1.         The question of sustaining the quality of  Maritime Education & Training has been engaging the attention of the Directorate for some time past. 

2.         It is a matter of concern for the Maritime Administration that there is a very large and rapidly growing backlog of trainee officers who have completed their pre sea courses but are unable to get their Certificates of Competency in the entry grade because of their inability to fulfill their sea time training that is an essential requirement for their Certificates of Competency (CoC).  The issue of the Certificate of Competency by the DGS requires that every trainee officer should have put in the minimum period of sea service prescribed under STCW-95.  So far, DGS approvals to training institutes to start maritime courses or increased intake therein have been given on the understanding that the training institutes would exert themselves to make 'tie-up' arrangements with shipping companies or ship manning companies duly registered with the DGS  to provide sea time training berths for their students.  The growing backlog of trainees gives evidence that such arrangements are not being made and trainees are being left to fend for themselves in regard to their sea time training to obtain their CoCs.
 

3.         The Directorate has reviewed the position and considers that the present procedure of pre sea course approvals is deficient in taking the marine student to the logical end of his course of training, and finds it necessary to make provision to ensure that he is provided with due support to complete the essential requirements of the STCW'95 to obtain his CoC and thereby employment.  

4.         In partial revision of the existing guidelines,  therefore, and in addition to the guidelines and conditions contained in the DGS Order No. 1 of 2003 and subsequent guidelines on the subject,  the Directorate hereby makes the sea time training a mandatory and inseparable part of all marine courses which prescribe  sea time as an essential requirement for the CoC.  Training institutes will be obliged to make provision for sea time training of all their marine  students. No marine course for cadets will be considered completed till the sea time is completed.  Certificates / diploma / degrees will be due to be given only after  successful completion of the course and sea time, and the certifying bodies will make a mention of the fact on completion of sea time as per STCW'95.  All training institutes will ensure that the end of marine course certificate is given only to those students who have done their sea time.  Training institutes will make provisions for sea time by working out 'tie-up' Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)  with shipping companies, or their ship manning agents duly registered with the Directorate.  Such tie-up shall be in the form of legally valid and binding agreements / MoUs and shall specify the sea time trainee berths committed and the duration for which the commitment is made to the training institute.  The training institute shall inform the Directorate of the details of the arrangements for  sea time berths made by it, with necessary supporting documents and MoU to satisfy the Directorate of the  students berths they can secure.  The training institute shall make arrangements for all students enrolled by it who need to acquire sea time training to be eligible for their CoCs. 

5.         On the basis  of the sea time berths secured, the training institute will also inform the Directorate every year of the number of candidates they prepare to enroll in each course, against their sanctioned intake.   In case the Directorate does not receive this documentation from a training institute by April 30 of every year, it will be presumed that the tie up has not been arranged and approval to enroll any student  in the succeeding academic year will stand automatically withdrawn. 

6.         These conditions will be applicable to all intake or enrollment till date for all pre sea courses that require sea time training before CoC can be given, beginning from the summer of 2007 i.e. from July 2007 onwards.  In order  to give adequate time to existing institutes to make the sea time berth tie-up in the commencement year, the date of intimation of arrangements made will be by July 30, 2007.  

7.         In the event, any training institute enrolls students after June 30, 2007 in excess of its ability to provide sea time berths or is unable to ensure sea time training to its student, its approvals will be suspended forthwith and permission to operate and run any course thereafter will be contingent upon the institute making due reparation to the stranded student, which will include besides the provision of sea time training berth, due monetary compensation to him for employment  time lost, equal to twice the total fees paid by him, for a year of his training or for a year of waiting, and in proportion  for less or more thereof beyond a period of two months.  The Directorate also reserves the right to suspend and reduce intake in a course in any defaulting institute if it is not satisfied that the institutes' sea time training arrangements  are secure, or in case of repeated instances of enrolment in excess of sea time training berths organized. 

8.         To ensure that this obligation is taken seriously by the institutes as an essential learning, and in order to establish a praxis between the sea time practical training and the class room learning, the sea time training shall be embedded, or sandwiched  between two spells of class room learning, The training institute and the shipowning company or its registered manning agent shall work closely to plan the details of coordination of such embedded practical training.  

9.         It is also clarified that no institute shall charge new fees  or enhance its existing fee structure or put a rent on provision of sea time berths, in any form whatsoever from and on the student..  

10.       Consequent on coming into force of this circular, the Training Circular 10 of 2006 is hereby repealed.  The cases pending  or rejected on the basis of Training Circular 10 of 2006 will be considered afresh only subject to the conditions set forth herein.  

11.       This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and ex. Officio Additional Secretary to the Govt. of India.  

Yours faithfully,

            Sd/-
(PH. Krishnan)
Dy. Director General of Shipping
For Director General of Shipping