Whereas Rules 4(2)(iii) of Merchant Shipping (Continuous Discharge Certificate) Rules, 2001, prescribe the various trades and the age limit for issue of CDCs in the category of Petty Officers and Rule 4(3)(iii) of M.S. (CDC) Rules, 2001 prescribe the educational qualifications to be attained for being eligible to apply for a CDC in this category,

Whereas the Petty Officers are skilled seamen who have been historically and traditionally accorded higher pay, status and accommodation, compared to the ordinary seamen, on board Merchant Naval ships,

Whereas the M.S. (CDC) Rules, 2001, permit a candidate to attain the rank of a Petty Officer after undergoing a two year course in an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), approved by the National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT), or a diploma course, approved by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and the 4 basic STCW familiarization Courses, without the requirement of any experience on board Merchant Naval ships or having undergone any pre-sea training from an approved Training institute, as prescribed under Sub-clause (b) of Clause (ii) of Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 28 of the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998,

Whereas there is acute unemployment amongst those who are in possession of CDCs in the category of Petty Officers, because majority of the shipowners do not consider the qualification and experience of Petty Officers adequate to employ them in that category and also because of the reduction in the manning strength of ships worldwide and the present practice of utilizing flying repair squads rather than employing fitters, etc. for the entire voyage,

Whereas Merchant Shipping Notice No. 7 of 2002 dated 24th May, 2002 prescribes the guidelines for issue of Engine Room Watch Keeping Certificate under Regulation III/4 of STCW 95 to the Petty Officers, although Petty Officers are traditionally and historically considered to be higher in rank, status and pay to the Engine Room Watch Keepers on board a ship,

And whereas the Shipping Office at Mumbai receives approximately 100 applications for CDCs in the category of Petty Officers every month and at present there are approximately 2,500 applications pending at Shipping Office, Mumbai for issue of CDCs in this category,

And whereas many of the applicants for CDCs in the category of Petty Officers undergo the STCW familiarization courses by incurring an approximate expenditure of Rs. 10,000/-, and thereafter remain unemployed,

Now therefore, the Director General of Shipping and Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Shipping, exercising the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Section 456 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (on the Central Government) read with notification issued by Government of India vide S.O. No. 3144 dated 17th December, 1960 delegating the said power to him and also in pursuance of the directive given by Secretary (Shipping) during a review meeting on eligibility criteria / procedure for issue of CDCs, held in the Directorate General of Shipping on 27th July, 2002, is pleased to issue the following order, which will come into force with effect from 01 September 2002 :-

1. The age limit prescribed vide Rule 4(2)(iii) in the category of Petty Officers is amended as follows :-

For Between 18 and 40 years of age
Read Between 18 and 25 years of age

2. "Petty Officer," may be added to Rule 4(5) in the first line after the words "An applicant for issue of CDC as"

3. Candidates shall undergo the pre-sea training prescribed for General Purpose (G.P.) Ratings in order to be eligible for CDCs in the category of Petty Officers.

4. The applications for CDCs in the category of Petty Officers received by the Shipping Masters on or before 31st August, 2002 may be processed in accordance with the earlier Rules.

Sd/-
(D.T. Joseph)
Director General of Shipping and
Secretary to Govt. of India