Publication
Marine Notice No 3 of 2001: Procedure for the Issue and Revalidation of Certificates of Competency and Tanker Endorsements
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Notice to Owners, Masters, Deck and Engineer Officers of Merchant Vessels and those concerned with Maritime Training
Marine Notice No. 12 of 1988 is hereby withdrawn as it is superseded by this notice.
REVALIDATION OF CERTIFICATES AND ENDORSEMENTS
1.1 Every master, officer and radio operator holding a Certificate of Competency issued or recognised under STCW 78 or STCW 95 who wishes to serve at sea is required to revalidate the certificate at intervals not exceeding 5 years (revalidation of watchkeeping ratings’ certificates is not required).
1.2 Officers holding certificates issued under STCW 78 currently have two options for revalidation. One is to revalidate under the requirements of STCW 78, in which case the certificate will cease to be valid on 1 February 2002. Alternatively, the certificate may be revalidated for five years under the requirements of STCW 95. These alternatives are explained in the revalidation application form which may be obtained from a Mercantile Marine Office in Cork or Dublin or the Marine Survey Office at 26/27 Eden Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland.
1.3 The following guidance deals with certificates revalidated under the
requirements of STCW 95. All applicants must:-
.1 meet the medical fitness requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Regulations 1984, S.I. No. 193 and produce a valid certificate; and
.2 for service in the deck department, have served as a master or deck officer in sea-going ships of any flag (other than fishing vessels) of more than 80gt or 24 metres in length, for at least 12 months (which need not be continuous) during the preceding 5 years; or
.3 for service in the engine department, have served as an engineer officer on sea-going ships of at least 350kW registered power, of any flag for at least 12 months (which need not be continuous) during the preceding 5 years; or
.4 for service as a radio operator, have served as a radio operator or an officer on sea-going ships of any flag for at least 12 months (which need not be continuous) during the preceding 5 years.
1.4 Deck Officers not meeting the requirements of paragraph 1.3 above may serve on ships, other than fishing vessels, in a supernumerary capacity for 3 months before applying for revalidation of the certificate. During this period officers are expected to update their professional knowledge. Officers who have served at sea in vessels as described in paragraph 1.3.2 above for at least 3 months in a deck officer capacity immediately prior to the expiry of their certificate may, within 3 months after the expiry date, also apply for revalidation. Alternatively, they can satisfactorily complete an approved shore-based updating course.
1.5 Engineer Officers who do not meet the requirements of paragraph 1.3 above may serve on ships, other than fishing vessels, of 350kW or more registered power, in a supernumerary capacity for 3 months before applying for revalidation of the certificate. During this period officers are expected to update their professional knowledge. Officers who have served at sea in an engineering capacity, in vessels described in paragraph 1.3.3 above, for at least 3 months immediately prior to the expiry of their certificate may also apply for revalidation within 3 months after the expiry date.
1.6 Deck and Engineer Officers who do not meet the revalidation criteria above may, alternatively sail in a lower rank than that for which they are certificated, for 3 months before applying for revalidation of their certificate. In order to do this they must first contact the appropriate examiner at the Marine Survey Office for a revalidation oral examination. Successful candidates who present a valid medical fitness certificate to the examiner will be issued with a Letter of Dispensation, which may be presented to interested parties as confirmation of their eligibility for service at a lower rank. Those who wish to restrict their service to a certain type of vessel may elect to be examined only on that type of vessel, in which case the Letter of Dispensation will indicate any such limitation.
1.7 Acceptable Occupations – In addition to the above options, STCW 95 provides for the acceptance of a master’s or officer’s continued proficiency by virtue of having performed functions relating to the duties appropriate to the class or grade of certificate held which are considered to be at least equivalent to the sea service required for revalidation. A list of occupations which will be considered is given below. It is not exhaustive and applications from certificate holders engaged in other occupations may also be considered. Applications for revalidation may be made by certificate holders who have been engaged in the listed occupations for at least two and a half of the preceding five years:
Marine Pilots
Government Marine Surveyors
Marine College Lecturers
Technical, Engineering and Marine Superintendents or Ship Repair Managers
Harbour Masters
Hydrographic Surveyors
Classification Society Marine Surveyors (IACS)
1.8 Applicants for revalidation of STCW 78 certificates to STCW 95 criteria must provide details and evidence of the following, in addition to the requirements described at paragraphs 1.3 to 1.7 above:
1.8.1 Deck Officers
.1 a valid GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate (GOC) or Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC) approved by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources (DOMNR);
.2 evidence of attending a DOMNR approved training programmes on Radar Observer, Radar Simulator and ARPA Simulator; (not required for holders of Class 1 Certificates of Competency); OR
.3 for holders of Deck Officer Class 5, 4 or 3 or 2nd Mate (FG) Certificate of Competency, evidence of attending a DOMNR approved training programme on Electronic Navigation Systems (ENS), Navigational Control Course (NCC) or Navigation, Radar and ARPA Simulator (NARAS) (operational or management level)); OR
.4 for holders of Master (HT), Mate (HT), First Mate (FG), Deck Officer Class 2 Certificates of Competency or lower certificates with Command Endorsements, evidence of attending a DOMNR approved training programme on NCC or Navigation, Radar and ARPA Simulator (management level);
1.8.2 Engineer Officers
.1 a First Aid at Sea certificate or Medical First Aid certificate; and
.2 a Lifeboat certificate, or a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft (CPSC), a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (CPSC & RB).
2.1 When STCW 78 Certificates of Competency which are limited for service by trading area, tonnage or power are revalidated to STCW 95 criteria, the STCW 95 certificate will bear the same limitations as the STCW 78 certificates.
2.2 In addition to the arrangements described in paragraph 1.8.1.4 above, holders of deck officer certificates of competency Class 2, First Mate Foreign-Going or Master Home Trade who have completed a minimum of 2 years watchkeeping as the officer in charge of a navigational watch or one year watchkeeping service as Chief Mate whilst holding one of the above certificates, and who hold a valid Ship Captain’s Medical or Medical Care Certificate, will have the following endorsements added to their STCW 95 certificate:
Master 3,000gt (unlimited area); and
Master – any vessel in near-coastal waters
3.1 In addition to the general requirements for revalidation of a Certificate of Competency, a Tanker Endorsement will be revalidated provided the master or officer can provide evidence of the following service in the preceding 5 years:
(i) at least 3 months, which need not be continuous, on any type of tanker; or
(ii) at least 6 months on a storage tanker, barge or terminal in operations involving loading or discharging of tankers.
3.2 If this evidence cannot be provided, the tanker (or dangerous cargo) endorsement will be withdrawn. Before it can be re-issued, the applicant will be required to complete:
(i) the relevant specialised tanker training programme; or
(ii) 14 days supervised ship-board training in a supernumerary capacity in the relevant type of tanker.
and Tanker Endorsements
4.1 Applications for revalidation of Certificates of Competency and Tanker Endorsements should be made on forms which may be obtained from:
Mercantile Marine Office Mercantile Marine Office
Government Buildings 26/27 Eden Quay
Sullivans Quay Dublin 1, Ireland
Cork, Ireland Telephone: ++ 353 (0)1 8744900
Telephone: ++353 (0)21 4968992 8780654 / 8743325 / 8788463
Facsimile: ++353 (0)21 4968617 Facsimile: ++353 (0)1 8724491
e-mail: mso@iol.ie (link sends e-mail)
4.2 Applicants who opt to revalidate their certificates under STCW 78 (only valid
until 1 February 2002) should send their completed applications to:
Examination Section, Marine Survey Office, 26/27 Eden Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland.
4.3 Applicants who opt to update their certificates to STCW 95 should send the
completed applications to:
Examination Section, Marine Survey Office, 26/27 Eden Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland.
4.4 Each application should be accompanied by the relevant supporting documents and the appropriate fee, full details of which are given on the application form. No fee will be charged for applicants who have already revalidated their STCW `78 certificate on or after 1st January 1998 and who are now applying for a STCW `95 Certificate of Competency.
4.5 Applicants should note that failure to revalidate a certificate of competency prior to the fifth anniversary of the certificate’s issue or previous revalidation will render the holder ineligible to serve in the capacity specified by the certificate and could result in delays to ship operations. All certificate holders are therefore urged to make applications in good time and allow at least 21 days for processing and returning by registered post.
5.1 Further information, if required, is available from the: Examination Section, Marine Survey Office, 26/27 Eden Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland Telephone: ++ 353 (0)1 8744900 / 8780654 / 8743325 / 8788463 Facsimile: ++353 (0)1 8724491e-mail: mso@iol.ie (link sends e-mail)
Any enquiries concerning Marine Notices should be addressed to Maritime Safety Division - Tel: 01-6199359; Fax: 01-6620774.
Secretary-General
Department of the Marine and
Natural Resources
Dublin 2.