Q.1. What is STCW 95 and how is different from STCW 78?
Ans. The International Convention on Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW 78) was extensively revised in July 1995. The revised version is known as STCW 95 and entered into force on 1st February 1997 under IMO's " tacit acceptance" procedures.
Important amendments to chapter 1 (General Provisions) in STCW 95 include:
• enhanced procedures concerning exercise of PSC;
• requirement to establish procedures for investigating acts by persons to whom they have issued certificates that endanger safety or environment;
• recognition of technical innovation and use of simulators for training duly supported by quality assurance;
• inclusion of medical standards including levels of fitness particularly with reference to eyesight and hearing;
• requirement of every master, officer and radio officer to meet the fitness standards every 5 years including up-gradation as per section A I/11 of the STCW Code;
• a reference to ISM Code in regulation 14 giving details of company's responsibilities for manning and certification, etc.;
• chapter II deals with master and deck department and chapter III deals with engine department;
• chapter V deals with special requirements concerning training and qualification of personnel on board Ro-Ro passenger ships, where crew must undergo training for crowd management and human behaviour;
• chapter VII deals with functional approach to training;
• seafarers with training and seagoing services before 1st August 1998 can be recognised up to 1st February 2002;
• STCW 95 incorporates STCW Code to which many technical regulation of the convention is transferred, the revised convention contains general, basic requirements that are enlarged and explained in the STCW Code;
• the major benefit of the STCW Code is that future amendments will not need a full IMO conference to update the same;
• part A of the STCW Code is mandatory and contains for example tables for minimum standards required for seafarers;
• part B of the STCW Code is recommended and contains guidance and advice intended to help with the implementation of the revised convention;
• for each STCW convention regulation there is related mandatory section in part A and a related guidance in part B e.g. regulation I/11 is revalidation of certificates, corresponding to section A-I/3 and guidelines in section B-I/3;
• STCW 95 is implemented in India by the MS act under the guidance of the Directorate General of Shipping.
An important change in STCW 95 as compared with STCW 78 is that seafarers are required to attend FSA recognised maritime institutions after completion of their sea time and before appearing for their Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations. The course, study plan etc. are given in the META manual duly approved by the DGS.
Q.2. What is a "White List"?
Ans. Countries, which have accepted the STCW 95 and implemented the education and training courses, certification procedures and other factors relevant to implementation are required to provide detailed information to the IMO concerning administrative procedure taken to ensure compliance with the Convention. The Maritime Safety Committee uses this information for other parties to accept certificates issued by these parties. Countries assessed by the IMO to be properly implementing the STCW 95 are placed on a so-called
"White List" (properly called the list of confirmed parties) and published by the IMO on its website: www.imo.org.
To gain a place in the White List, countries must report details of to the IMO Secretary General of national laws, training requirements, standards and systems in place, and ensure that all of those elements meet the revised STCW 95 requirements and can pass the scrutiny of persons with a detailed knowledge of those requirements.
A position in the White List indicates that the issuance of certificates is in accordance with the STCW Convention. A country may not accept a non White List certificate unless the same is endorsed since 1st February 2002 by the FSA of the issuing country.
As of 31st December 2002 there are 109 IMO members in the White List.
Q.3. What are the certificates required for a seafarer under the STCW code?
Ans. All seamen (word seaman is not defined in the regulation, but assumed to include all seafarers including masters) must receive familiarisation and basic safety training or instruction in accordance with STCW Code section A-VI/1, and must meet the appropriate standards of competence specified therein.
Section A-VI/1 provides that all seafarers must be trained in:
• personal survival techniques;
• fire prevention and fire fighting;
• elementary first aid; and
• personal safety and social responsibilities.
The seafarers must be provided with the necessary certificates for the above and should be able to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities as listed in the STCW Code.
Every person designated to launch or take charge of survival craft or rescue boats other than fast rescue boats must have a certificate of proficiency of such craft.
Every person designated to launch or take charge of a fast rescue boat must have a certificate of proficiency in such boats. Fast rescue boat means a rescue boat which is not less than 6 metres but not more than 8.5 metres long, and is capable of manoeuvring for at least 4 hours at a speed of at least 20 knots in calm weather with suitably qualified crew of at least 3 persons and at least 8 knots with a full complement of persons and equipment.
" Survival Craft " and " Rescue Boat " has the same meaning under the LSA Regulations.
Q.4. What are the mandatory requirements for certification of deck and engineer officers?
Ans. STCW 95 prescribes mandatory minimum requirements for certification of deck and engine officers including requirements relating to age, medical fitness, seagoing service and standards of competence. To satisfy these requirements, candidates for certificate of competency must:
• meet certain medical standards (including eyesight);
• satisfactorily complete the minimum period of seagoing service;
• reach the required vocational and academic standard;
• undertake ancillary technical training; and
• in case of officer candidates, on completion of programmes of education and training approved by the DGS, pass an oral examination conducted by the DGS.
DGS also formulates courses and training for near coastal vessel. Certificates are also issued for " unlimited trading " or " limited trading ". Limited trading specifies the ship's types, engine types or trades.
Dual certification allows for officers to be issued with a single certificate of competency combining deck, engineering and radio competencies subsequent to approved education, training and assessment.
Q.5. What are the functions for deck examination as defined by STCW 95 and what are the levels of responsibilities?
Ans. STCW defines seven functions as follows:
• Navigation;
• Cargo handling and Stowage;
• Control and operation of the ship and care of persons on board;
• Marine Engineering;
• Electrical, electronic and control engineering;
• Maintenance and repair; and
• Radio communications.
- at the following levels of responsibility:
1. Management (master, chief mate, chief engineer, second engineer);
2. Operational (watchkeeping officers); and
3. Support (watch rating and other ratings with safety and pollution responsibilities).
• Management level means the level or responsibility associated with: serving as master, chief mate, chief engineer or second engineer on board a sea going ship, and ensuring all functions within the designated area of responsibility are properly performed under STCW code Section A-I/1.1.2;
• Operational level means the level or responsibility associated with: serving as officer in charge of a navigational watch or engineering watch or as designated duty engineer for periodically unmanned machinery spaces or as a radio officer on board seagoing ship, and maintaining direct control over the performance of all functions within the
designated area of responsibility in accordance with proper procedures and under the direction of an individual serving in the management level for that area of responsibility under STCW Code, Section A-I/1.1.3;
• Support level means the level of responsibility associated with performing assigned tasks, duties and responsibilities on board a seagoing ship under the direction of an individual serving in the operational or management level under STCW Code, Section A-I/1.1.4.
Q.6. What are the general provisions of sea service requirements as per STCW code?
Ans. The minimum amount of sea-service acceptable for each grade of certificate of competency is given in Training and Certification guidance Part 2 for deck officers and part 3 for engineer officers. No certificates can be issued with out the requisite sea-service. At least 6 months of qualifying sea-service must be completed within the last 5 years. Certificate of watchkeeping services must be duly signed by the Master or Chief Engineer of the ship in which the service was performed. In case of service of Master or Chief Engineer, the responsible officer of the company must sign the certificate. The certificates incorporate testimonials as laid sown in the STCW code annexes.
Where there is an approved Vocational Training (VQ) programme for on-board training, the trainee must produce a Training Record Book or a Training Portfolio completed in accordance with the recommendations of the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB).
The applicant for his first examination must also produce as a minimum, evidence of participation in shipboard drills, exercises and training. Applicants not having Vocational Training programme must produce an approved Personal Training and Service Record Book duly certified by the relevant officer on board.
Q.7. What are the training and certification requirements for 1. Tankers, 2. Gas and Chemical Carriers, 3. Ro-Ro Passenger Ships, and 4. Passenger ships other than Ro-Ro Ships.
Ans.
1.Tankers:
Ratings assigned specific duties and responsibilities related to cargo equipment (e.g.
pumpman) and all officers on tankers must complete the following;
• at least three months' seagoing service on tankers in order to acquire adequate knowledge of safe operational practices; or
• a FSA approved tanker-familiarisation training programme covering the syllabus in STCW Code section A-V/1, paragraphs 2 to 7; or
• at least 30 days service under the supervision of qualified officers of tanker of less than 3000grt engaged on voyages not exceeding 72 hours.
In addition to the above the rating must undertake the advanced fire fighting training programme specified in STCW Code section A-VI/3.
The master, chief engineer, chief mate, second engineer of the tanker must complete an oil tanker training programme covering the syllabus in STCW Code section A-V/1 paragraphs 8 to 14 and must have at least 3 months' sea service on an oil tanker.
2. Gas and Chemical Carriers:
In addition to the certificates required for a tanker as mentioned above, the master, chief engineer, chief mate, second engineer of a chemical tanker or gas carrier must complete a chemical tanker training programme covering the syllabus in STCW Code section A-V/1 paragraphs 15 to 21 and section A-V/1 paragraphs 22 to 34 respectively and must have at least 3 months' sea service on a chemical tanker or gas carrier as the case may be.
The requirements for Tanker Familiarisation Training and Specialised Tanker Training must be completed within the 5-year period prior to the date of application for an endorsement or Tanker Familiarisation certificate.
3.Ro-Ro Passenger Ships:
All personnel providing a direct service to passengers, including those working in shops, bars and restaurants, must be able to communicate effectively between themselves and with the passengers during an emergency, as detailed in STCW Code section A-V/2, paragraph 3, and be able to demonstrate the correct donning of lifejackets. All personnel designated on muster lists to assist passengers in an emergency, must complete crowd management training as described in STCW Code section A-V/2, paragraph 1. This requires a refresher training every 5 years.
All personnel with responsibilities related to loading ro-ro cargo and securing must be sufficiently familiar with the design and operational limitations affecting ro-ro passenger ships and the tasks detailed in STCW Code section A-V/2 paragraph 2.
Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and persons having immediate responsibility on ro-ro passenger ships for embarking/ disembarking passengers, loading/ discharging or securing of cargo and closing of hull openings must successfully complete FSA approved training in passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity specified in STCW Code section A-V/2, paragraph 4 and training in crisis management and human behaviour as specified in STCW Code section A-V/2 paragraphs 1 and 3.
This training can be given also in-house or in conjunction with external training providers.
4. Passenger Ships other than Ro-Ro Ships:
All personnel providing a direct service to passengers, including those working in shops, bars and restaurants, must be able to communicate effectively between themselves and with the passengers during an emergency, as detailed in STCW Code section A-V/3, paragraph 3, and be able to demonstrate the correct donning of lifejackets.
All personnel designated on muster lists to assist passengers in an emergency, must complete crowd management training as described in STCW Code section A-V/3, paragraph 1. This requires a refresher training every 5 years.
All personnel assigned specific duties and responsibilities on board related to design and operational limitations of ships must be sufficiently familiar with the special nature of passenger ships and operational limitation as detailed in STCW Code section A-V/3 paragraph 2.
Q.8. What are the requirements for revalidation of certificate of competency as per STCW Code?
Ans. Every master, officer and radio operator holding a certificate of competency under STCW 78 or STCW 95, who wish to serve at sea must revalidate the certificate at intervals not exceeding 5 years. Revalidation of watch keeping certificate is not required.
All candidates for revalidation must:
• meet the medical fitness requirements and produce that certificate;
• for service in the deck department, have served as a master or deck officer in seagoing ships of any flag (other than fishing vessels) of more than 80grt or 24 metres in length for at least 12 months (which need not be continuous) during the preceding 5 years;
• for service in the engine department, have served as an engineer officer in seagoing ships of any flag (other than fishing vessels) of at least 350kW registered power for at least 12 months (which need not be continuous) during the preceding 5 years;
• for service as a radio operator have served as a radio operator or an officer in seagoing ships of any flag for at least 12 months (which need not be continuous) during the preceding 5 years.
Q.9. What are the safe manning regulations as per STCW 95 and the Code?
Ans. Safe manning, Hours of work and Watchkeeping are the principal regulations of the STCW 95 and its associated STCW Code.
Safe Manning Document is kept on board the ship at all times and the does not proceed to sea without a valid document and properly qualified persons manning the ship at all times. The ship will be considered safely manned when the persons sailing on board will maintain safe navigational, engineering and radio watches, moor and unmoor ship safely, manage safety functions, perform operations for the prevention of damage to environment, provide medical care on board, ensure safe carriage of cargo and maintain the structural integrity of the ship. They must also be capable of closing watertight arrangements on board along with damage control, operate fire fighting, emergency and life-saving equipment on board. They should be able to muster and disembark all persons in case of an emergency. They must be capable of operating main propulsion and auxiliary machinery and maintain them in safe condition to enable the ship to overcome the foreseeable perils of the voyage.
Under the hours of work, the important aspect is the minimum hours of rest, which must be not less than 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any 7-day period. Subject to regulation 6, hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least 6 hours in length, and the interval between consecutive shall not exceed 14 hours.
Musters, fire fighting drills and lifeboat drills must be conducted in a manner, which minimises the disturbance of rest periods and does not induce fatigue. A seafarer shall have adequate compensatory rest period if his normal period of rest is disturbed by call-outs to work.
The master of a ship may require a seafarer to work any hours of work necessary for the immediate safety of the ship, persons on board ship or cargo or for the purpose of giving
assistance to another ship or to a person in distress at sea. Rest period may be suspended till such time normalcy is restored. After the emergencies, the master must ensure that the seafarer gets his adequate rest period.
A record of seafarers daily hours of rest must be maintained by the master or a person authorised by the master and must be duly endorsed by the master.
CHAPTER 12