Dated:9th March. 2001

Subject : Conversion of Certificate of Service issued to Naval officers to Certificate of Competency

1.           Purpose of Notice: -
            The purpose of this notice is to prescribe the procedure of continued employment of officers presently in possession of Certificate of Service as First Class and Second Class Engineer (Steam or Motor or Steam & Motor) issued under provision of now repealed Section 80 of the Merchant Shipping Act by obtaining a Certificate of Competency. This has become necessary because the M. S. (STCW) Rules 1998 provides that the candidates for certification shall be required to complete approved training and assessment programme prior to issuance of a certificate of Competency. Such candidate’s existing experience, qualifications and certificates shall form the basis for determining qualifying merchant ship sea-going service as per approved training and assessment programme. Further merchant ship’s design, construction, operation, manning and management practices have become 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 conversion: -

 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 28^th April 1998}, which will be fully implemented by 1^st February 2002., officers in possession of the Certificate of Service are encouraged to obtain Certificate of Competency issued under the amended STCW Convention.  As such, those officers who are in possession of the Certificate of Service and desirous of converting their Certificate of Service into Certificate of Competency of the same grade shall be required to undertake steps as early as possible 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 Competency.

3.   Other associated legislation:-

 This Notice may be read in conjunction with the following:-

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

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

 (c)  Associated Merchant Shipping Notices.

 4.    Procedure of Conversion: -

 The procedure of conversion would be by utilising courses already available for the purpose of Certificate of Competency. Candidates would be subject to assessment during the training course. On successful completion of the training, there would be an oral assessment by the panel of examiners appointed by the Chief Examiner of Engineers.

(1)        Officers holding first Class Certificate of Service and having more than 3 years of experience in the Merchant Navy of a vessel of 750 KW or more propelling power of which at least one year has been served as a Chief Engineer of a vessel of 3000 KW or more propelling power would require to undertake the following: -

An approved training course for 10 days specifically formulated for such certificate of service holders.

(2)        Officers holding Class I Certificate of Service and having more than 3 years of experience in the Merchant Navy of a vessel of 750 KW or more propelling power but having less than one year service as a Chief Engineer of a vessel of 3000 KW or more propelling power would require to undertake the following: -

An approved engineering management training course for 2 months specifically formulated for such certificate of service holders.

(3)        Officers holding Class I Certificate of Service and having less than 3 years of experience in the Merchant Navy of a vessel of 750 KW or more propelling power would require to undertake the following: -

An approved training course for 4 months specifically formulated for such certificate of service holders.

(4)        All other Officers holding 1^st Class Certificate of Service would require to undertake the following: -

An approved training course for 4 months specifically formulated for such certificate of service holders.

     and

An approved engineering management training course for 2 months specifically formulated for such certificate of service holders.

(5)        Officers holding Second Class Certificate of Service and having more than 3 years of experience in the Merchant Navy of a vessel of 750 KW or more propelling power of which at least one year should have been served as a Second Engineer of a vessel of 3000 KW or more propelling power would require to undertake the following: -

An approved training course for 10 days specifically formulated for such certificate of service holders.

(6)        All other Officers holding Second Class Certificate of Service would require to undertake the following: -

An approved training course for 3 months specifically formulated for such certificate of service holders.

5.Revalidation

Once the relevant certificate of competency is issued, it shall follow the same procedure for all purposes as will be applicable to any other Certificate of Competency issued to candidates of the Merchant Navy.

This circular must be brought to the notice of all concerned and particularly to the Indian Navy officers, the Navy, all shipping companies and all training institutions to ensure that a uniform system of conversion is implemented.

Sd/-
( Dr.  P. Misra    )
Dy. Chief Surveyor with the Govt. Of India

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