Dated: 17.10.2007
 

Sub: Near Coastal Vessels (NCV) Deck and Engine Cadet Scheme

1.         Preamble

This Notice is issued to Ship owners, Managers, Masters of vessels engaged in Near Coastal Vessels (NCV) trade. This is intended for developing NCV cadre of officers/ engineers.  

2.         Objective

This notice takes into account growing demand for the need to develop NCV officer and engineer cadet scheme in line with foreign going ships in International trade. A person undergoing training under this scheme shall be considered as a trainee officer under the Tonnage Tax Scheme. This notice comes into force with immediate effect.  

3.         Introduction

In India, M.S. STCW rules 1998 and associated Maritime Education Training and Assessment (META) Manual gives full and complete effect to the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping, 1998. 

Considering that Maritime Education Training and Assessment (META) manual also addresses the subject of NCV cadet training in page II/13 of META Manual Volume I and noting that such scheme has so far not materialized,  this notice prescribes following NCV scheme. This scheme takes into account available, suitably educated and trained manpower from the pool of GP ratings. 

4.         NCV cadet scheme 

4.1      NCV certification is limited for working on Near Coastal Vessels as defined in MS (STCW) Rules, 1998 and, unless otherwise specified, provisions established in the META manual will apply. 

4.2      Pre sea training and required minimum education, familiarization is a pre requisite for cadet / trainee. This will be followed by Structured Shipboard Training Programme (SSTP) at sea. 

5.         Eligibility criteria for entry into the NCV scheme

Every cadet / trainee desirous of being considered as NCV trainee shall comply with the following: 

5.1       Proof of age - between 18 & 25 years.

5.2       Identity - CDC / Passport.

5.3       Basic general education - minimum X^th Pass from recognized Education Board.

5.4       Medical fitness certificate including eye sight examination where mandated as per MS Medical Examination Rules 2000.

5.5       Evidence of basic safety and familiarization training (i.e. PST, PSSR, EFA, FPFF)

5.6       Successfully completed Pre Sea GP rating training and passed the Exit Examination approved by Directorate General of Shipping with minimum 60% aggregate marks after completing the pre-sea course.

5.7       For the Engineering scheme, reference is made to Flow Diagram No. 4 on page III/19 of META Volume I. It is clarified that, candidates pursuing any one of the streams from 1N to 6N are eligible to come under this scheme.  

6.         Eligibility for NCV certification

6.1      Qualifying sea going service of 18 months with SSTP for Deck Cadet (refer Annex I). For Engineering scheme, reference is made to META Manual Vol. 1 section M-III/5 and flow diagram no. 4 (refer annex II).

6.2      Candidates are required to undergo Structured Ship Board Training Programme (SSTP) approved by DGS to obtain NCV certification.

6.3      Approved and prescribed Post Sea courses and applicable modular courses and appropriate certificate of "Rating Forming part of (Navigational)/ (Engineering) Watch".

6.4      Passing of Navigational Watchkeeping Officer NWKO (NCV) examination - written and oral.

6.5      Passing of Marine Engineer Officer - Class IV - (Near Coastal Voyages ) examinations -   written and orals. 

7.         Structured Ship Board Training Programme (SSTP) for  of NCV cadets:

        The (SSTP) training of the cadet on board Near Coastal Vessels shall be the responsibility of company training officer.  The training should be as per the Ship Board Structured Training Programme as approved by the Directorate. 

          Qualifying sea service should be documented by a record book approved under SSTP by the Directorate.  Company Training Officer (CTO) should file returns periodically as per the M S Notice 30 of 2002 issued by DGS for this purpose. On board monitoring of training under SSTP should be generally carried out in conformity with this notice. 

8.         Certification: 

8.1      A Candidate who has performed his entire sea service on  a specific ship type which comes under non trading ships as reflected under Section  M-II/11-C (Copy enclosed as Annex III) of META Manual Vol I of MS (STCW) Rules 1998, the NCV certificate shall then be endorsed with a limitation to serve on that category of vessel or in that description of voyages.    

8.2     To obtain NWKO (NCV) certificate without any limitation the trainees are required to perform at least 6 month of seagoing service on trading ship at support level performing relevant functions and pass the written and oral examination in function as prescribed for NWKO (NCV). 

This issues with the approval of Director General of Shipping.


Yours faithfully,

Sd/-
(Capt. J. S. Uppal)
Dy. Nautical Advisor to the Govt. of India-Cum-Sr. DDG (Tech.)

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