No.11-TR (38)/2004

Date:25.02. 2005.

Subject :-Guidelines -Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats other than fast Rescue Boats (PSCRB).

     Maritime safety and efficiency is of utmost concern to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), the constituted authority of the Government of India for all maritime affairs.

   It was noticed that some training institutes barely met the minimum standards set by the Directorate, while others provided training facilities that were world class. In order to bring about uniformity of training, amenities and equipment provided by all training institutes the guidelines were revised and new ones formulated. This was done by the DGS in consultation with the training institutes and employers (shipowners and manning agencies). Draft guidelines were displayed on the website of the DGS and comments invited from interested parties, regardless of the position or office held. Comments received were considered to the earliest possible.

     The final guidelines for  Course is attached herewith. In keeping with Government policy, the guidelines have been made in as transparent a manner as practicable.

      It is expected that training institute would follow these guidelines in letter and spirit.

       The above guidelines shall come into force w.e.f. 05.03.2005.

       This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and ex-officio Addl. Secretary to the Government of India.

Sd/-
(Naresh Salecha)
Sr.Dy. Director General of Shipping

MANDATORY GUIDELINES FOR

TRAINING INSTITUTES FOR OBTAINING APPROVAL FROM

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING

TO CONDUCT

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT & RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN FAST RESCUE BOATS (PSCRB)

To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference has been made herein to DGS order no: 1 of 2003 (Guidelines for the conduct of Pre-Sea Training courses for Merchant Navy) wherever appropriate.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT & RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN FAST RESCUE BOATS (PSCRB) 

1.                 BASIC DETAILS OF THE COURSE

1.1.           Aims:

This course aims to provide the training for candidates to launch and take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat in emergency situations, in accordance with Section A-VI/2 of the STCW Code. 

1.2.           Objectives:

This syllabus cover the requirements of the 1995 STCW convention Chapter VI, Section A-VI/2, Table A-VI/2-1 and META manual Vol. II, Appendix M-VI/2A. On meeting the minimum standard of competence in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats, a trainee will be competent to operate life-saving appliance and take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during or after launch. They will also be able to operate a survival craft engine and manage survivors and survival craft after abandoning ship. Trainees will know the correct use of all locating devices, including communication and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics, how to apply first aid to survivors and the actions to take to preserve the lives of those in their charge.

1.3.           Application:

These guidelines shall be applicable from 05.03.2005.
 

2.                 QUALIFICATION & ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS

2.1.           Entry standards:

For admission to the course, seafarers must have completed approved sea going service of not less than one year or have attended an approved training course and have approved sea going service of not less than six months.  Further, a seafarer  must be certified by a DGS approved doctor to be in good health. They must also have completed the four basic courses covering the familiarization and basic safety training and instruction in accordance with Regulation VI/1 of STCW 1995

2.2.           Required attendance:

100% attendance is required for successful completion of the course. However, in exceptional circumstances, a student is allowed absence of up-to one day subject to his attending the lectures missed out during the next course at the same institute. The institute shall keep proper records of such cases. 

2.3.     Course intake limitations:

2.3.1.       The number of students shall not exceed 24 per class.

3.                 INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENT

Physical requirement for classrooms, black/white boards, overhead projector, screen, notice board, study environment and teaching equipment are to be provided as per DGS order 1 of 2003. Library books and equipment to include items contained in Annexure I. 

4.                 COURSE DETAILS

4.1.                Course duration:  5 days

4.2.                Course outline:  As per Annexure II

4.3        Detailed Teaching Syllabus: As per IMO Model Course 1.19 (Recommended)

5.                 HOLIDAYS

5.1.               Sundays shall be holidays.

5.2.               Independence Day (15th August) and Republic Day (26th January) shall be compulsory holidays.

5.3.               Students shall normally enjoy the holidays observed by the Govt. of the State in which the institute is located. 

6.                 FACULTY REQUIREMENT

6.1.               Qualifications and experience of course in charge:

6.1.1.        Certificate of Competency as Master (FG), issued or recognised by the Government of India.

and

6.1.2.        At least 5 years service on Merchant ships.

and

6.1.3          At least one year experience in the rank of Master.

Or

One year experience as Chief Officer and one year experience as regular (full time) faculty member in ROSC, ARPA Course, RANSCO, SMS Course, Pre-Sea Cadet degree course or Competency Courses.

6.2.        Qualifications and experience of faculty members:

6.2.1.        Certificate of competency as Master (FG), issued or recognised by the Government of India ship

and

6.2.2.        At least 5 years service on Merchant ships of which at least one year should have been at management level.

6.3.            Qualification and experience of instructors

6.3.1          Held a rank not lower than Petty Officer in the Indian Navy or Bosun (Serang) on a merchant ship.

6.3.2          Ex-Navy instructor for Seamanship must have Seamanship Instructors qualifications.

6.3.3     Instructors already in employment of DGS-approved pre-sea  training institutes for three years or more on the date these guidelines may continue to teach the same subjects/topic even if they do not possess the above qualifications.

6.4.               Training of Trainers & Assessors Course:

As per DGS order no: 1 of 2003. 

6.5.               Visiting faculty members:

Qualifications and experience of visiting faculty members should be the same as that of regular faculty as specified above. 

6.6               Age limit for regular faculty members:

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

7.                  FACULTY STRENGTH

7.1              Two Master Mariners (including the course in-charge) on the regular (full time) faculty. However, in cases where Institute is also conducting other courses that require Master Mariner faculty, one Master Mariner (including the course in-charge) on regular (full time) basis will suffice provided at least two Master Mariners on regular basis from the faculty are available for this course. Additional faculty members may be on regular (full time ) or on visiting (part time) basis.

7.1.             Two Instructors one of which shall be on regular (full time) faculty.

7.2.             A minimum of 50% of the entire portion must be covered by regular faculty.

8.                  COURSE DURATION

A total of 31.5 hours of lectures, including practical training and assessment. 

9.                  ASSESSMENT

A written test would be carried out at the end of each course.  

10               QUALITY STANDARDS

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

11.              INSPECTIONS

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

12.            COST OF INSPECTIONS

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

13.             FEES TO GOVT.

As per DGS Order no: 1 of 2003.

Annexure I

TEACHING AIDS

Equipment

Audiovisual aids:  video cassette player, TV, slide projector, overhead projector, etc.
Photographs, models, or other representations of various vessels and vessel parts to illustrate operational elements and security vulnerabilities. 

The practical lessons require access to a lake or the sea, preferably in harbour or estuarial water. A swimming pool could be used for certain wet drills. 

Following items of equipment are required:

One     Enclosed glass-reinforced plastic lifeboat approx. 8 meters in length, fitted with inboard diesel engine, fully equipped with all the Lifeboat gear and capable of being used for rowing. (new or replacement boats should preferably be fire-protected lifeboats complying with Section 6.1 of the LSA Code) with a set of gravity davits to house the lifeboat, sited so as to allow launching into the water

One     Glass-reinforced plastic rescue boat with outboard engine with a set of launching davits to   house the rescue boat, sited so as to allow launching into the water

Two     20-man inflatable liferafts in container, one of which can be placed in a float-free stowage with hydrostatic release unit

One     Complete set of Life-raft equipment

Sufficient lifejackets for all trainees, instructors, Lifeboat & rescue boat crew, immersion suits, thermal protective aids or anti-exposure suits

   One      portable 2-way radiotelephones approved for use in survival craft

   One      demonstration ‘set’ of survival craft pyrotechnic

   One      emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPRIB to be deactivated) operating  

                on 406 MHz for demonstaration

   One      search and rescue transponder (SART) operating on 9 GHz for demonstration

   One      helicopter rescue sling

   One      life-size dummy for resuscitation training

   One      Neil-Robertson stretcher for use in exercise

Video cassette(s) on the following subjects:

1.      SOLAS Chapter III Part 1- Preparing for Abandonment

2.      SOLAS Chapter III Part 2- Abandonment by Lifeboat

3.      SOLAS Chapter III Part 3 - Abandonment by liferaft

4.      SOLAS Chapter III Part 4 – Techniques of Survival

5.      SOLAS Chapter III Part 5 – SOLAS Amendments

6.      Personal Survival Part 1

7.      Personal Survival Part 2

8.      Cold Water Casualty

9.      Man Over board

10.   Lifeboat On-load Release Mechanism

11.   Viking Inflatable liferaft

12.   Viking Davit Launchable Liferaft

13.   Viking Marine Escape Slide

14.   Viking Marine Evacuation System 

Publications recommended 

T1        Bo, Olav, Basic Safety Course : Sea Safety and Survival, Oslo: Norwegian University Press, 1987. (ISBN 82 00 432122). Out of print 1999

T2        Wright, C.H. Survival at Sea : the Lifeboat and Life raft. Liverpool : the James Laver Printing Co. Ltd., 1986 (ISBN 085174 5407) 

IMO/ILO references (R) (mandatory)
 

R1        The International Convention Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers, 1995 (STCW 1995), 1998 edition (IMO Sales No. 938E)

R2        International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 1974), as amended (IMO Sales No.110E)

R3        Merchant Ship Search and Rescue Manual  IAMSAR) (IMO Sales No. 963E)

R4        A Pocket Guide to Cold Water Survival (IMO Sales No. 946E)

R5        IMO Life Saving Appliances Code (LSA code) (IMO Sales No. 982)

R6        LSA symbols – Poster (IMO Sales NO.: 981E)

 Annex II
 

COURSE OUTLINE 

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN

FAST RESCUE BOATS (PSCRB) COURSE 

Duration: 5 working days                                                             Total hours: 31.5 hours 

TOTAL: 15 Hours