Dated: July 19, 2005

Sub: Examinations on Marine Electro Technology and Ship Construction and Stability – Function 5 and 6 for MEO Class IV Candidates

In accordance with the regulations laid down in Maritime Education, Training and assessment (META) Manual, Volume I & II of the Merchant Navy Officers Examination Rules 1998, Marine Engineering at operational level is divided into 2 parts, Part A and Part B.  Traditionally the Part A is conducted prior to the candidate boarding a vessel for Officer in-Charge Engineer Watch Training (OICEW).  The Part B is subsequently completed after he has completed 6 months mandatory training on board ship and combined with Part A constitutes, the Class IV Certificate of Competency under Section III/1 of the STCW Code.

            Over the years, experience has shown that the academic part of the Function 5 – Electrical, Electronics and Control Engineering at operational level and Function 6 – Controlling operation of ship and care for persons on board at operational level can be separated from competency aspects of the functions.   Since, the candidate was appearing for both the academic and the competency part of the function at the Part B stage of the operational level, he is found to be over burdened with the academic studies, though relevant to this profession.

            As, most of the candidates are now graduate engineers and especially graduate marine engineers/ mechanical engineers, it has been observed that the academic part of Function 5 and 6 have been adequately covered under their graduation programme and for mechanical engineers during their one year course.   Academic parts of the proficiency aspects are an extension of the portions learnt during the graduation period.  Since India is committed by the communication of information to examine the candidate on every aspect of the four functions, it is imperative that both academic and proficiency part of the examination for the functions 5 and 6 need to be carried out.

            In accordance with the results of a review carried out by the Chief Examiner of Engineers with the Government of India, it is now been decided that Function 5 and 6 examinations on Marine Electro Technology and Ship Construction and Stability shall be also conducted prior to the candidate joining the vessel for the OICEW training period.  The papers shall be for a period of 3 hours each and shall be conducted in accordance with the timetable and periods as conducted for Class IV Part B examination.  The conduct of this examination shall not take away the privilege of the candidate to appear after OICEW training (after his 6 months sea time), as is the practice now.    It would be the candidate's choice to appear prior to his OICEW training period or after OICEW training period.   The orals for the examination, however, will be conducted in the usual manner alongwith the other orals subsequent to OICEW training.                     

The paper of Ship Safety and Environment Protection shall be conducted only after OICEW training.  The orals for function 6 shall be a combined oral for Ships Construction and Stability and Ship Safety and Environmental Protection.

            However, a candidate appearing in Function 5 and Part Function 6 prior to the OICEW training period shall be credited towards the certification system under the new examination system also based on modular training, which shall be put in force shortly.  Necessary instruction to the MMDs is also been concurrently issued to enable such candidates to appear for the examination with effect from August 2005. 

This issues with the approval of Chief Examiner of Engineers.

Sd/-
(D.Mehrotra)
Dy. Chief Surveyor cum Sr.DDG(Tech)

Training Institutions conducting 4 years graduate course, 1 year GEM course and MEO Class IV preparatory course. 

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