Dated: Aug 29, 2005

Sub: Training, qualification and sea service requirements for engineering officers in Indian Navy to obtain Certificate of Competency under M.S. (STCW) Rules 1998.

            The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, has established minimum standards of competence for personnel serving at sea in order to promote safety of life, protection of property and marine environment. The Convention makes it mandatory for all Parties to prescribe framework for minimum standards of training, experience, examination, assessment and certification for each certificate under a quality system. 

            The scope of the Convention extends to all seafarers serving on board sea going ships under certain commonality of marine engineering in the high seas for merchant ships and naval ships and appreciating the nature of duties of such ships, paragraph (a), Article III of the Convention states "each Party shall ensure, by the adoption of appropriate measures not impairing the operations of operational capabilities of such ships owned or operated by it, that the persons serving on board such ships meet the requirements of the Convention, so far as is reasonable and practicable". Further, paragraph (i), Article IX of the Convention states that the Convention shall not prevent an Administration from retaining or adopting other educational and training arrangements, including those involving sea going service and shipboard organization, especially adapted to the technical developments and to special types of ships and trades, provided that the level of sea going service, knowledge and efficiency as regards navigational and technical handling of ships and cargo ensures a degree of safety at sea and has a preventive effect as regards pollution at least equivalent to the requirements of the Convention.             

            Considering the provisions contained in the above Convention and the qualifications, training and services of the commissioned engineer officers in Indian Navy, the Chief Examiner of Engineers, Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, has introduced a stream to those officers to obtain Certificate of Competency under M.S. (STCW) Rules 1998. The details of the stream is contained in the Engineering Wing Circular No.93 dated 24th August 2005, which is available on DGS website www.dgshipping.com 

            This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping in accordance with Rule 46, Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998. 

Sd/-
(M.P. John)
Engineer and Ship Surveyor cum Dy. D.G. (Technical)
 

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