South African Maritime Safety Authority Marine Notice No. 20 of 2007 Revalidation of STCW and Port Operations Maritime Certificates of Competency TO HOLDERS OF SOUTH AFRICAN CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY, SHIPOWNERS, ACCREDITED MARITIME TRAINING PROVIDERS, AND PRINCIPAL OFFICERS Marine Notice No s. 15 of 2000 and 20 of 2006 is cancelled Summary This marine notice advises the 2006 amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations, 1999, and Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning) Regulations, 1999, and provides revised guidance to holders of South African maritime STCW and Port Operations Certificates of Competency. This marine notice also advises the requirements for revalidating South African maritime certificates of competency by persons who complete refresher courses at training institutions not accredited by SAMSA and for those persons who are not resident in South Africa. 1 The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW), is given the force of law by the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations, 1999, and the Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning) Regulations, 1999. These regulations effected a number of significant changes to then existing seafarer certification arrangements. Some of these changes are reflected in the new format certification titles and equivalencies shown in the table below (a completed list is given in regulation 23 of the safe manning regulations): MASTERS AND DECK OFFICERS 1 ENGINEER OFFICERS Old format title New format title Old format title New format title Deck Officer Class 1 Master Marine Engineer-Officer Class 1 Deck Officer Class 2 Chief Mate Marine Engineer-Officer Class 2 Deck Officer Class 3 and Class 4 Deck Officer Marine Engineer-Officer Class 3 with service endorsement Chief Engineer Officer ( 3000 kw) Second Engineer Officer ( 3000 kw) endorsed: Chief Engineer Officer of a ship of less than 3000 kw propulsion power Second Engineer Officer (< 3000 kw) endorsed: Chief engineer officer of a ship of less than
MASTERS AND DECK OFFICERS ENGINEER OFFICERS Old format title New format title Old format title New format title Deck Officer Class 4 endorsed Port Operation Service Deck Officer Class 4 endorsed Master (Short Sea Trade) Deck Officer Class 5 Deck Officer endorsed Master Port Operations Deck Officer endorsed Master of a ship of less than 500GT on near coastal voyages Mate (Coastal) Marine Engineer-Officer Class 3 Marine Engineer-Officer Class 4 750 kw propulsion power Chief engineer officer of a ship of any kilowatt propulsion power operating within a port operations area (a) Second Engineer Officer (< 3000 kw) endorsed: Chief engineer officer of a ship of any kilowatt propulsion power operating within a port operations area (b) Chief Engineer Officer (Port Operations) (a) Engineer Officer endorsed: Chief engineer officer of a ship of less than 1 500 kw propulsion power operating within a port operations area (b) Second Engineer Officer (Port Operations) Deck Officer Class 5 endorsed Port Operation Service Deck Officer Class 6 (Unlimited Trade) Deck Officer Class 6 (Short Sea Trade) Deck Officer Class 6 (Restricted Trade ) Mate (Coastal) endorsed Master Port Operations Skipper (Unlimited) Skipper (Coastal) Skipper (Port Operations) 2 Old format STCW certification ceased to be valid for sea service on 1 February 2002. From that date ships' officer have been required to hold valid and appropriate new format certification. 3 For convenience, regulation 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations, 1999, is quoted below: Revalidation of certificates 3. (1) A certificate of competency issued in terms of these regulations, and any equivalent certification, is not valid for sea service or port operations service, as the case may be, unless revalidated at intervals not exceeding five years to establish continued professional competence in accordance with subregulation (2). (2) Continued professional competence is established (a) by 2
(i) completing, during the preceding five years, at least 12 months sea service or port operations service, as appropriate to the certification held; or (ii) performing functions considered by the Authority to be equivalent to the service mentioned in subparagraph (i); or (iii) completing (aa) in a supernumerary capacity, at least three months sea service or port operations service, as appropriate to the certification held; and (bb) assessment at level 3 to meet the standard of competence specified in the Code; and (b) by completing applicable approved (refresher) training and meeting the standard of competence specified in the Code. (3) [deleted] (4) Application for revalidation shall be made in the form and manner, include the information and be accompanied by the documents specified by the Authority. (5) The Authority shall, if it is satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements of subregulation (2), issue to the applicant an endorsement revalidating his or her certificate. 4 Revalidation of valid certification with appropriate sea service The holder of a valid new format STCW-endorsed certificate of competency (deck or engine) serving at sea or who has done so for at least 1 year in the previous 5 years, may apply for revalidation by submitting to the nearest SAMSA examination centre, together with the appropriate application form as hereto annexed: his/her original certificate of competency; a valid medical certificate issued by a SAMSA-approved medical practitioner in accordance with the Medical Standards for Serving Seafarers set out in Merchant Shipping (Medical and Eyesight) Regulations, 2004; a valid eyesight certificate issued by a SAMSA examiner (deck officers only); proof of sea service in the form of a completed seaman's record/discharge book; a valid GMDSS General Operator Certificate (deck officers only); valid refresher course certificate from an accredited training provider (see paragraph 9); 3 current black and white passport-size photographs; ID document or passport; and the applicable fee. 5 Revalidation of valid deck officer certification without the appropriate sea service The holder of a valid new format STCW-endorsed certificate of competency as deck officer who has not served at sea for at least 1 year in the previous 5 years, may apply for revalidation if he or she: has been employed in the maritime industry for at least 2 years in the previous 5 years in a capacity which, in the opinion of the Senior Examiner (Deck), is equivalent to sea service; and complies with the relevant requirements and procedures set out in paragraph 4 above; and produces proof of having successfully completed: o for officers at the operational level, an approved Electronic Navigation Systems (ENS) course; or o for officers at the management level, an approved Navigation Control (including ARPA) course. 6 Revalidation of valid engineer officer certification without appropriate sea service This would cover people who have been employed in a shore-based marine services or operations capacity, for example: marine pilots; marine surveyors; marine superintendents; and marine trainers and educators. 3
The holder of a valid new format STCW-endorsed certificate of competency as engineer officer who has not served at sea for at least 1 year in the previous 5 years, may apply for revalidation if he or she: has been employed in the maritime industry for at least 2 years in the previous 5 years in a capacity which, in the opinion of the Senior Examiner (Engine), is equivalent to sea service*; and complies with the relevant requirements and procedures set out in paragraph 4 above. 7 Revalidation of certification that is not valid for sea service The holder of an old or new format certificate of competency (deck or engine) who does not comply with the minimum sea service requirements mentioned in paragraph 4 above or the minimum equivalent service requirements mentioned in paragraph 5 or 6 above, may apply for conversion and/or revalidation if he or she: has completed approved sea service in the appropriate rank for a period of not less than 3 months in a supernumerary capacity; and has been assessed at level 3 by a SAMSA examiner to meet the standard of competence specified in the Code; and complies with the relevant requirements and procedures set out in paragraph 4 above; and in the case of STCW deck officer certification, the applicable additional course requirements set out in paragraph 5 above. 8 Revalidation of special endorsements Holders of tanker and passenger ship endorsements applying for revalidation must demonstrate continued professional competence by proving service on the appropriate type of ship for at least 1 year in the preceding 5 years. If the service cannot be proved, applicants must complete an appropriate approved specialised course at an accredited training provider. 9 Refresher courses Holders of certificates of competency must every 5 years complete approved refresher training covering, as appropriate, tanker fire-fighting, advanced fire-fighting or fire-fighting; personal safety and social responsibilities with personal survival techniques; and, as appropriate, either first-aid-atsea or ship captain=s medical training. Holders wishing to revalidate and convert old format STCW-endorsed certification, must complete full courses covering applicable standards for medical care, fire-fighting, and personal safety, social responsibilities and personal survival techniques. 9.1 The refresher training in paragraph 9 above may be by a combined course made up of the appropriate subject modules, with candidates completing modules that are appropriate to their certification. For example, holders of STCW-endorsed certificates as master or chief mate must complete the ship captain=s medical training module; all other ships' officers, including holders of skipper certification, must complete the first-aid-at-sea module. 9.2 Refresher courses are offered by accredited training providers and are usually conducted over a period of 5 days. 10 Port operations certification The 2006 amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations, 1999, extend revalidation requirements to holders of certificates of competency for port operations, the 4
first revalidation deadline being 5 years after the commencement of the relevant amendment (i.e. 1 January 2008). For revalidation, the appropriate competencies associated with fire-fighting and firstaid-at-sea must be refreshed as mentioned in paragraph 9 above. 11 Recognition of courses conducted for the re-validation of Certificate of Competency by training institutions not accredited by SAMSA The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) will, for the purposes of revalidating South African certificates of competency, recognise certificates issued by training institutions not accredited by SAMSA in respect of the following courses on condition that the criteria in 11.1 below is met: a) Advanced Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/3) b) First Aid at Sea (STCW A-VI/4-1) c) Ship Captains Medical Training (STCW A-VI/4-2) d) Personal Safety and Social responsibility with Personal Survival Techniques (STCW A-VI/1-1 and 1-4) e) GMDSS General Operator s Certificate or Refresher Course (For Deck Officer s only) 11.1 The above mentioned certificates have to issued by a training institution that is recognised by the national maritime administration of any one of the following states: Australia India Portugal Belgium Ireland Romania Canada Italy Russian Federation Croatia Netherlands Singapore Denmark New Zealand Spain France Norway Sweden Germany Pakistan Ukraine Hong Kong, China Poland United Kingdom 11.2 In addition, SAMSA will recognise, for the purposes of revalidating South African certificates of competency, eyesight tests and medical certificates issued by medical practitioners or other persons who have been approved for the purpose of or on behalf of the national administration of a State mentioned in 11.1 above. 11.3 This marine notice has no effect on the requirements for the first issue of a South African certificate of competency, which remains unchanged for any level. 12 The application form for revalidation is annexed hereto. 10 October 2007 SM14/2/7/1 SM6/5/2/1 Issued by and obtainable from: The South African Maritime Safety Authority 161 Lynwood Road Brooklyn, Pretoria P O Box 13186 Hatfield 0028 South Africa Tel.: +27 12 366 2600 Fax: +27 12 366 2601 E-mail: marinenotices@samsa.org.za 5
FOP-506 APPLICATION FOR REVALIDATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY A. PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF APPLICANT SURNAME:... FIRST NAMES:... DATE OF BIRTH:... COUNTRY OF BIRTH:... NATIONALITY:... HEIGHT:... EYE COLOUR:... HAIR COLOUR:... PERMANENT ADDRESS:...... TELEPHONE NO.:... B. CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY TO BE REVALIDATED STCW 95 Master Chief Engineer Officer ( 3000 kw) Chief Mate 2 nd Engineer Officer ( 3000 kw) Deck Officer Engineer Officer Master (Coastal) Chief Engineer Officer (< 3000 kw) Mate (Coastal) 2 nd Engineer Officer (< 3000 kw) Skipper (Unlimited) Endorsement Chief Engineer Officer (< 750 kw) Skipper (Coastal) Endorsement Chief Engineer Officer (< 3000 kw) Endorsement - Chief Mate (<3000 grt) unlimited. Endorsement Master (<3000 grt) unlimited Endorsement Master (<500 grt) unlimited NON-STCW 95 Master (Port Operations) Skipper (Port Operations) Chief Engineer Officer (Port Operations) 2 nd Engineer Officer (Port Operations) Endorsement Chief Engineer Officer (Port Operations) Revision No/ Date Title Page Reference 2 15.02.07 Application for Revalidation of a Certificate of Competency 6 of 10 FOP-506
C. DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY APPLICATION: FOP-506 STCW 95 Deck officer certification Master Chief Mate Deck Officer Master (Coastal) Mate (Coastal) Skipper (Unlimited) or (Coastal) ID book or passport 3 x black and white passport-size photographs Medical certificate (SAMSA-approved medical practitioner) SAMSA Eyesight certificate Proof of sea service (Discharge Book) OR equivalent service Current certificate of competency Ship Captain's Medical Training course certificate First-Aid-at-Sea course certificate Advanced Fire-Fighting course certificate Fire-Fighting course certificate GMDSS General Operator Certificate PSSR with Personal Survival Techniques course certificate Navigation Control (including ARPA) course certificate (if required)* Electronic Navigation Systems course certificate (if required)* * Only required for applicants not having 1 year s sea service in the preceding 5 years. STCW 95 Engineer officer certification Chief Engineer Officer ( 3 000 kw) 2 nd Engineer Officer ( 3 000 kw) Engineer Officer Chief Engineer Officer (< 3 000 kw) 2 nd Engineer Officer (< 3 000 kw) ID book or passport 3 x black and white passport-size photographs Medical certificate (SAMSA-approved medical practitioner) Proof of sea service (Discharge Book) OR equivalent service Current certificate of competency First-Aid-at-Sea course certificate Advanced Fire-Fighting course certificate PSSR with Personal Survival Techniques course certificate Revision No/ Date Title Page Reference 2 15.02.07 Application for Revalidation of a Certificate of Competency 7 of 10 FOP-506
FOP-506 Non-STCW 95 Deck officer certification Master (Port Operations) Skipper (Port Operations) ID book or passport 3 x black and white passport-size photographs Medical certificate (SAMSA-approved medical practitioner) SAMSA Eyesight certificate Proof of sea service OR equivalent service Current certificate of competency First-Aid-at-Sea course certificate Advanced Fire-Fighting course certificate Fire-Fighting course certificate Non-STCW 95 Engineer officer certification Chief Engineer Officer (Port Operations) 2 nd Engineer Officer (Port Operations) ID document or passport 3 x black and white passport-size photographs Medical certificate (SAMSA-approved medical practitioner) Proof of sea service OR equivalent service Current certificate of competency First-Aid-at-Sea course certificate Advanced Fire-Fighting course certificate Revision No/ Date Title Page Reference 2 15.02.07 Application for Revalidation of a Certificate of Competency 8 of 10 FOP-506
FOP-506 Deck and engineer officer sea service Particulars of sea service should be taken from the Seaman s Record Book and/or Certificate(s) of Discharge. Name of ship Official No. Deck Officer - GT Engineer Officer - Propulsion power (kw) Type of service (unlimited, near-coastal, port operations) Rank Dates Actual period Assessed period From To Months Days Months Days Net qualifying service Date: Signature of examiner:... Revision No/ Date Title Page Reference 2 15.02.07 Application for Revalidation of a Certificate of Competency 9 of 10 FOP-506
D. Applicants not having served 1 year at sea in the preceding 5 years and holding valid certification. FOP-506 Comply with section C above and: 1. Have been employed in the Maritime industry for at least 2 years in the last 5 years in a capacity, which in the opinion of the relevant senior examiner, is equivalent to sea service AND 2. For deck officers at operational level, have successfully completed an approved Electronic Navigation Systems (ENS) course OR 3. For deck officers at management level, have successfully completed an approved Navigation Control (including ARPA) course. E. Applicants not having served 1 year at sea in the preceding 5 years and holding expired certification 1. Comply with Sections C and D above OR 2. Comply with section C above AND 3. Have completed approved sea service in the appropriate rank for a period of not less than 3 months in a supernumerary capacity AND 4. Have been assessed at level 3 F. Specialized endorsements For tanker and passenger ship endorsements: 1. Demonstrate continued professional competence by showing service in the appropriate type of ship for at least 1 year in the preceding 5 years. OR 2. Complete an appropriate approved specialized course at an accredited training provider. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Fee received:.. Receipt No.:. Date:..... Signature of person receiving fee... Signature of candidate I have checked the attached documents in accordance with Marine Notice. of 20 and am satisfied that the holder of the certificate meets all the requirements for the conversion/ revalidation of the following certificate of competency and related endorsements (if any): Signature of examiner: Date: Name of examiner:.. Revision No/ Date Title Page Reference 2 15.02.07 Application for Revalidation of a Certificate of Competency 10 of 10 FOP-506