Directive 2012/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

CHAPTER II MASTER AND DECK DEPARTMENT

Regulation II/1 Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more

1. Every officer in charge of a navigational watch serving on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more shall hold a certificate of competency.

2. Every candidate for certification shall:

2.1.

be not less than 18 years of age;

2.2.

have approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months as part of an approved training programme which includes onboard training which meets the requirements of Section A-II/1 of the STCW Code and is documented in an approved training record book, or otherwise have approved seagoing service of not less than 36 months;

2.3.

have performed, during the required seagoing service, bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer for a period of not less than six months;

2.4.

meet the applicable requirements of the regulations in Chapter IV, as appropriate, for performing designed radio duties in accordance with the Radio Regulations;

2.5.

have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/1 of the STCW Code; and

2.6.

meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-VI/1, paragraph 2, Section A-VI/2 paragraphs 1 to 4, Section A-VI/3 paragraphs 1 to 4 and Section A-VI/4 paragraphs 1 to 3 of the STCW Code.

Regulation II/2 Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of masters and chief mates on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more

Master and chief mate on ships of 3000 gross tonnage or more

1. Every master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of 3 000 gross tonnage or more shall hold a certificate of competency.

2. Every candidate for certification shall:

2.1.

meet the requirements for certification as an officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more and have approved seagoing service in that capacity:

2.1.1.

for certification as chief mate, not less than 12 months; and

2.1.2.

for certification as master, not less than 36 months; however, this period may be reduced to not less than 24 months if not less than 12 months of such seagoing service has been served as chief mate; and

2.2.

have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code for masters and chief mates on ships of 3 000 gross tonnage or more.

Master and chief mate on ships of between 500 and 3000 gross tonnage

3. Every master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of between 500 and 3 000 gross tonnage shall hold a certificate of competency.

4. Every candidate for certification shall:

4.1.

for certification as chief mate, meet the requirements of an officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more;

4.2.

for certification as master, meet the requirements of an officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more and have approved seagoing service of not less than 36 months in that capacity; however, this period may be reduced to not less than 24 months if not less than 12 months of such seagoing service has been served as chief mate; and

4.3.

have completed approved training and meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code for masters and chief mates on ships of between 500 and 3 000 gross tonnage.

Regulation II/3 Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of officers in charge of a navigational watch and of masters on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage

Ships not engaged on near-coastal voyages

1. Every officer in charge of a navigational watch serving on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage not engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency for ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.

2. Every master serving on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage not engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency for service as master on ships of between 500 and 3 000 gross tonnage.

Ships engaged on near-coastal voyages

Officer in charge of a navigational watch

3. Every officer in charge of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency.

4. Every candidate for certification as officer in charge of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages shall:

4.1.

be not less than 18 years of age;

4.2.

have completed:

4.2.1.

special training, including an adequate period of appropriate seagoing service as required by the Member State; or

4.2.2.

approved seagoing service in the deck department of not less than 36 months;

4.3.

meet the applicable requirements of the regulations in Chapter IV, as appropriate, for performing designated radio duties in accordance with the Radio Regulations;

4.4.

have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code for officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages; and

4.5.

meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-VI/1, paragraph 2, Section A-VI/2 paragraphs 1 to 4, Section A-VI/3 paragraphs 1 to 4 and Section A-VI/4 paragraphs 1 to 3 of the STCW Code;

Master

5. Every master serving on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency.

6. Every candidate for certification as master on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on a near-coastal voyages shall:

6.1.

be not less than 20 years of age;

6.2.

have approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months as officer in charge of a navigational watch;

6.3.

have completed approved education and training and meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code for masters on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages; and

6.4.

meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-VI/1, paragraph 2, Section A-VI/2 paragraphs 1 to 4, Section A-VI/3 paragraphs 1 to 4 and Section A-VI/4 paragraphs 1 to 3 of the STCW Code.

Exemptions

7. The Administration, if it considers that a ship’s size and the conditions of its voyage are such as to render the application of the full requirements of this regulation and Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code unreasonable or impracticable, may to that extent exempt the master and the officer in charge of a navigational watch on such a ship or class of ships from some of the requirements, bearing in mind the safety of all ships which may be operating in the same waters.

Regulation II/4 Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of ratings forming part of a navigational watch

1. Every rating forming part of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more, other than ratings under training and ratings whose duties while on watch are of an unskilled nature, shall be duly certificated to perform such duties.

2. Every candidate for certification shall:

2.1.

be not less than 16 years of age;

2.2.

have completed:

2.2.1.

approved seagoing service including not less than six months training and experience; or

2.2.2.

special training, either pre-sea or on board ship, including an approved period of seagoing service which shall not be less than two months; and

2.3.

meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/4 of the STCW Code.

3. The seagoing service, training and experience required by points 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 shall be associated with navigational watchkeeping functions and involve the performance of duties carried out under the direct supervision of the master, the officer in charge of the navigational watch or a qualified rating.

Regulation II/5 Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of ratings as able seafarer deck

1. Every able seafarer deck serving on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more shall be duly certificated.

2. Every candidate for certification shall:

2.1.

be not less than 18 years of age;

2.2.

meet the requirements for certification as a rating forming part of a navigational watch;

2.3.

while qualified to serve as a rating forming part of a navigational watch, have approved seagoing service in the deck department of:

2.3.1.

not less than 18 months; or

2.3.2.

not less than 12 months and have completed approved training; and

2.4.

meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code.

3. Every Member State shall compare the standards of competence which it required of Able Seamen for certificates issued before 1 January 2012 with those specified for the certificate in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need, if any, for requiring these personnel to update their qualifications.

4. Until 1 January 2017, a Member State which is also a party to the International Labour Organisation Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No 74) may continue to renew and revalidate certificates and endorsements in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid Convention.

5. Seafarers may be considered by the Member State to have met the requirements of this regulation if they have served in a relevant capacity in the deck department for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60 months preceding the entry into force of the present Directive.