Bulletin No.: 05/2011

PDF Version

 

RDIMS No .: 6948978
Date ( Y-M-D ): 2011-11-02

Subject: How Fishing Masters, Second Class (CFV2) who were certified between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007 may obtain the Fishing Master, First Class Certificate of Competency issued under the Marine Personnel Regulations (MPR)

Purpose

This bulletin explains how Fishing Masters, Second Class (CFV2) who were certified between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007, may obtain the Fishing Master, First Class (FM1) certificate of competency issued under the Marine Personnel Regulations (MPR).

Scope

This bulletin applies only to people who hold the Fishing Master, Second Class certificates of competency (CoC) originally issued between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007.

Background

The CFV2 certificate originally issued between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007 was valid in order to serve as:

  • Master of a fishing vessel of any gross tonnage engaged on a voyage anywhere within the area around North America bounded by the meridians of longitude 30 degrees West and 180 degrees West and north of the parallel of latitude 6 degrees North.
  • Chief Mate of a fishing vessel of any gross tonnage engaged on an unlimited voyage.

The validity of the Fishing Master, Second Class (FM2) CoC issued under the Marine Personnel Regulations is lower than the validity of the CFV2 certificate originally issued between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007.

Canada ratified the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (STCW-F) in June 2010. When this Convention takes effect, Transport Canada Marine Safety (TCMS) will exchange the existing CFV2 certificates for the equivalent STCW-F (CoC).

This means people holding a CFV2 certificate originally issued between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007 will see the validity of their certificates lowered to:

  • Master, limited waters;
  • Master, fishing vessel of less than 24 meters, unlimited waters;
  • Officer, unlimited waters; and
  • Master of any type of vessel of less than 60 gross tonnage, near coastal voyage, class 2.

Limited waters will be defined similar to or as Limited, Contiguous waters voyage.

The MPR defines a Limited, Contiguous waters voyage as “a near coastal voyage, class 1 limited to the waters contiguous to Canada, the United States (except Hawaii) and St-Pierre-et-Miquelon.”

TCMS is presently amending the MPR to reflect the STCW-F, 1995 Convention and the 2010 amendments of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978.

Holders of CFV2  certificates of competency that act as master on a fishing vessel in waters beyond the definition of the limited waters will need to obtain the FM1 CoC to operate their vessels. This bulletin will give them the opportunity to obtain the FM1 CoC without having to meet the full requirements of section 139 of the MPR.

The same opportunity was given to holders of Master Intermediate voyage and First Mate Intermediate voyage CoCs with the exchange table of MPR Part 1, Schedule 1.

Transport Canada Policy

To ensure a smooth transition with the MPR and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995, TCMS allows holders of the CFV2 certificate originally issued between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007 to obtain the FM1 CoC issued under the Marine Personnel Regulations without having to meet the full requirements of section 139 of the MPR. This will allow them to transit to the superior certificate by recognizing their acquired experience and the original validity of their CFV2 CoC.

To obtain the FM1 certificate under the MPR, the holders of CFV2 certificate of competency originally issued between March 21, 1980 and June 30, 2007 must meet the following requirements:

  1. While holding at least a Fishing Master, Third Class (CFV3 or FM3) certificate, have acquired 12 months of sea service as master or officer in charge of the navigational watch on board one or more fishing vessels of at least 25 gross tonnage or at least 12 meters in length overall that are engaged on unlimited voyages or near coastal voyages, class 1.

    Note:  Up to half of an applicant’s sea service required by paragraph (a) may include service on board one or more normal trading vessels of at least 25 gross tonnage or at least 12 meters in length overall that are engaged on unlimited voyages or near coastal voyages, class 1.
  2. In addition, have acquired the following sea service as master or officer in charge of the navigational watch:
     
    1. At least 12 months of sea service on board one or more fishing vessels within the five years before the application date; or
    2. At least three months of sea service on board one or more fishing vessels within the 12 months immediately before the application date.
  3. Hold a valid medical certificate or a valid provisional medical certificate.
  4. Pass the following examinations:
    1. Ship Construction and Stability, Level 2;
    2. General Ship Knowledge, Level 2; and
    3. Celestial Navigation, Level 1.

Validity of the Fishing Master, First Class certificate of competency

The holder of this certificate may act as master of a fishing vessel of any tonnage engaged on an unlimited, near coastal or sheltered waters voyage.

The Fishing Master, First Class CoC is valid for five years from the date of issue. Renewal requirements are set out in section 106 and 111 of the MPR.

 

 

The following document is available for downloading or viewing: 
How Fishing Masters, Second Class (CFV2) (MPR)  (33 KB

 

 

 

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Keywords:
Questions concerning this bulletin should be addressed to:
 

1. Fishing Master, Second Class
2. Fishing Master, First Class
3. Additional option
4. STCW-F

AMSP
Diane Couture
613-990-1524
Transport Canada
Marine Safety
Tower C, Place de Ville
8th Floor, 330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8

 

 

 

 

 

To add or change your address, contact us at: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or 613-991-3135.

Owners of affected commercial vessels automatically receive Bulletins.