1.       Preamble:

1.1.    The purpose of this notice is to detail out the methodology for obtaining the above certificates of competency as prescribed in Rules 14 and 15 of the M.S. (STCW) Rules 1998. The above two certificates of competency are grouped together under ‘Management level’ in STCW ’95. As prescribed in Code A of STCW ’95, all written examinations and modular courses are completed at the level of First Mate itself in a FUNCTION-WISE approach.

1.2.    For the convenience of seafarers and their employers in planning examination leave, the entire study/examination curriculum has been planned in two phases - Phase I and Phase II. A pass in each Phase is valid for five years.

1.3.    The written examination for First Mate FG, split into two phases for convenience of candidates, combines the entire syllabus for First Mate's and Master's levels - the Management level.  Successful completion of both phases entitles a candidates to a new Mate FG certificate.  There remains one written examination consisting of only one paper on 'Advanced Shipboard Management' dealing with maritime law, maritime commerce, marine insurance etc.

1.4.    It is strongly urged that an officer who has obtained a certificate of competency as Second Mate FG, under the present system, carefully understands the said FUNCTION-WISE approach to certification for the higher grades based on the two phase system.

 2.       Sea service required:

2.1.    For Certification as First Mate FG (Chief Mate) a candidate must have at least 18 months of approved sea service after obtaining a Second Mate FG certificate. However, the minimum approved sea service required is:

2.1.1.     NINE months for Phase I course and examination and

2.1.2.     EIGHTEEN months for Phase II course and examination.

2.2.    Candidates may, at their option, follow the two phases in sequence without a break.

2.3.    For Certification as Master FG a candidate must have:

2.3.1.     Certificate of Competency as First Mate (Chief Mate) FG and

2.3.2.     At least 36 months of approved sea service after obtaining Second Mate (FG) certificate of which at least 12 months must be after obtaining First Mate FG certificate. However, the sea service of 36 months may be reduced to 30 months or pro-rata if the candidate has served for 12 months or less as a Chief Mate.

3.       FIRST MATE (CHIEF MATE) OF A FOREIGN GOING SHIP

3.1.    The course of education/training based on the new pattern will commence from 1^st January          1999.  

3.2.    The entire course will be of SIX months duration spread over two phases:

3.2.1.     Phase I             -   3 months duration

3.2.2.     Phase II            -   3 months duration.

3.3.    Phases I and II are conducted in approved training institutes. The minimum classroom attendance required is 90%. However, if a candidate’s performance in the internal assessment tests is good, 75% attendance would be acceptable subject to concurrence of the head of the institution.

3.4.    There will be an MMD examination at the end of each Phase (I & II). A pass in any one phase will be valid for five years.

3.5.    There will be internal assessment tests (IATs) carried out by each institute at the end of the first & second month of each Phase (I & II) and only on satisfactory performance in internal assessment tests would a candidate be allowed to appear for the MMD examination in that Phase.

3.6.    As regards MMD examinations, a candidate must appear for Phase I first and then only for Phase II. The candidate may, if he so desires, appear for both Phases I & II in the same month, in which case, passing in Phase II is not conditional to passing Phase I first.

3.7.    The Function-wise break up of subjects and the minimum pass marks required are given in Annex - I.

3.8.    The Phase-wise break up of subjects and the minimum pass marks required are given in Annex - II.

3.9.    Eligibility criteria for admission to Phase I course: 

3.9.1.     Certificate of Competency as Second Mate of a Foreign Going Ship (Officer in charge of a navigational watch) followed by

3.9.2.     approved sea service as prescribed in sub para 2.1.1 of this notice. 

3.10.       Eligibility criteria for admission to Phase II course:

3.10.1.    Satisfactory attendance and performance in Internal Assessment Tests (IATs) of Phase I. A pass in the MMD examination in Phase I is not necessary for a candidate to attend Phase II of the course.

3.10.2.    approved sea-going service as prescribed in sub para 2.1.2 of this notice.

3.11.       The courses - Proficiency In Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB), Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) and Medical First Aid (MFA) - are superior to Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) and Elementary First Aid (EFA) courses respectively. Hence an existing seafarer who has undergone a superior course is not required to undergo the inferior one.

3.12.       All candidates must undergo the following courses (if not already done so earlier):

3.12.1.    Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (PSSR) course.

3.12.2.    Proficiency In Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB)

3.12.3.    Radar Observer Simulator Course

3.12.4.    ARPA Simulator Course

3.12.5.    Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)

3.12.6.    GMDSS – GOC 

3.13.       All candidates must undergo the following courses:

3.13.1.    Radar, ARPA and Navigation Simulator

3.13.2.    Medical care

3.14.       Modular courses are linked to FUNCTIONS and not to PHASES. Hence candidates may undergo modular courses at their convenience depending on the availability of seats in various institutions.

 3.15.       A candidate may appear for the ORAL examination for each function only after:

3.15.1.       passing both, Phase I & Phase II, written examinations in that function and

3.15.2.       completing the necessary modular courses and

3.15.3.       having the prescribed sea-going service.

     3.16.       Candidates may appear in the ORAL examination in any one, two or three functions at the                 same time, at their option.

     3.17.       Any candidate who has previously appeared for the existing examination for Certificate of                Competency as First Mate (Chief Mate) of a Foreign Going Ship, and passed ANY PART of                 that examination, would be exempt from attending the course for Phase I.

3.18.    From 1^st February 1999 a candidate who has passed ANY PART of the existing examination for First Mate FG certificate and has completed the prescribed sea-going  service would be given exemptions in appropriate subjects in the New First Mate System as given in the flow chart - Annex III.  

3.19.    Transition from the existing First Mate FG to the New First Mate and new Master FG is illustrated in Annex III.

3.20.    The course and examination schedule is attached as Annex - IV.

 4.       MASTER FG

4.1.    After a candidate has obtained a certificate of competency as First Mate under STCW ’95, the process of obtaining the Certificate of Competency as Master of a Foreign Going Ship will consist of:

4.1.1.     completing the prescribed sea-going service

4.1.2.     attending a course on Advanced Ship-board Management

4.1.3.     passing a single 3 hour written paper with pass at 50%

4.1.4.     undergoing the ‘Ship Manoeuvring Simulator’ course and

4.1.5.     passing an oral examination.

4.2.    The new Master (FG) course will commence from 1st May 1999.  

4.3.    Course commences on 1st working day of each month and completes on the last working day of the same month.  

4.4.    Eligibility criteria for admission to Master FG course:

4.4.1.     Certificate of Competency as First Mate FG and

4.4.2.     The prescribed sea-going service. 

4.5.    90% attendance will be compulsory for the above course

      4.6.    The examination will be held on 2nd Monday of each month.

      4.7.    The schedule of courses/examinations is given in Annex - IV.

      4.8.    The examination structure is given in Annex – V.

     4.9.    The outline of the syllabus is contained in Annex - VI.

Sd/-
(Capt. M. M. Saggi)
Deputy Nautical Adviser to the Government of India