-{ / GovERNrrrENT oF rNDl.A **{-* -.\t Ttrq, rird vft+61 sP qdqri {flEq l -W v ctmrt u,lttttut ' txutr 5L]|IMIl 2023 IiINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AI{D WATERWAYS fi-d6{ rarBtino-q, iq{ DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI DGS File No: 20-181112023-"IRG - DaterJ:27.02.2021 DGS Circular No. 03 of 2024 Sub: Validity of'combined certiflcate fbr basic saf-ety training, as required as per Chapter VI. Parl A of Standards of 'l'raining. Certiflcation and Watchkeeping lor Seaf'arers (STCW) Code. 1978 as arnended - reg. I . Whereas. 'l-he STCW Codc. 1978 as amended. Part n. Chapter V[ deals rvith standards regarding emcrgcnc)'. occupational saf-ety, security, medical care" and survival lunctions. 'l'he Section A-Vl/ I ol the above chapter mentions the minimum rrandatory requirements for saf'ety t'arniliarization, basic training, and instruclions lor all seafarers. The itern 2, Section A-Vl/1. Chapter VI of the STCW code. as amended describes the basic training requirements ior seaf-arers employed or engaged in any' capacity on board ship. on thc business olthat ship. as part olthe ship's compliment with designated saf'ety or pollution prevention duties in the operation ol-thc ship. 2. Whcrcas. l]asic training consists ol training or instruction in Personal Survival Techniqucs (l'}S'l ) as set out in table A - VI/ l-1. [rirc ['rcvention and [rirc l:ighting (FPITF) as set out in table A- Vll l-2. Elernentarl, F irst Aid (EFA) as set out in table A- VI/ l-3. and Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) as set out in table set out in table A- VI/ I -4. l. Whereas" the lbur basic S.ICW courses such as PST. FPFF. t'.['A & PSSR bcing of short durations" independently conducted and separate course completion certificate were issued tbr each. Procedures lor issuing separate certificates involved excessive paperwork, increased manpower and resources and substantially cornplicated the verification and rr-ronitoring ol basic STCW certificates. The Directorate. in its endeavour to sirnplifi the procedurcs and tbr ef'fectivc control and monitoring ol'ccrtilicates issued to sealarcrs vidc D(iS lraining Circular No. 06 of 'l'raining 2018. dated 21.03.2018 issued dircctives to all Maritirne Institutes (M'l-l) to issue single conrbined certificate fbr the lour basic courscs mentioned above and were listed as "Basic S'l-CW Safety Training" in the e-govemance system. 1. Whereas. l'he DGS Training Circular No.6 ol'2018. dated 21.03.201tt. turther directed that validitl of this corr.rbincd Basic S'l'CW Sal'ety Course certillcate is to be ol tJNt-lMI-l't:D validity lrom lhe date ol issue. sub.jeot to the sealarer cornpleting a 'l-echniques refiesher training, every 5 years fbr Personal Survival and Fire Prevention and Fire Irighting course. efi {B-n, fi-a runsr, stri Ri6 2ffi} +q(, 6igr'fiq tlc, mtgnFf (S) f+{- +ooo+z 9th Floor, BETA Building, l-Think Techno Campus, Kanjur Village Road, Kanjurmarg (E), Mumbai-400042 iI 6l No.: +g1-22-2 575 2Aor1ru3 ftff/Fax.: +9'l-22-2575 2029/35 {-tdtemait: dgshlp{9s@nic.in ?q{I{dMebsire: www.dgshlpplng.govin5. Pursuant to the restrictions prcvalent during thc COVID l)andemic. the Dircc(rrate took cognizance ol' the conditions and through DGS Order l7 of' 202 l. dated 01.05.202 l. perrnitted the Llasic Saf'ety' Iraining Course to bc divided into trro parts as "Part A" and "Part B". The "Part A" certificate was to be issued rvith validity ol l8 rnonths for those seafarers who had completed thc said "Basic STCW Saf'et1' Course" follou'ing the three-tier leaming rnechanism rvithout practicals. The "Part B" certillcate rvas to be issued *'ilh full validity'to those sealarers rvho have acquired "Part A" ccrtificatc and have cornpleted the practical at the MTI. 6. The digitally generated "Part B" certificate rvas to have the sarne certiflcate nurnber as the "Part A" certificate. The "Part B" certificate shall have an UNLIMITED validity for the Basic STCW Safety Course. sub.iect to the seafarer 'l'echniques completing a reticsher training. cvery 5 ycars fbr Personal Survival and Fire Prevention and Fire F ighting. (as fiom the datc of issue ol' "Part A") in accordance to thc description of'the Basic S1'CW Salety Course as u'as prescribed in the DGS Training Circular No. 6 of 2018. datcd 21.03.2018. and as described in para no. 4 above. 7. Furthermore. the Directorate instructed vide DGS Order No. I I of 2022. dated 22.03.2022- that the issuance of "Part A" and "Part B" Certificate fbr courses rvas to be cease with elfect from 21.03.2022 with an exception for those seafarers rvho already have Valid "Part A" and were yet to complete "Part B". 8. All seafarers commencing the Basic STCW Safbty Coursc afier 2l .03.2022 were directed once again to be issued a combined single certificate fbr the said course which shall have an LTNLIMITED validity. subject to the sealarer completing a refiesher training. every 5 ycars for Personal Survival Techniques and Fire Prevention and Fire F'ighting course. in accordance to the description olthe Basic Safety Course 'l as was prescribed in the D(iS raining Circular No. 6 of'2018. dated 21 .03.2018. and as described in para no. 4 abovc. 9. The Directorate hereby clarifies that all Basic STCW Safety Course certificates issued as a single consolidated certificate or as parts as "Part A" and "Part B" certificates. shall be considered as having UNLIMITED validity. subject to the seaf'arer completing a reiiesher training. every 5 years. for Personal Survival Techniques and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting courscs. 10. This is issued with the approval of the Director Ceneral of Shipping. Govt. of lndia. ,l) U-< (Savita Raj) Executive olfi cer (Trg.)