1. Purpose of the Notice:-

The purpose of this notice is to prescribe the procedure of continued employment of officers presently in possession of Certificate of Service as Master (F.G.) by obtaining a Certificate of Competency acceptable under STCW 78 Convention as amended in 1995 (hereafter referred to as STCW 1995). This has become necessary because the amended STCW Convention provides that the candidates for certification need to demonstrate their competence to the certifying authorities through appropriate assessment. Further, merchant ship’s design, construction, operation, manning and management practices have become considerably specialized and vastly different from those of naval ships. Hence the holders of the Certificate of Service from Indian Navy will be required to undergo the procedures of certification as described hereunder.

2. Requirement under amended STCW Convention:- In accordance with STCW Convention as amended in 1995 and M.S.(STCW) Rules, 1998 {GSR 191(E) dated 28th April 1998}, which will be fully implemented by 1st February 2002, only those officers in possession of the Certificate of Competency issued under the amended STCW Convention will be able to man the ships. As such, those officers who are in possession of the Certificate of Service presently shall be required to undertake steps as early as possible to convert their present Certificate of Service into Certificate of Competency under Rule 11 of M.S.(Examination) Rules, 1998. This M.S. Notice is to further elaborate Rule 11 with regard to guidelines to be followed by such officers to convert their Certificate of Service into Certificate of Competency.

3. Other associated legislation:- This Notice may be read in conjunction with the following:-

(a) The Merchant Shipping (Examination of Masters & Mates) Rules, 1985 – now repealed.

(b) The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998.

(c) The Maritime Education, Training and Assessment Manuals – Volumes I and II.

(d) Associated Merchant Shipping Notices.

4. Categories of Naval Officers:- For the purpose of determining the appropriate training, education and assessment program, the holders of Certificate of Service as Masters of a foreign-going ships are divided into the following categories:-

(a) Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with minimum of 36 months of approved sea-going experience of which at least 12 months shall be as Master on a trading vessel of 3000 GT or more.

(b) Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with minimum of 36 months of approved sea-going experience of which at least 12 months shall be as Master on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more but less than 3000 GT.

(c) Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with approved sea going experience of 18 months or more but less than 36 months as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 3000 GT or more.

(d) Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with approved sea going experience of 18 months or more but less than 36 months as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more but less than 3000 GT.

(e) Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with approved sea-going experience of 6 months or more but less than 18 month as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 3000 GT or more.

(f) Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with approved sea-going experience of 6 months or more but less than 18 months as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more but less than 3000 GT.

(g) Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with less than 6 months approved sea-going experience as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more.

5. Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with minimum of 36 months of approved sea-going experience of which at least 12 months shall be as Master on a trading vessel of 3000 GT or more.

Every such candidate shall appear and pass written examination of Master’s Advanced Ship Board Management. On successful completion of the said written examination, a candidate is eligible to appear for oral examination of Master (FG) conducted by the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) after completion of all modular courses as applicable for Master’s certification except ship maneuvering simulator course. On successful completion of the same, the candidate will be awarded Masters (FG) STCW 95 Certificate of Competency.

6. Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with minimum of 36 months of approved sea-going experience of which at least 12 months shall be as Master on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more but less than 3000 GT. Every such candidate shall appear and pass written examination of Master’s Advanced Ship Board Management. On successful completion of the said written examination, a candidate is eligible to appear for oral examination of Masters (FG) conducted by the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) after completion of all modular courses as applicable for Master’s certification except ship maneuvering simulator course. On successful completion of the same, the candidate will be awarded Masters (FG) STCW 95 Certificate of Competency with the endorsement “limited to vessels less than 3000 GT”.

7.Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with approved sea-going service of 18 months or more but less than 36 months as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 3000 GT or more.

Every such candidate shall appear and pass the following written subjects of MMD examination of management level:-

(i) Management level Function II

(a) Cargo Handling & Stowage

ii) Management level Function III i.e. Controlling & Operations of the ships and Care for persons

(a) Naval Architect Paper II

On successful completion of relevant papers of management level written examination as above, candidate shall appear and pass the written examination of Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management paper.

All modular courses required for management level certification.

Following MMD oral examinations to be undertaken after successful completion of the above written papers and required modular courses:-

(a) Management level Function II– Cargo Handling and Stowage

(b) Management level Function III – Controlling the operation of ship and care of persons

(c) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management

On completion, Master(FG)’s STCW 95 Certificate of Competency will be awarded.

8. Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with approved sea-going experience of 18 months or more but less than 36 months as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more but less than 3000 GT.

Every such candidate shall appear and pass the following written subjects of MMD examination of management level:- (

i) Management level Function II

(a) Cargo Handling & Stowage

(ii) Management level Function III i.e. Controlling & Operations of the ships and Care for persons

(a) Naval Architect Paper II

On successful completion of relevant papers of management level written examination as above, candidate shall then appear and pass the written examination of Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management paper.

All modular courses required for management level certification.

Following MMD oral examinations to be undertaken after successful completion of the above written papers and required modular courses:-

(a) Management level Function II– Cargo Handling and Stowage

(b) Management level Function III – Controlling the operation of ship and care of persons

(c) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management

On completion, Master(FG)’s STCW 95 Certificate of Competency will be awarded with the endorsement “Limited to vessels less than 3000 GT”.

9. Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with minimum approved sea-going experience of 6 months or more but less than 18 months as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 3000 GT or more.

Every such candidate shall appear and pass the following written examination of management level.

(i) Management level Function I – Navigation

(a) Navigational Aids including Compasses

(ii) Management level Function II

(a) Cargo Handling and Stowage

(iii) Management level Function III – Controlling and Operation of Ships and Care for persons on board

(a) Naval Architecture Paper II

(iv) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management Paper – after successful completion of relevant papers of management level written examination as above. Following MMD oral examinations to be undertaken after successful completion of above written functions and relevant modular courses:-

(a) Management level Function I – Navigation (Syllabus limited to Navigational Aids including Compasses)

(b) Management level Function II– Cargo Handling & Stowage

(c) Management level Function III– Controlling the operation of the Ships and care for persons on board

(d) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management.

On completion, Master(FG)’s STCW 95 Certificate of Competency will be awarded.

10. Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with approved sea-going experience of 6 months or more but less than 18 months as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more but less than 3000 GT.

Every such candidate shall appear and pass the following written papers of MMD examination.

(i) Management level Function I – Navigation

(a) Navigational Aids including Compasses

(ii) Management level Function II

(a) Cargo Handling and Stowage

(iii) Management level Function III – Controlling and Operation of Ships and Care for persons on board

(a) Naval Architecture Paper II

(iv) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management Paper – after successful completion of relevant papers of management level written examination as above. Following MMD oral examinations to be undertaken after successful completion of above written functions and relevant modular courses:-

(a) Management level Function I – Navigation (Syllabus limited to Navigational Aids including Compasses)

(b) Management level Function II– Cargo Handling & Stowage

(c) Management level Function III– Controlling the operation of the Ships and care for persons on board

(d) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management. On completion, Master(FG)’s STCW 95 Certificate of Competency will be awarded with the endorsement “Limited to vessels less than 3000 GT”.

11. Officers of the Indian Navy in possession of Certificate of Service with less than 6 months approved sea-going experience as a Watch-keeping Officer on a trading vessel of 500 GT or more.

Every such candidate shall complete the relevant management level course and then appear for the following written papers of MMD examination.

i) Management level Function – I - Navigation

(a) Navigational Aids including compasses

ii) Management level Function – II

a) Cargo Handling and Stowage

iii) Management level Function – III – Controlling and operation of ships and care for persons on board

(a) Naval Architecture Paper – II

(b) Maritime Legislation

iii) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management paper –

After successful completion of relevant papers of written examination as above. After successfully passing the relevant papers of the written examination as above, the candidate is required to complete 6 months of approved sea going service in duties associated with Bridge Watch keeping on a trading ship. Candidate is then required to complete the relevant modular courses and appear for the following oral examination.

(a) Management Level Function – I – Navigation (Syllabus limited to Navigational Aids including compasses)

(b) Management level Function – II - Cargo Handling and Stowage

(c) Management level function – III – Controlling the operation of the ships and care for persons on board (d) Master’s Advanced Shipboard Management.

On completion, Master’s (FG) STCW, 95 certificate of competency will be awarded with limitations of gross tonnage in case approved sea service is performed in trading vessel of less than 3000 GT.

Notes:-

(i) All officers who are in possession of a Certificate of Competency with endorsement “limited to vessels less than 3000 GT” may convert into Certificate of Competency without any limitation after obtaining sea-time experience of at least 6 months on a trading vessel above 3000 GT in a rank below the rank of Competency Certificate.

(ii) Experience as “Additional Master” shall be taken as experience as “Chief Officer”. Similarly, Additional Chief Officer would mean experience as Second Officer.

(iii) “Trading ships” in the merchant navy mean tanker, bulk carrier, container ship, general cargo ship or passenger ship and such other ships. Non Trading ships means ships that are not trading ships.

(iv) The assessment of approve sea time service shall be carried out as per prescribed guidelines in META Manual Volume – I ( Reference Section M – II/11 )

(v) The expiry date for assessment of sea time eligibility criteria for officers in possession of Certificate of Service is 31st January 2002.

Sd/-
(Capt. J.S.Uppal)
Nautical Surveyor