The Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification and Minimum Standards of Safety Communications) (Amendment) Regulations 2006

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification and Minimum Standards of Safety Communications) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 and shall come into force on 20th February 2006.

(2) In these Regulations—

“the Training and Certification Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations 1997(1); and

“the Minimum Standards of Safety Communications Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards of Safety Communications) Regulations 1997(2).

Amendment to the Training and Certification Regulations

2.—(1) Regulation 2(1) of the Training and Certification Regulations is amended as follows.

(2) The definition of “certificate of equivalent competency” is deleted.

(3) After the definition of “certificate of competency” there is inserted—

““certificate of equivalent competency” means an endorsement in the form of a separate document entitled “certificate of equivalent competency” issued by the Secretary of State in accordance with regulation 5 or 5A to a master, officer or radio operator who holds a certificate issued by or under the authority of another Party to the STCW Convention;”.

(4) After the definition of “constructed” there is inserted—

““the Directive” means Council Directive 2001/25/EC(3) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers as amended by Directive 2003/103/EC(4);

“European Economic Area State” means a member State, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein;”.

(5) After the definition of “liquefied gas tanker” there is inserted—

““MCA” means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport;”.

(6) For the definition of “Merchant Shipping Notice” there is substituted—

““Merchant Shipping Notice” means a notice described as such and issued by the MCA”.

(7) After the definition of “tanker” there is added—

““third Party” means a Party to the STCW Convention which is not an European Economic Area State.”.

3.  For regulation 5 of the Training and Certification Regulations there is substituted—

“Recognition of certificates issued by EEA States

5.— (1) The Secretary of State may—

(a) recognise a certificate as to competency issued by or on the authority of a European Economic Area State which is a Party to the STCW Convention, to a master, officer or radio operator; and

(b) subject to paragraph (2), on the application of a holder of a certificate described in sub-paragraph (a), issue a certificate of equivalent competency attesting to its recognition.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) the Secretary of State may specify additional standards of competence to be attained, and the means by which such competence may be demonstrated, for the issue of a certificate of equivalent competency pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) The additional standards of competence referred to in paragraph (2) which are to be attained before a certificate of equivalent competency is issued shall be limited to—

(a) the applicant’s standard of English; and

(b) his knowledge of United Kingdom maritime legislation and administrative procedures.

(4) An applicant may, instead of demonstrating knowledge of United Kingdom of maritime legislation and administrative procedures, choose to undergo an adaptation period, the duration of which shall be specified by the Secretary of State (but which shall not exceed 3 years).

(5) If an applicant chooses to undergo an adaptation period in accordance with paragraph (4) the Secretary of State shall, for the duration of that period, issue him with a certificate of equivalent competency of such next lower grade as does not require a knowledge of UK maritime legislation and administrative procedures.”.

4.  After regulation 5 of the Training and Certification Regulations, there is inserted—

“Recognition of certificates issued by other states

5A.— (1) The Secretary of State may recognise a certificate issued by or under the authority of a third Party to a master, officer or radio operator if one of the conditions in paragraph (2) applies.

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows—

(a) certificates issued by the third Party are recognised by the Commission in accordance with Article 18 of the Directive and such recognition has not been withdrawn in accordance with Article 18a of the Directive;

(b) certificates issued by the third Party were recognised by a European Economic Area State as at 14 June 2005 and such recognition has not been withdrawn by the Commission in accordance with Article 18a of the Directive;

(c) subject to paragraph (5), a request has been made to the Commission by the Secretary of State under Article 18 of the Directive to recognise certificates issued by the third Party and, following the expiry of three months from the time the request was made, no decision has been made by the Commission.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where the Secretary of State recognises a certificate pursuant to paragraph (1) he shall, on application of the holder of a certificate, issue a certificate of equivalent competency attesting to its recognition.

(4) Where, pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of State recognises the standard of competence required for the issue of a certificate by a third Party as satisfying only in part the standard required for officers qualified for the purpose of these Regulations, he may specify additional standards of competence which are to be attained, and the means by which such competence may be demonstrated, for the issue of a certificate of equivalent competency.

(5) The additional standards of competence referred to in paragraph (4) shall be limited to—

(a) the applicant’s standard of English; and

(b) such training and knowledge as is not required for the certificate issued by the third Party but is required to ensure that the applicant satisfies the standard of competence required for the certificate of equivalent competency to be issued.

(6) The means of demonstrating competence which the Secretary of State may specify include a period of adaptation during which time the Secretary of State may issue the applicant with a certificate of equivalent competency of a lower grade.

(7) Where—

(a) the Secretary of State recognises a certificate in accordance with paragraph (1) on the basis that the condition referred to in paragraph (2)(c) applies; and

(b) the Commission decides not to recognise certificates issued by that Party,

the Secretary of State shall withdraw recognition of that certificate and shall cancel any certificates of equivalent competency issued on the basis of that certificate.

(8) Where the Commission withdraws recognition of certificates issued by a third Party in accordance with Article 18a of the Directive—

(a) certificates of equivalent competency issued on the basis of those certificates before the date of the decision to withdraw recognition shall remain valid; and

(b) an officer holding a certificate of equivalent competency may not be issued with a certificate of equivalent competency of a higher grade based on a certificate issued by that third Party except where an officer qualifies for a certificate solely on the basis of additional sea service.”.

5.  In regulation 7 of the Training and Certification Regulations—

(a) before the words “Any officer” there is inserted “(1) Subject to paragraph (2)”;

(b) after the table there is inserted—

“(2) In the circumstances specified in paragraph (3), where a person does not hold an appropriate certificate the Secretary of State may permit that person to serve in an appropriate capacity on board a ship for a maximum period of three months.

(3) The circumstances specified in paragraph (2) are that—

(a) the person holds a valid certificate issued by a third Party;

(b) that certificate is appropriate for the capacity in which the person is to serve; and

(c) the person has submitted an application under regulation 5A for a certificate of equivalent competency and keeps available for inspection such documents as may be specified by the Secretary of State together with the certificate referred to in paragraph (3)(a).”.

Amendment to the Minimum Standards of Safety Communications Regulations

6.  For paragraph (1)(b) of regulation 5 of the Minimum Standards of Safety Communications Regulations there is substituted—

“(b) there are adequate means of communication between the ship’s crew and—

(i) other ships;

(ii) shore-based authorities; and

(iii) pilots; and

(c) English is used for the communications described in paragraph (b) unless those directly involved in the communications speak a common language other than English.”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

S.J Ladyman

Minister of State

Department for Transport

18th January 2006