This notice clarifies and elaborates upon certain provisions of M.S. Notice No. 8 and 10 of 1998. Clarification to M.S. Notice No. 8 of 1998: I Paragraph No.1 Detailed Clarification regarding existing Seafarers and new entrants are given below.

[A] Reference to “EXISTING SEAFARERS” means those seafarers who commenced approved seagoing service or an approved education and training programme or an approved pre-sea training course before 1.8.1998.

[B] Reference to “NEW ENTRANTS” means those seafarer who are not existing seafarers.

II. In Paragraph 5.1, new Paragraph 5.1.4 and 5.1.5 are to be added as given below:

5.1.4 Required approved qualifying sea service.

5.1.5 Prescribed age criterion.

III. In Paragraph 5.2 of the Notice, the following is to be added at the end of paragraph after “requirement”: “In addition, proof of satisfactory completion of an approved two-month Foundation Course.”

IV. NEW ENTRANTS: Paragraph 5.3 and Paragraph 6 of the notice have been combined modified and rearranged to read as follows: 5.3.1 Eligibility requirement for function wise written Examinations- 5.3.1.1 Satisfactory completion of an approved three- month pre-sea training course for officers followed by an approved seagoing service of not less than twenty four months, in the deck department of a merchant ship, which includes Training Programme (SSTP) supported by an approved Cadets Training Record Book OR Approved seagoing service of not less than thirty six months, in the deck department of a merchant ship, followed by satisfactory attendance in an approved NWKO (NCV) course and a pass in that written examination. 5.3.1.2 Proof of passing the Second Mate Foundation Course examination. 5.3.1.3 Satisfactory completion of a four-month Second Mates Function wise approved course. 5.3.1.4 If a candidate performs poorly in MMD written examination, he may be required to repeat the course and /or he may be asked to put in additional Sea Service. The “subject” of poor performance of candidates despite checks by Internal Assessment cells as a part of Quality System may also be taken up with the concerned institution. 5.3.2 COURSES: Courses are same as those mentioned for existing seafarers in 5.4.2 herebelow in this notice. In addition, new entrants will have to furnish proof of having completed the four elementary courses namely: 1. Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) 2. Elementary First Aid (EFA)

3. Personal survival Techniques (PST)

4. Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FP & FF) 5.3.3 Eligibility requirement for function-wise oral examination 5.3.3.1 Proof of passing the written examination for that function. 5.3.3.2 Completion of appropriate modular courses indicated in that function. 5.3.3.3 Proof of at least six months bridge watch-keeping duties under the supervision of a certificated officer of deck department. Such watch keeping duties may be performed either during the stipulated sea time or after passing the Second Mate (FG) WRITTEN examination, at the candidate’s option. 5.3.3.4 Candidates may appear in the ORAL examination in any one, two or three functions at the same time, at their option. 5.3.3.5 If a candidate performs poorly in Oral examination, he may be required to repeat the course and or may be asked to put in additional Sea Service. The “subject” of poor performance of candidates despite Internal Assessment cells as a part of Quality System may also be taken up with the concerned institution. 5.3.3.6 Signal visual forms part of the orals of the Navigation function. A candidate failing in Signal visual is deemed to have failed in the Orals of the Navigation function. A candidate cannot appear for the remaining part of the orals of Navigation function unless he passes the Signal Visual. A candidate passing the Signal Visual and failing the rest of the Orals of Navigation function will not be required to repeat the Signal Visual examination again.

V. EXISTING SEAFARERS: Paragraph 5.4 and paragraph 6 of the notice have been combined, modified and rearranged to read as follows:- 5.4.1 Eligibility requirement for function wise written Examination. 5.4.1.1 No fresh candidate will be permitted for the examination under the existing scheme from 1st August 1998. 5.4.1.2 A candidate who has passed any one or more Parts of B, C, D & E in June 1998 or earlier will be permitted to continue to appear until June 1999 to clear B & C Parts of the examination. Individual candidates who complete one part - B or C but are unable to complete the other written part by June 1999 will be considered for exemption in corresponding written papers under the new scheme. Examinations for parts D & E for such candidates will continue till 31.1.2002. 5.4.1.3 A candidate who has completed 18 months of qualifying sea service will be allowed to appear for the written examinations for Second Mate of a Foreign Going ship but will be permitted to appear for the ORAL exam only after completing the required qualifying sea service of 36 months. While calculating the Qualifying sea-service for written examination, candidates may be granted the following remissions for satisfactory completion of the following courses/training form an approved institution: i) Pre-sea training for cadets: 3 months ii) foundation course: 1 month iii) competency course: 2 months 5.4.1.4 Candidate should have passed Second Mates (FG) Foundation Course Examination OR Part “A” of Second Mates (FG) examination under the old examination system. 5.4.1.5 Satisfactory completion of an approved four-month Course in Professional subjects at an approved institution. This course shall include upgradation of Proficiency in Survival Craft Course and upgradation of Advanced Fire Fighting Course. Note: If a candidate performs poorly in MMD written examination, he may be required to repeat the course and or may be asked to put in additional Sea Service. The subject of poor performance of the candidates despite Internal Assessment cells as a part of Quality System may also be taken up with the concerned institution. 5.4.2 COURSES : A candidate must undergo the following courses if he has not already done these courses earlier. i) Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) ii) Radar Observer Simulator or Radar Observers iii) ARPA Simulator or ARPA iv) Advanced Fire fighting (AFF) v) Medical First Aid (MFA) vi) GMDSS (GOC) vii) Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boat (PSC&RB). [For candidates in possession of PSC certificate, rescue boat requirements will be covered by the training institutions as part of the curriculum for the competency courses and endorsement to this effect shall be given to each student by concerned institution.

NOTE : (i) The difference between the old and new Advanced Fire Fighting course shall be covered by the training institution as part of curriculum for competency course and the endorsement in prescribed format shall be given to each student by the concerned institution. (Ii) The courses - Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSC&RB), Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) and Medical First Aid (MFA) - are superior to Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FP&FF) and Elementary First Aid (EFA) courses respectively. Hence, an existing seafarer who has undergone a superior course is not required to undergo the inferior one. 5.4.3. Eligibility requirement for oral examination 5.4.3.1 36 months of qualifying sea service. While assessing the qualifying sea service for oral examination, candidates may be granted following additional remissions of Sea service at this stage (i) For Record Book : Maximum upto 6 months, provided he has undergone approved pre-sea training. (ii) For undergoing prescribed Modular Courses : 2 weeks. 5.4.3.2 Passed written parts of the Second Mates Functional Examination if the candidate is appearing under the functional approach. 5.4.3.3 Completed the appropriate modular courses indicated for the function if appearing under the functional approach. NOTE: (i) Candidates may appear in the oral examination in any one, two or three function at their option. (ii) If a candidate performs poorly in Oral examination, he maybe required to repeat the course and or may be asked to put in additional Sea Service. The “subject” of poor performance of candidates despite checks under Internal Assessment cells as a part of Quality System may also betaken up with concerned institution. (iii) Signals visual is included as part of the orals of the Navigation function. A candidate failing in Signal visual paper is deemed to have failed in the Orals of the Navigation function. A candidate cannot appear for the remaining part of the Orals of Navigation function unless he passes the Signal Visual. A candidate passing the Signal Visual and failing the rest of the orals of Navigation Function will not be required to pass the Signal Visual examination again. (iv) CANDIDATES PASSING EXAMINATION UNDER THE OLD PATTERN WILL BE ISSUED CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY UNDER STCW 78 AND WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO AN UPDATING COURSE BY 31.1.2002 TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY AS SECOND MATE (FG) UNDER STCW 95. Clarification to MS Notice No. 10 of 1998 :

VI. FIRST MATE OF A FOREIGN GOING SHIP : Paragraph 3.5 is modified to read as under : There will be internal assessment tests (IATs) carried out by each institute and only on satisfactory performance in internal assessment tests would a candidate be allowed to appear for the MMD examination in that Phase. If a candidate performs poorly in the MMD examination, he may be required to repeat the course and/or he may be asked to perform additional Sea Service. The subject of poor performance of candidates despite Internal Assessment cells as a part of Quality System may also be taken up with the concerned institution.

VII. Paragraph 3.16 of the Notice is to be changed as follows Candidates may appear in the ORAL examination in any one, two or three functions at the same time, at their option. If a candidate performs poorly in the oral examination, he may be asked to repeat the course and/or may be asked to perform additional Sea Service. The “subject” of poor performance of candidates despite Internal Assessment cells as a part of Quality System may also be taken up with the concerned institution.

VIII. Paragraph 3.17 is to changed as “Any candidate, who has previously appeared for the existing examination for Certificate of Competency as First Mate (Chief Mate) of a Foreign Going Ship under STCW 78, is exempt from attending the course for Phase I. However, if the candidate has been penalised for poor performance in the examination (by being awarded a Star), he would be required to attend the course for Phase I.

IX. A candidate holding STCW 78 First Mate (FG) must produce evidence of having completed at least 18 months of sea service to become eligible to Attend prescribed course for Phase II of STCW 95 First Mate (FG) Certificate.

X. Flow Chart at Annex III of MS Notice No. 10/98 is corrected and enclosed as amended Annex III.

XI. Candidates in possession of First Mate (FG) Certificate issued under STCW 78 will have to update their certificates to appropriate grade certificates under STCW 95 before1.2.2002.

XII. MASTER OF A FOREIGN GOING SHIP [MASTER (FG)] Paragraph 4.4 of M.S. Notice No. 10 is to be amended and read as follows 4.4 Eligibility criteria for admission to Master (FG) Examination under STCW 95 : 4.4.1. Be in Possession of Certificate of Competency as First Mate (FG) issued under STCW 95. 4.4.2 Have the approved sea service as prescribed. 4.4.3 Satisfactory completion of one month course in approved institution NOTE (I) Candidates in possession of certificate of competency as First Mate (FG) issue dunder STCW 78 having the required sea service for certification as Master (FG) under STCW 95, may if, they so desire, after appearing for Phase II examination and while waiting for results, undergo the one month Master (FG) course. However, they will be permitted to appear for their Master’s (FG)examination only after obtaining the Mate (FG) Certificate issued under STCW 95. (ii) The first Mate (FG) Phase I and II course has commenced on 1st January1999 and will be held every three months thereafter.

XIII. New paragraph 5 is to be inserted after Paragraph 4 of M.S. Notice No. 10 as given below. 5. MASTER (FG) [STCW 78] {PARTIAL PASSES] TO NEW MASTER (FG) [STCW 95] 5.1 The Master (FG) course under STCW 78 has been discontinued with effect from 31st December 1998. 5.2 The last examination for the Master (FG) under STCW 78 was conducted in January 1999. The candidates who are left with partial passes in the existing system upto and including January 1999 may follow the attached flow chart (Annex VII) to obtain new Master (FG) certificates under STCW 95. 5.3 Candidates with partial passes in the Master (FG) examination under the STCW 78 are permitted to appear for balance papers of Phase II without attending the prescribed Phase II course. 5.4 Candidates who have appeared for examination as Master (FG) under STCW78 and have not been penalised for poor performance in the examination by being awarded a ‘STAR’ are also exempted from Phase II Course even if they have not passed any part of Master (FG) Exam under STCW 78.

XIV. The examination and course schedule for 1999 are given as annex to this Notice

Sd/-
(Capt. Sudhir Kumar)
Deputy Nautical Adviser to the Government of India.