CHAPTER 3CERTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
SECTION I Procedure for issuing Union certificates of qualification and specific authorisations
Article 11Issuing and validity of Union certificates of qualification
1.
Member States shall ensure that applicants for Union certificates of qualification as a deck crew member and Union certificate of qualification for specific operations provide satisfactory documentary evidence:
(a)
of their identity;
(b)
that they meet the minimum requirements laid down in Annex I on age, competence, administrative compliance and navigation time for the qualification for which they have applied;
(c)
that they meet the standards for medical fitness in accordance with Article 23, where applicable.
2.
Member States shall issue Union certificates of qualification after having verified the authenticity and validity of the documents provided by the applicants and after having verified that the applicants have not already been issued a valid Union certificate of qualification.
3.
The Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing models for Union certificates of qualification and for single documents combining Union certificates of qualification and service record books. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 33(2).
4.
The validity of the Union certificate of qualification as a deck crew member shall be limited to the date of the next medical examination required pursuant to Article 23.
5.
Without prejudice to the limitation referred to in paragraph 4, Union certificates of qualification as a boatmaster shall be valid for up to a maximum of 13 years.
6.
Union certificates of qualification for specific operations shall be valid for up to a maximum of five years.
Article 12Issuing and validity of specific authorisations for boatmasters
1.
Member States shall ensure that applicants for specific authorisations referred to in Article 6 provide satisfactory documentary evidence:
(a)
of their identity;
(b)
that they meet the minimum requirements laid down in Annex I on age, competence, administrative compliance and navigation time for the specific authorisation for which they have applied;
(c)
that they hold a Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster or of a certificate recognised in accordance with Article 10(2) and (3), or that they meet the minimum requirements for Union certificates of qualification for boatmasters provided for by this Directive.
2.
By way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, for specific authorisations for sailing on stretches of inland waterways with specific risks required pursuant to point (b) of Article 6, applicants shall provide to the competent authorities of the Member States referred to in Article 20(3) satisfactory documentary evidence:
(a)
of their identity;
(b)
that they meet the requirements established in accordance with Article 20 for the competence for specific risks for the specific stretch of inland waterway for which the authorisation is required;
(c)
that they hold a Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster or of a certificate recognised in accordance with Article 10(2) and (3), or that they meet the minimum requirements for Union certificates of qualification for boatmasters provided for by this Directive.
3.
Member States shall issue the specific authorisations referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 after having verified the authenticity and validity of the documents provided by the applicant.
4.
Member States shall ensure that the competent authority that issues Union certificates of qualification to boatmasters specifically indicates in the certificate any specific authorisation issued pursuant to Article 6 in accordance with the model referred to in Article 11(3). The validity of such specific authorisation shall end when the validity of the Union certificate of qualification ends.
5.
By way of derogation from paragraph 4 of this Article, the specific authorisation referred to in point (d) of Article 6 shall be issued as a Union certificate of qualification as a liquefied natural gas expert in accordance with the model referred to in Article 11(3), the period of validity of which shall be set in accordance with Article 11(6).
Article 13Renewal of Union certificates of qualification and of specific authorisations for boatmasters
Upon the expiry of a Union certificate of qualification, Member States shall, upon request, renew the certificate and, where relevant, the specific authorisations included therein, provided that:
- (a)
for Union certificates of qualification as a deck crew member and for specific authorisations other than the one referred to in point (d) of Article 6, satisfactory documentary evidence referred to in points (a) and (c) of Article 11(1) has been submitted;
- (b)
for Union certificates of qualification for specific operations, the satisfactory documentary evidence referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 11(1) has been submitted.
Article 14Suspension and withdrawal of Union certificates of qualification or specific authorisations for boatmasters
1.
Where there are indications that the requirements for certificates of qualification or specific authorisations are no longer met, the Member State that issued the certificate or specific authorisation shall undertake all necessary assessments and, where appropriate, shall withdraw those certificates or specific authorisation.
2.
Any Member State may temporarily suspend a Union certificate of qualification where it considers that such suspension is necessary for reasons of safety or public order.
3.
Member States shall record without undue delay suspensions and withdrawals in the database referred to in Article 25(2).