It has been brought to the notice of this Directorate, that there is an acute shortage of qualified Chief Cooks on board foreign going vessels. Further, the cooks who have experience on board foreign going vessels are not eligible for certificate of competency as cooks in the Merchant Navy, in accordance with Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Competency as Cook in the Merchant Navy) Rules, 1991 notified vide GSR No.709 dated 13/12/1991, since they have not undergone the approved training course from the institutes specified in Rule 4 of the above rules. It is also seen that T.S. Rehman, Nhava Sheva, which has been accorded recognition for conducting training courses for ship's cooks, has not yet conducted any such course till date, though the rules were notified in the year 1991. This Directorate is also in receipt of representations from seamen and their Union that sufficient opportunity were not made available for them to be eligible in accordance with the Rules notified in 1991, in the absence of T.S. Rehman conducting any such training course for ships' cook. Further, despite there being a provision in the Rules, the Govt. had not approved any additional institute for conducting such course, in terms of clause (d) of Rule 4. 2.

In the light of the foregoing circumstances, having taken into careful consideration the circumstances of the case, the Director General of Shipping is satisfied that in the case of seafarers, who possess a minimum of 36 months experience as Cooks, on board foreign going ships, the requirement to undergo a training course as ships' cook, from any of the approved institutes, under the provisions of clause (d) of Rule 3 and Rule 4 of M.S. (COC as Cook in Merchant Navy) Rules, 1991, ought to be dispensed with. Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by clause (1) 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 powers to the Director General of Shipping, the Director General of Shipping and ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India is pleased to direct that the requirement to undergo training from approved institutes, to obtain Certificate of Competency as Cook in Merchant Navy, may be dispensed with, in the case of seafarers who possess a minimum of 36 months sea service, as a cook on board a foreign going ship. No.8(26)CR/2000-III 6th June 2001

Sd/-
(D.T. Joseph)
Director General of Shipping
& ex-officio Additional Secretary
Ministry of Shipping,
Government of India