Mariner Credentialing Program
Policy Division
CG-CVC-4
Mr. David Van Nevel Office of Maritime and International Law
Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP) Policy Division (CG-CVC4)
Office of Maritime and International
Law
Current MCP Initiatives/Projects
• Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee • Implementing Section 809 of the Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 2010 – TWIC
• 2010 Manila Amendments to STCW
• 37 NVIC Projects, including new and revision
2010 Manila Amendments to
STCW
• Update standards of competence required for emerging technology;
• Introduce new training and certification requirements and methodologies;
• Improve mechanisms for enforcement of the Convention’s provisions; and,
• Detail requirements on hours of work/rest, prevention of drug/alcohol abuse, and medical fitness
2010 Amendments
• Hours of Rest • Security
– Security Awareness
– Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties – VSO
• Able Seafarer
– Deck – Engine
•Emphasis on tech. advances in navigation •Celestial navigation
•ECDIS training–Tables II/1, II/2 and A-II/3
•Visual signaling – Reduced requirements -single letters/SOS
•Environmental awareness – Operational •BRM training - Operational level
•Leadership and managerial skills – management level
•New regulation II/5 – Able Seafarer deck
Chapter II
• Competence-based training
Removal of the 30 mos. of training Watchkeeping provisions
• Harmonization of sea service requirements • Harmonization of near coastal provisions
Retained existing kW propulsion power threshold • Engine room resource management
CHAPTER III
• Marine environment awareness – operational level
• Leadership and managerial skills – management level • New regulation III/5 – Able Seafarer engine
• Use of simulator training to assess boiler competence for ratings
• Training for electro-technical officers and ratings
Two levels – one at the support level and one at the operational level
CHAPTER III (cont.)
• Requirements for tankers
3 sets of requirements – oil, chemical and liquefied gas
Basic training
Advanced training
• Consolidation of requirements for passenger ships
CHAPTER V
–Training guidance for offshore supply vessels
–Training guidance for dynamic positioning system –Training guidance for ships operating in ice-covered
waters
CHAPTER V (cont.)
• Proof of continued professional competence every five years
Assessment of competence “ASHORE” for areas that cannot be trained on board
Regulation VI/1 - Basic safety training
Regulation VI/2 –Survival craft, rescue boats, and fast rescue boats
Regulation VI/3 – Advanced fire-fighting
In service experience, drills and onboard training for other areas
Chapter VI
• Basic safety training – social responsibility to include: Environmental pollution awareness training
Fatigue awareness
• Security training – Non-VSO personnel on board ships
Personnel without security duties Personnel with security duties
Training to include general anti-piracy related information
CHAPTER VI (cont.)
• Able seafarer deck and engine –Alternative certifications
–Combined deck and engine experience
Chapter VII
• Fitness for duty
Harmonization of STCW Convention with the ILO Maritime Labor Convention 2006
Extends applicability to watchstanding personnel, and persons with safety, security and environmental
protection responsibilities
Hours of rest requirements – 10 hrs in a 24 hr period, 77 hrs per week
Records of hours of rest Alcohol limits
Flexibility for emergency or overriding operational conditions:
• Watchkeeping arrangements and principles
Mandatory use of Bridge and Engine Room Resource Management principles
Use of ECDIS
Chapter VIII (cont.)
• Regulation I/3 – Near Coastal Voyages Mandatory agreements
• Regulation I/6 – Training and Assessment
Guidance on distance learning and e-learning Provided by a maritime Education and
Training establishment
Allows shipping companies and/or other companies to provide training
Chapter I
• Regulation I/9 – Medical standards
Establishes issuance of a medical certificate
Establishes minimum information to be included in the medical certificate
Mandatory eye-sight standards
Combined vision standards for engineers
Criteria for physical and medical fitness
Validity Period - 2 year - medical certificate; 1 year – medical certificate for persons under 18 yrs of age
CHAPTER I (cont.)
• Regulation I/9 – Medical standards (cont.)
Transitional measures in case medical certificate expires during the voyage
Flexibilities when establishing medical fitness standards in Part A, may differentiate between:
those persons seeking to start a career at sea and those seafarers already serving at sea
different functions on board, bearing in mind the different duties of seafarers
Means for the recognition of medical practitioners
CHAPTER I (cont.)
• Regulation I/9 – Medical standards (cont.) Qualifications of medical practitioners Register of medical practitioners
Guidance on the conduct of medical fitness examinations
Procedures for appeals
Minimum entry level and in-service physical
abilities for seafarer placed in Part B as guidance
CHAPTER I (cont.)
• Regulation I/11 – Revalidation of Certificates
Revalidation may be established with 3 mos. of service in the preceding 6 mos.
Continued professional competence for tankers through service or by completing approved training
• Regulation I/14 – Responsibilities of Companies
Requirement to ensure that seafarers receive refresher and updating training
Requirement for effective communication on board
CHAPTER I (cont.)
• Regulation I/15 – Transitional provisions
Entry into force – January 1, 2012
Will vary depending on the date the person entered the training institution or started service
1 January 2017 – Transitional date for existing mariners who commenced training/sea service prior to 1 July 2013.
1 January 2017 – Revalidate/renew certificates for existing mariners Grandfather provisions – compare previous requirements with new
requirements
CHAPTER I (cont.)
New Policy Letters
• Hours of Rest – STCW. Policy Letter 12-05 • Issuance and Training for security
endorsements. Policy Letter 12-06
• Issuance of STCW endorsements & approval of training to meet STCW. Policy Letter 12-07
Hours of Rest – STCW
CG-CVC Policy Letter 12-05
• STCW not self-implementing
– Requires domestic regulations – Subject to Port State Control
• Revises G-MOC Policy Letter 4-00, REV 1 • All vessels subject to STCW
– Operate beyond boundary line – Unless exempt.
Applies to
• OICNW • OICEW
• All personnel with designated
– Safety (SMS or watch/station bill)
– Prevention of pollution (PRP or SMS) – Security duties (VSP)
• Watchstanding personnel in accordance with COI
Rest defined
• Rest means a period of time during which the person concerned is off duty and not
performing work
– Work includes administrative tasks such as chart correction or preparation of port entry documents – Allowed to sleep without being interrupted.
• Neutral time is not necessarily rest
STCW Required Rest
• Minimum of 10 hours in any 24 hour period
– May be divided into no more than two periods and one must be at least 6 hours.
– Interval between rest periods no more than 14 hrs
• 77 Hours of rest in any 7-day period.
• Master must post watch schedules where easily accessible.
Authorized Exceptions
• Emergency or drill or other overriding operational condition
• May reduce 10 hours to 6 hours
– May not extend more than 2 days
– May not result in less than 70 hours rest in 7-day period.
Designated Security Duties
Security Awareness
CG-CVC Policy Letter 12-06
• Vessels subject to STCW
– 500 GT or more
– Operate beyond boundary line – Unless exempt.
• Alternative—International Ship and Port Facility vice STCW VI/6
Tiered Approach
• Security Awareness
– 33 CFR 104.225 meets STCW A-VI/6.1-4
• Personnel with Designated Security Duties
– 33 CFR 104.220 meets STCW A-VI/6.6-8.
• Vessel Security Officer
– 46 CFR 11.811 references 33 CFR 104.215 – 46 CFR 10.215(d)(1)-(2) (typo in regulation).
Security Awareness
• Each person on board (except passengers) should be able to:
– Report a security incident, including piracy;
– Know procedures to follow when they recognize threat; and
– Take part in security-related emergency and contingency procedures
Security Awareness
• CG will issue endorsement if documentary evidence of meeting 33 CFR 104.225; OR
• If sea service commenced prior to Jan 1, 2012
– 6 months seagoing service in previous 3 years; or – Coast Guard accepted or approved training course
Security Awareness
33 CFR 104.225
• Relevant provisions of the Vessel Security Plan (VSP); • Meaning and requirements
of Maritime Security (MARSEC) Levels,
• Recognition and detection of dangerous substances and devices;
• Recognition of
characteristics and behavioral patterns of persons who are likely to threaten security; and
• Techniques used to circumvent security measures.
• Relevant aspects of the
TWIC program and how to carry them out.
VPDSD
• CG will issue endorsement if documentary evidence of meeting 33 CFR 104.220; OR
• If sea service commenced prior to Jan 1, 2012
– 6 months seagoing service with seagoing security duties in previous 3 years (VSP duties and others); – Security functions equivalent in scope to shipboard
duties for 6 months in past 3 years; or
VPDSD
33 CFR 104.220
• Current threats
• Dangerous substances and devices
• Characteristics and behavioral patterns of persons likely a security threat
• Techniques to circumvent • Crowd management/control • Security Communications
• Emergency procedures and plans
• Operation of security equipment
• Vessel Security Plan • Methods of physical
screening
• MARSEC Levels • TWIC
Vessel Security Officer
• May perform other duties
• For manned vessels, VSO must be Master or member of the crew.
• VSO may assign duties to other personnel; however, the VSO remains responsible.
VSO General Knowledge
• 33 CFR § 104.210 (b)(1) and (b)(2) • Vessel layout;
• The VSP and related procedures, including scenario-based response training;
• Crowd management and control techniques;
• Operations of security equipment and systems; • TWIC
Company/ Vessel Operators
• Ensure all on board (except passengers) get Security Awareness—STCW A-VI/6.1-4.
• May sail on valid course completion certificate • Ensure VPDSD have endorsement
• Ensure VSO designated in writing and has endorsement
Mariners should:
• Form 719B—no fee
– Obtain a security-awareness endorsement if working under STCW Endorsment.
– Obtain VPDSD endorsement if assigned security duties.
• If you wish to extend expiration date must meet 46 CFR 10.227.
Guidance on Issuance of
Endorsements to Meet STCW
Policy Letter 12-07
• Able Seafarer-Deck (AS-D) • Able Seafarer-Engine (AS-E) • Tank Vessels
• ECDIS—Jan 1, 2017 • Approval of courses
Approval of Courses
• Able Seafarer-Deck • Able Seafarer-Engine
• Leadership and Teamworking Skills • Leadership and Managerial Skills • Basic Training Renewal
• Proficiency in Survival Craft Renewal
• Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats Renewal • Advanced Fire Fighting Renewal
• Engine Room Resource Management • ECDIS
Able Seafarer-Deck
• Qualified if served as AB or RFPNW for 12 months in the preceding 60 months; OR
• Hold endorsement as AB-any waters unlimited or AB-Limited and also hold or qualify for:
– RFPNW (without restriction to lookout) AND – Proficiency in survival craft, PSC-limited and
Able Seafarer-Deck
• Holders of other AB endorsements
• Only assessments are those for RFPNW
Domestic AB Endorsement Sea Service for AS-D
A B-any waters, Unlimited None
AB-Limited None
AB-Special 6 months/3 with app training
AB-Special (OSV) 12 months/6 with app training
AB-Sail 12 months/6 with app training
Able Seafarer-Engine
• Qualified if served as QMED or RFPEW for 12 months in the preceding 60 months; OR • Hold endorsement as QMED-engineman or
QMED-deck engine mechanic and also hold or qualify for RFPEW
Able Seafarer-Engine
• Engineman and Deck Engine Mechanic--no additional service
• 6 months service (3 as part of approved training program)
• Only assessments are those for RFPEW
Oiler Refrigerating Engineer
Fireman/Watertender Pumpman
Junior Engineer Machinist
Contact Information
• Questions concerning particular individuals
– Contact NMC
• 1 888-I-ASK-NMC • 1-888-427-5662
– Any Regional Examination Center – www.uscg.mil/nmc
• Policy Questions
– CG-CVC-4 at 202-372-2357 – [email protected]
