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Preamble:
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This Directorate,
being aware of the cyclic nature of the shipping trade and Industry, has
initiated proactive and pragmatic measures to deal with the current and
future needs of the Industry at large and seafarers in particular.
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During the
recession period in world shipping in the mid 1980s, there was a heavy
surplus of Certificated Navigating officers, particularly the third
officers and the second officers. These officers, at that time, could
not even opt for an alternate career during the recession period due to
lack of any higher educational qualification beyond the entry-level
standard of 10+2.
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In order to
facilitate nautical trainees pursuing other employment in the event of
down turn in shipping, as a precautionary measure, this Directorate had
introduced a three-year full-time residential training programme for
nautical trainees on Training Ship Rajendra in 1987, with affiliation
from the University of Mumbai for the award of a B.Sc. degree in
Nautical Sciences to these trainees on successful completion of the
course and passing the University Examinations.
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Subsequently, a
few other maritime training institutes were also approved to commence
the above three year B. Sc. Nautical Sciences degree course, with due
affiliation from a recognized University.
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However, this
scheme constituted only about 15-20% of the total intake of the nautical
trainees every year. The balance 80-85% of the nautical trainees still
did not possess any higher educational qualification beyond the
entry-level standard of 10+2.
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In order the
overcome this gap, a new scheme was launched in July 2004 encompassing
one year pre-sea training leading to Diploma in Nautical Science, 18
months of structured on-board training and 4 months of post-sea courses
followed by the Second Mates Foreign Going Certificate of Competency
Examination. This facilitated the nautical officers in furtherance of
their educational qualifications and the career prospects in shore based
industry by obtaining a degree qualification. This scheme was dovetailed
with Indira Gandhi National Open University as a three-year (6
Semesters) Distance Learning Programme for the award of B. Sc. Nautical
Science degree.
Present
Scenario:
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However, linking
up a distance education programme with the on-board training and
acquisition of Certificate of Competency, has led to practical
difficulties, particularly with regard to the logistics for these
trainees to appear for the Semester end examinations of IGNOU, such as
inadequate coordination between training and assessment, six monthly
frequency of examination etc.
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A meeting was
held on 12th April 2007 at the Conference Room of this
Directorate with representation from the DGS approved maritime training
institutes conducting pre-sea training for the nautical trainees, Indian
National Ship owners Association (INSA), Foreign Owners Representatives
and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA) and Maritime Association of
Shipowners, Ship managers and Agents (MASSA) on the subject of Pre-sea
training for nautical discipline.
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As an outcome of
the above meeting, and considering the acute shortage of certificated
navigating officers in the Indian Shipping Companies as well as the
Foreign Companies employing Indian navigating officers, this
Directorate, in partial modification of M.
S. Notice No. 12 of 2005 dated 21st October 2005
issues the following clarifications / directives:
Directives:
A. The
pre-sea training for the nautical trainees shall continue to be of
one-year duration with its revised curriculum that will be in effect from
1st January, 2008.
B. The
trainees may then proceed to sea for the approved seagoing service of not
less than 18 months, which shall include the following:
a)
Maintenance of DGS-IGNOU approved Cadet Record Book (CRB) to be ensured by
C.T.O, shipboard officers and assessed by examiner at the time of MMD
orals.
b)
Structured Shipboard Training Programme (SSTP) from any DGS-IGNOU approved
SSTP provider, as decided by the company providing on-board training.
c)
Candidates to perform, during the required seagoing service, bridge watch-
keeping duties under the supervision of the Master or a qualified officer
for a period of not less than 6 months.
C. On
completion of Sea time, the trainee are required to enroll in an approved
Second Mate Foreign Going Competency preparatory Course and complete the
prescribed Modular courses and then appear for the written and oral
examination to obtain Second Mate Foreign Going Certificate of Competency
as per MS STCW rules 1998.
D. The
candidates in their own interest are hereby advised that they should
continue the enrollment with the university and pursue the approved
Distance Education Programme simultaneously with their training, for
acquiring the relevant degree qualification for their academic growth and
excellence, and for the furtherance of career opportunities.
E. This
partial modification of the scheme shall be applicable for the bonafide
students of IGNOU-DGS scheme, who have undergone their one-year pre-sea
training in an approved institution from the batch commenced in August
2004 upto the batch commenced in January, 2007.
F.
A modified scheme will be promulgated shortly for the trainees of
batch commenced in August, 2007 presently undergoing pre sea training for
Diploma in Nautical Science of DGS-IGNOU scheme and all other subsequent
batches.
This
issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and
Ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
Sd/-
(Capt.
J. S. Uppal)
Dy. Nautical Advisor to the Govt. of India-cum-Sr.DDG(Tech.)
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