M E R C H A N T    S H I P P I N G    N O T I C E S
Merchant Shipping Notice 17 of 2001

No. : ENG/EXAM-17(13)/89-II Date : 3rd October 2001

Since the examination system is changed over from the old (1989 Examination Rules) pattern to the new (1998 Examination Rules) pattern and subsequent to Circular Nos. 11 of 1998, 6 of 2000 and 3 of 2001, a number of other items needed to be partially modified to ensure that transition into the new system is smooth. The items are as stated below: -

(1) The last date of examination for Class I Part 'B' under the old system will now be December 2001 instead of September 2001 as had been put forth in Engine Circular No. 7 dated 2nd July 2001.

(2) Candidates who are eligible to appear in MEO Class I (Part B) old examination are now expected to appear in MEO Class II (Part B) new examination as the first step towards obtaining MEO Class I new Certificate of Competency owing to change over in the examination system. The eligibility to obtain MEO Class I new Certificate of Competency is 18 months of approved sea service after obtaining MEO Class II new Certificate of Competency. However, since the qualifying sea service required for appearing in MEO Class I old examination is 21 months (subjected to remission of 3 months on commencing qualified sea service after obtaining Part 'A' of MEO Class I old examination), the entire period of qualifying sea service, which has been accrued by the candidate towards eligibility for MEO Class I (Part B) old examination, would now be credited to the candidate's eligibility for approved sea service for MEO Class I new examination.

(3) Candidates who have completed qualifying sea service as Officer in-Charge of Engineering watch on board a ship of appropriate power to be eligible to appear in MEO Class I (Part B) old examination while holding MEO Class II Certificate of Competency old examination are required to Complete the 4-months preparatory course for MEO Class II new examination and appear for the MEO Class II new examination (under 1998 examination rules).

(4) Those who have commenced qualifying sea service while holding MEO Class II old Certificate of Competency are also required to complete the 4 months preparatory course for MEO Class II new examination and appear for the MEO Class II new examination (under 1998 examination rules).

On successfully passing Class II new examination and satisfying the requirements for qualifying sea service, the candidate shall be given an MEO Class I new Certificate of Competency.

Those who have completed the 3-months preparatory course for MEO Class I old (under 1989 examination rules) are also eligible to appear for Class II new Certificate of Competency. On successfully passing Class II new examination, the candidate shall be given an MEO Class I new Certificate of Competency, subject to his having attending the 10 days upgradation course for Chief Engineers before or after having passed his Class II new examination.

Exemption Clauses.

Such candidates are exempted from appearing in the following:

(a) All subjects of the Function "Maintenance and Repair at Management Level" and the paper Ship's Safety, Environmental Protection and Personnel care of the Function "Controlling Operation of Ship and Care for Persons on Board at Management Level".

(b) Both the written papers and the Oral examination of the Function "Marine Engineering at Management Level" if already passed in these papers and oral in an earlier attempt while appearing in MEO Class I old examination.

(c) The paper Marine Electro-technology and the Oral examination of the Function "Electrical, Electronics and Control Engineering at Management Level" if already passed in the written paper in an earlier attempt while appearing in MEO Class I old examination.

(d) The paper Naval Architecture and the Oral examination of the Function "Controlling Operation of Ship and Care for Persons on Board at Management Level" if already passed in the written paper in an earlier attempt while appearing in MEO Class I old examination.

(5) Candidates who were eligible to appear in MEO Class II (Part B) old with or without having done their MEO Class IV old would have to appear in the MEO Class IV Part B new. Since the approved sea service required for MEO Class IV (Part B) new is only 6 months, the balance period of qualifying sea service of 15 months (subjected to remission of 3 months on commencing qualified sea service after obtaining Part A of MEO Class II old) which must have been accrued by the candidate towards eligibility for MEO Class II (Part B) old, would now be credited to the candidate's eligibility for approved sea service for MEO Class II (Part B) new. This has been initiated to ensure that candidates who have done extra sea time beyond what is required for Class IV (Part B) new or old, should not be put to disadvantage, by taking into account the sea time.

All candidates who have upgraded their certificate from Class IV old to Class IV new and Class II old to Class II new without having gone through the examination and thus are not in possession of a duly filled EXN-45 cannot progress to the next qualifying grade without passing the respective examination for the grade.

The circular must be brought to the notice of all concerned, to ensure that at this juncture, when the cut off date of 1st February 2002 is fast approaching, no discrepancies remain for the transition of candidates from the old system to the new system.