MARGAO
The Director-General of shipping has extended the validity of the STCW certificates for a period of 12 months on case to case basis for seafarers.
The relief for the seafaring community comes after the Goan Seamen Association of India and others petitioned Union Minister of Shipping Shripad Naik and Director General of shipping Amitabh Kumar over the hardship and difficulties faced by the seafarers due to Covid in regards to a slow resumption of cruise shipping under the guidelines.
GSAI had drawn the attention of the Minister and the Shipping Director that seafarers have to unnecessarily face difficulties and costs just to renew their STCW certificate with a validity of 18 months.
In an order, the DG, Shipping said the extension of the validity of STCW certificates will be applicable for seafarers who have completed six (6) months' sea-service within the validity of 18 months STCW certificate, their certificate stands extended by 12 months from the date of expiry.
Seafarers who are currently on board as on date of issue of this circular, their 18 months' validity certificates stands extended till sign-off or 12 months whichever is earlier.
It will be applicable for seafarers who are now ashore and intend to join the ship on or before Feb 28, 2022.
Seafarers who are now ashore, whose 18 months' valid certificate have expired or are going to expire, but intend to join onboard ship on or after March 1, 2022, their 18 months' valid certificate stands extended by 12 months from the date of expiry provided these seafarers complete the DGS e-learning course (Tier-I) at no additional cost for obtaining such extension.
Seafarers and the shipping companies, including Recruitment and placement Service providers are required to ensure that the seafarers concerned should have a print-out of their sea service record and applicable Tier-I course completion record (if any) from the seafarers Master checker profile.
Further, the shipping companies need to demonstrate their responsibilities as required under Regulation I/1 and section A-I/14 of the STCW on "Responsibilities of Companies".
The circular is only applicable for all those seafarers who have obtained the 18 months' valid STCW certificates after going through the 3-Tier programme. This circular is not applicable for seafarers who have obtained certificates with a validity of five years, these seafarers for revalidating their certificates need to undergo the refresher courses as per the existing procedures.
