Whereas Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Competency as Cook in the Merchant Navy) Rules, 1991, notified vide G.S.R. No. 709 dated 13th Dec. 1991, provides for issuance of Certificate of Competency to an Indian citizen, who is not less than 25 years of age, in possession of documentary proof of having served on board ship for not less than 36 months and having satisfactorily completed the approved training course from any of the institutes, specified in Rule 4.

Whereas Section 170 of the Merchant Shipping Act,1958 provides for issuance of Certificate of Competency as Cooks to seafarers who are working on foreign-going Indian ships.

Therefore, seafarers working on board foreign flag vessels are not considered eligible for issuance of Certificate of Competency even though they meet the eligibility criteria prescribed under Rule 3 (a) & (b) of Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Competency as Cook in the Merchant Navy) Rules, 1991, and are also in possession of documentary proof of having served at sea for not less than 36 months, but on foreign-going ship of foreign flag.

On careful consideration, the Director-General of Shipping and Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Shipping, exercising the powers conferred by Clause (l) of Section 456 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (on the Central Government) read with notification issued by the Government of India vide S.O. No. 3144 dated 17th December, 1960 delegating the said power to him is pleased to direct that the seafarers who are in possession of documentary proof of having served at sea for not less than 36 months as Chief Cook on board any ship of any flag, other than sailing or fishing vessels, will be hereafter eligible for Certificate of Competency without undergoing the approved training course as provided in Rule 3 (d) of Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Competency as Cook in the Merchant Navy) Rules, 1991. The Certificates will be issued to those seafarers who have documentary proof of having served at sea as Chief Cook for not less than 36 months up to 28th February, 2003.

Whereas as per ILO Convention No. 69 (Certification of Ships' Cooks Convention) Article 3 and Article 4 provides for formal examination of candidates ability from an approved institute for issuance of Certificate of Competency. Accordingly, all the seafarers from August 1, 2003 will be necessarily required to undergo the training from an approved institute as provided in Rule 4 of Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Competency as Cook in the Merchant Navy) Rules, 1991.

Further, the Director-General of Shipping & Secretary to the Govt of India authorizes the Shipping Master, Chennai, in addition to the Shipping Master, Mumbai and Kolkata, to issue of Certificate of Competency as Ship's Cook in the Merchant Navy, as per the provisions of Rules 5, 7 & 8 of M S (Certificate of Competency as Cook in the Merchant Navy) Rules, 1991.