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1.INTRODUCTION
..1) Fishing vessel personnel working on board Indian fishing vessels
were issued certificate of competency under Merchant Shipping (Examination
for Skipper and 2nd Hand of a Fishing Vessel) Rules 1964 subsequently
amended by Merchant Shipping (Examination of Skippers and Mate of Fishing
Vessels) Rules 1987. The provisions under the stated rules did not comply
with Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers,1978 Convention or Standards of Training Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers (Fishing) Convention in totality.
.2) Based on the above certificates of competency, many Fishing Vessel
Personnel found employment on smaller vessels in the Arabian/Persian Gulf,
West African waters, offshore fields and other restricted operation. Such
personnel mainly, sailed on support vessels, stand-by vessels, survey and
research vessels of less than 500 GT mainly operating in Tropical waters
(areas roughly between parallels of Latitude 23º North and South). They
proved themselves proficient in the area of responsibilities assigned to
them and continued gainful employment till 31st January 2002 i.e. prior to
implementation of STCW 78/95 Convention.
..3) Consequent to adoption and coming in force of STCW 95 Code, such
personnel of Fishing Vessels Certificate of Competency (COC) were no
longer permitted to work on stand-by, support vessels or other aforesaid
vessels w.e.f. 1st February 2002. Since the Fishing Vessel COCs were not
issued in accordance with STCW 78 Convention, they could not be converted
to STCW 95 COCs.
..4) Recognizing that COC held by such officers coupled with hands on
experience gained on such vessels ensured adequate restricted competency
for stated purpose, the arrangement in place for such officers had worked
well and that the redundancy of these arrangements has caused undue hard
ship to the officers concerned, created manning difficulties (of reliable
and trained officers) and social problem of unemployment to such officers
working in this sector, matter was carefully examined at this Directorate.
..5) It was observed that whilst proficiency in Navigation function was
adequate, there were inadequacies in topics such as Cargo Work and Ship
Operation & Care of Personnel in syllabus of Fishing grade examination
system when compared with competences of STCW Code.
..6) Understanding the need for conversion and taking cognizance of the
experience and competence of such certificate holders, the Directorate
General of Shipping (D. G. Shipping) has decided to adopt a process for
issuance of restricted (R) certification to such Certificate of Competency
holders. These inadequacies ( in cargo and ship operation function) are
intended to be met with in oral examination and the criteria for such
conversion are mentioned under the sub-title New Certification (R) further
in this M.S. Notice.
2. PROVISIONS
..1) Under
Regulation 46 of Indian M.S. (STCW) Rules 1998, the Directorate can issue
such limited certificate. Similar provisions under Article IX of STCW
78/95 Convention allow administrations to adopt or retain equivalent
standards for special type of trades. Further, provisions under regulation
II/3.7 (exemptions) permit administrations to exempt from the full
requirements of regulation II/3 and STCW Code A-II/3 to a reasonable and
practicable extent bearing in mind safety of all ships, which may be
operating in those waters.
..2) Therefore, under the
aforesaid provisions, D.G. Shipping exercising powers vested under section
456 of Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, hereby approves following
procedures for conversion of Fishing Grade COC into Nautical Grade COC
(restricted) for above mentioned justifiable reasons.
3. APPLICATION
..1) The provisions of this
M.S. Notice are applicable to persons holding COC issued under either M.S.
(Examination for Skipper and 2nd Hand of A Fishing Vessel) Rules 1964, or
(as amended by) M.S. (Examination of Skippers and Mate of Fishing Vessels)
Rules 1987 and having sailing experience on type of offshore support
vessels (as stated below under Para 3.2) on or before 31.1.2002 (i.e.
prior to enforcement date of M.S. STCW Rules, 1998). No further relaxation
will be considered for such candidates. "This exemption shall remain only
one time measure".
Such officers should also qualify under one of the following
categories:-
|
Category
|
Existing Certificate held
|
Experience as uncertificated officer in last 5 years before 01-02-2002
on stated type of vessels
|
|
A
|
Skipper Grade-I (1987 Rules) |
12
months in command . |
|
B
|
Skipper Grade-II (1987 Rules) or Skipper (1964 Rules) |
12
months in command. |
|
C
|
Mate
of F/ V (1987 Rules) or 2nd Hand of a F/V
( 1964 Rules) |
12
months as 1st Mate. |
|
D
|
Mate
of Fishing Vessel (1987 Rules) or 2nd hand of a F/V |
36
months as Navigational Watch-keeping Officer (NWKO) |
.2) For the purpose of
above categories, service on one or more of following
type of vessels (less than 500 GT) will be permitted:
1. Standby Vessels.
2. Seismic Survey Vessels.
3. Oceanographic Vessels.
4. DEFINITIONS
.1) For the
purpose of this notification, following definitions (unless expressed
otherwise) shall apply-
(a) New Certificate means a certificate issued in accordance with this
Notification in compliance with provisions of STCW 78/95 valid for
Restricted (R) trade (as expressed therein) applicable for area bounded by
parallels of 23º North and South, extending upto a limited plying range
(as expressed therein) from nearest coast line or base port.
(b) Base port means a Home Port or Offshore facility which extends
operational and logistic support to vessels plying in that region.
5. NEW CERTIFICATION (R)
PROCESS
.1) A
candidate qualifying under one of the above categories can apply in
prescribed form
(Annex-II)
to Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Mumbai/Kolkata/Chenna.
On satisfactory compliance with the 'Additional Requirements' listed
below, he will be assessed for conversion of Fishing Grade COC to Nautical
Grade COC as applicable. Eligible cases will be forwarded to the Nautical
Branch of D.G. Shipping for issuance of New Certificate. This process is
described in
Annex -I.
Notes:
(a) Fee structure, other details, oral syllabus, etc. will be publicized
through notice boards of various examination centers
(b) All applicants prior to making application (on Annex II) are
required to obtain INDos number from Lal Bahadur Shastri College of
Advanced Maritime Studies & Research, Mumbai in accordance with M.S.
Notice No. 2 of 2001.
(c) Further progress is possible by obtaining additional appropriate
approved sea service, attending prescribed courses and passing prescribed
examination.
(d) Requirements for upgrading/Revalidating such certificates shall be
issued in due course of time.
This
notice is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping &
Ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
Sd/-
(Capt. S.K.Shukla)
Nautical Surveyor
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