Bulletin No.: 08/2002

PDF Version

Date (Y-M-D): 2002-08-19
 

Subject: Engineering Certification - Updates

Purpose

This bulletin provides guidance on the requirements of Practical Skills Training for Marine Engineers ( PSME ), and the Training Record Book ( TRBE ) for candidates applying for their first engineering certificate of competency.

The bulletin also clarifies interpretation of certain sections of the Marine Certification Regulations that may impact Canadian seafarers applying to obtain certificates of competency as marine engineers.

Implementation of Practical Skills Training For Marine Engineers ( PSME ) and the Training Record Book ( TRBE )

Ship Safety Bulletins 05/2001 and 10/2001 alerted the marine industry to these requirements for candidates applying for their first engineering certificate (Fourth Class or higher) to complete Practical Skills Training for Marine Engineers and also to complete an approved Training Record Book for the mandatory six months sea service portion of the qualifying service. While the intent of the aforementioned Ship Safety Bulletins remains unchanged, candidates such as experienced oilers or engine room assistants who had obtained the necessary qualifying time (e.g. 36 months for 4^th class certificate) before February 1, 2002 will be allowed to sit the appropriate examination without having to complete either the PSME or TRBE . However, this window of opportunity will close at midnight of January 31, 2003 and no exemption from these requirements will be considered after this date.

Practical Skills Training ( PSME )

Candidates for engineering certification are reminded that upon completion of an approved Practical Skills Training Course, they will be entitled to a credit of the equivalent of six months qualifying time towards their Fourth Class engineer certificate.

The following marine schools have been provisionally approved by Marine Safety to deliver the Practical Skills Training for Marine Engineers ( PSME ):

1. Marine Institute, St. John's, Newfoundland.

2. Georgian College, Owen Sound, Ontario.

3. British Columbia Institute of Technology ( BCIT ), Vancouver, British Columbia.

4. Canadian Coast Guard Base, Prescott, Ontario.

Approval for the Nova Scotia Community College ( NSCC ) in Port Hawkesbury and Institute Maritime de Quebec ( IMQ ) in Rimouski is under consideration and it is anticipated that these schools will be able to provide this training as well, by the end of 2002.

Training Record Book ( TRBE )

To comply with TRBE requirements, all applicants outside of the approved Engineering Cadet Programs must complete the Training Record Book as provided in TP 13721 and have it signed off as appropriate for presenting it to the examiner prior to taking the examination. TP 13721 is available at all Marine Safety Offices across Canada or can be downloaded from the website- http://www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSafety/Tp/Tp13721/menu.htm.

Five (5) Year Validity of Training Courses

Section 4 of the Marine Certification Regulations covers the validity of training courses required for acquiring or upgrading certificates of competency. Basically, as long as the certificate holder maintains his/her certificate as valid for use at sea (Continued proficiency), the training courses such as Marine Emergency Duties ( MED ) and Propulsion Plant Simulator ( PPS ), that may have been completed more than 5 years previously, remain valid. However, if the candidate for upgrading cannot produce evidence of the service required to keep his certificate valid for use at sea, then the MED and PPS courses completed five years or more before the date of application will become invalid, and the candidate will be required to re-do these training courses or a refresher training that may be developed and approved in the future.

Five (5) Year Validity of Examination Passes

Section 9(5) of the Marine Certification Regulations deals with the validity of partly or fully completed examinations. The 5 year validity applies only to the engineering knowledge ( EK ) subjects of the examinations. A 5-year time clock starts from the date a candidate sits and passes each of the EK papers.

A pass or a credit given in any of the academic subjects such as Mathematics, Applied Mechanics, Drawing, Electro technology, Thermodynamics and Naval Architecture etc. are not subject to the 5 year limit and will remain valid for life.

Phasing out Challenge option in Propulsion Plant Simulator Training ( PPS )

The Marine Certification Regulations require that all applicants for engineering certificates complete PPS training appropriate to the certificate. Marine Safety policy to date has been to allow experienced engineers the opportunity to challenge the PPS level 1 or level 2 courses. However, as the PPS training has been a requirement for over 6 years, the challenge option can no longer be supported and is being withdrawn forthwith. From now on, engineering candidates must successfully complete the PPS training course applicable to the certificate held or applied for before they will be issued their certificate of competency.

Engineers who successfully challenged either course in the past will see that credit continued for the certificate held.

The following document is available for downloading or viewing:

Engineering Certification - Updates (17 KB) 

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