NT Wing/Exam Circular No.1 of 2010

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING

1. Background: This Directorate has been receiving queries from various assessment centers (MMDs) with regard assessment of sea time, if such sea service has been performed on non-trading ships of special purpose such as, cable laying vessels, dredgers, anchor handling tugs and similar other vessels (inter-alia, special purpose code vessels, offshore supply vessels, diving support vessels & other such vessels) plying in foreign as well as in Indian coastal waters and where competency tables A-II/1 or A-II/2 of STCW 78/95 code for all the functions are not completely covered.
2. Decisions taken: It has been decided that assessment of sea service for the purpose of appearing for examination for 2nd Mate (foreign going) shall be as follows:-
   1. At least half of total sea service requirement [eg. 18 months if requirement is 36 months or 9 months if the requirement is 18 months in case of Structured Ship board Training Programme (SSTP) cadets] shall be performed on foreign going trading vessels or coastal trading vessels of 3000 GT and above engaged on voyages of 500 miles or more
   2. Six months of supervised navigational watch keeping shall be performed on foreign going trading vessels or coastal trading vessels of 3000 GT and above engaged on voyages of 500 miles or more.
   3. Assessment of sea time for service performed on non-trading vessels of 3000 GT and above in foreign waters:

   Maximum of six month's sea service as in Para 1 above at full rate for actual Sea Service performed on such non-trading vessel may be assessed.

   Balance sea time [service in excess of actual sea service in sub Para a) above] may be awarded at 2/3rd rate.

   4. Assessment of sea time for service performed on non trading vessels of less than 3000 GT and 500GT or more in foreign waters:

   Maximum of six month's sea service as in Para 1 above at 2/3rd rate for actual sea service performed on such non-trading vessel may be assessed.

   b) Balance sea time [service in excess of actual sea service in sub Para (a) above] may be awarded at half rate.

   5. Assessment of sea time for service performed on non-trading vessels of 3000 GT and above in Indian coastal waters:

   Maximum of four month's sea time may be considered for service as in Para 1 above at 2/3rd rate for actual sea service of six months performed on such non-trading vessel may be assessed. Sea service beyond six months on these vessels will not be counted for this certification.

   6. Assessment of sea time for service performed on non trading vessels of less than 3000 GT and 500GT or more in Indian coastal waters.

   Maximum of four months sea time may be considered for service as in Para 1 above at half rate for actual sea service of eight months performed on such non-trading vessels may be assessed. Sea service beyond eight months on these vessels will not be counted for this certification.

   7. Sea service performed on vessels of less than 500 GT will not be assessed towards Second Mate (FG) certification.
3. For Sea time calculation attached table (Annexure-I) may be used as reference. . A candidate desirous of continuing service on a non-trading vessel may apply for assessment of sea service and same will be counted in full for the purpose of assessment of sea going service, however, the CoC so issued shall carry limitation/s with regard to type of vessel and/or area of operation.
4. To remove / modify limitations imposed on a CoC, the candidate (as stated in Para 3. above) will be required to perform a minimum of 6 months of service on a dedicated foreign going trading vessel, then put up his service record for assessment centre and pass the oral examination (normally, scope of such oral examination shall be restricted to areas of competencies so far not covered in earlier oral examinations). Such applications will normally be entertained by assessment centers towards 5 yearly revalidations process.
5. This issues with the approval of the Chief Examiner of Master and Mates.

Sd/-

(Capt. A. K. Azad)

Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG (Tech.)