How To Meet STCW Manila 2010 Rules By January 1, 2017

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Purpose

This bulletin explains the steps Owners, Masters, Officers and Seafarers must take before January 1, 2017, to comply with the new requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, as amended by the 2010 Manila conference (STCW Manila 2010).

Scope

This bulletin applies to Canadian seafarers and to holders of a Canadian STCW Certificate of Competency (CoC) or endorsement that expire before December 31st, 2016, who:

• work on vessels making Unlimited voyages or Near Coastal, Class 1 (outside of the Great Lakes) voyages, and who must hold qualification documents that comply with STCW Manila 2010 by January 1, 2017.
• work on vessels making Near Coastal, Class 1 (on the Great Lakes), Near Coastal, Class 2, or Sheltered Waters voyages who choose to comply with the STCW Manila 2010, although not required.

*    We strongly encourage seafarers to apply now, to avoid a last minute rush that may occur at the end of 2016

Background

The STCW Manila 2010 came into force on January 1, 2012. A 5-year transition period is nearly over, which means Canada, as a party to the Convention, must fully comply with its requirements by January 1st, 2017. Major changes include:

• Proof of Competency. A testimonial of participation in emergency drills onboard an STCW vessel will no longer be proof someone has the required level of competency. Seafarers must now complete an approved refresher training course at a Recognized Institution ashore every 5 years.

This applies in particular to competencies in Marine Emergency Duties (MED) as described below. If you are:

• Listed on the safe manning document of an STCW vessel, you must demonstrate competence in STCW Basic Safety Training.
• Assigned to launch a survival craft, you must demonstrate competence in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats.
• In charge of a fire team, you must demonstrate competence in Advanced Fire Fighting.
• Designated to provide first aid or medical care onboard an STCW vessel, you must demonstrate competence in First Aid or Medical Care.
• The new Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) serve as proof a person has specific competencies that meet STCW Manila 2010 standards. For example, on January 1, 2017, all persons on STCW vessels who perform MED, must hold a CoP.

To obtain a CoP, you must apply at any Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS) Examination Center (http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/regions.htm) and provide a Training Certificate you earned from a Recognized Institution (see list in TP 10655) in the past 5 years, that relates to that CoP.

If you completed the Approved Training Courses more than 5 years ago, you must have completed an Approved Refresher Training Courses within the past 5 years. Other requirements may apply, as indicated elsewhere in this bulletin.

Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) in MED, First Aid and Medical Care

Annex A of this bulletin gives details about the trainings you must take at a Recognized Institution and any other requirements that may apply, to be able to apply for a CoP at a TCMSS Examination Center.

Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) for Tankers

After January 1, 2017, all documents issued to masters, deck officers, engineers and ratings working on a tanker making an Unlimited voyage or a Near Coastal, Class 1 (outside of the Great Lakes) voyage, that attest to their proficiency for tanker cargo operations, must comply with STCW Manila 2010. In Canada, seafarers must replace their current CoC or endorsements with a corresponding CoP.

Ratings (Tankers)

Before January 1, 2017, Ratings working on STCW vessels must exchange their current CoC or endorsement at any TCMSS examination center.  Ratings will receive a corresponding new CoP, issued with no expiry date, either:

• Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations, or
• Basic Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations.

Masters and Officers (Deck and Engine room - Tankers)

Masters, engineers and deck officers holding a familiarization or specialized CoC or endorsement for any type of tanker making an STCW voyage, must exchange their CoC or endorsement, before January 1, 2017, for one of the following Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) that complies with STCW Manila 2010:

• Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations,
• Basic Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations,
• Advanced Training for Oil Tanker Cargo Operations,
• Advanced Training for Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations, or
• Advanced Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations.

Passenger vessels training and qualifications

While there is no immediate change to the qualifications required for personnel on passenger vessels and ro-ro passenger vessels, the MPR are being amended to reflect STCW Manila 2010 requirements. These amendments should apply starting January 1, 2017.

The main changes will be that the MPR:

• will no longer require personnel to hold the Passenger Safety Management and Specialized Passenger Safety Management (Ro-Ro Vessels) CoC and endorsement TCMSS currently issues.
• will require personnel earn a training certificate issued by the recognized institution as proof they are qualified in the topic indicated for service on a passenger vessel. Certain topics will require refresher training every 5 years.

Notes:

1. The Passenger Safety Management and Specialized Passenger Safety Management (Ro-Ro Vessels) CoC and endorsements seafarers currently hold, remain valid until their expiry date, and can be renewed in compliance with the MPR until December, 31st 2016.
2. Starting January 1, 2017, TCMSS will not issue or renew these CoC or endorsements, but will require personnel on passenger vessels and Ro-Ro passenger vessels to hold training certificates as indicated in Annex B.
3. Annex B details required training or refresher training starting January 1, 2017.
4. Recognized institutions giving the Passenger Safety Management or the Specialized Passenger Safety Management (Ro-Ro Vessels) training remain approved to issue training certificates indicated in Annex B, as long as they comply with approval conditions.

Availability of refresher training courses

Recognized Institutions and TCMSS are working on establishing and approving refresher training courses. In fact, many are already available. Seafarers who must take refresher training should contact a Recognized Institution to register. We strongly encourage seafarers to apply now, to avoid a last minute rush that may occur at the end of 2016.

Certificates of Competency (CoC) or endorsements expiring on December 31, 2016

Most STCW CoCs or endorsements TCMSS issued in the past months expire on December 31, 2016.

• If you hold an STCW CoC or endorsement expiring on December 31, 2016, you may exchange it for an STCW Manila 2010 CoC or CoP, as applicable, valid for the remaining time of the initial 5 years period, at any TCMSS Examination Center – at no cost. 
• If you want to renew an officer’s CoC for a full 5 year period, you must comply with the renewal requirements of MPR sections 106 or 107 and pay the renewal fee, to receive an STCW Manila 2010 CoC valid for 5 years.
• If you want to renew a tanker endorsement for a full 5 year period, you must comply with the renewal requirements of MPR sections 159, 160 or 165 to 167 as applicable and pay the renewal fee, to receive an STCW Manila 2010 CoP valid for 5 years.

Certificates of competency issued to ratings without an expiry date

Ratings who hold CoC issued without an expiry date, such as Bridge Watch Rating and Engine Room Rating, do not have references that meet STCW Manila 2010 standards, and may apply at any TCMSS Examination Center to get a replacement at no cost.

TCMSS Policy

While waiting for the MPR amendments to come into force, TCMSS has begun to issue CoPs to seafarers who want to comply with the new STCW Manila 2010 requirements.

While there is no legal requirement to take a refresher training course until these amendments do come into force, we encourage Canadian seafarers to obtain the STCW Manila 2010 compliant documents well before January 1, 2017 to avoid problems at foreign ports for not holding the necessary documents.

Sheltered Waters, Near Coastal, Class 2 and Near Coastal, Class 1(on the Great-Lakes) Voyages

There is no immediate change for personnel working on domestic vessels making voyages in Sheltered Waters, in Near Coastal, Class 2 or in Near Coastal, Class 1 (on the Great Lakes). This means that Officers holding:

• Domestic certificates of competency do not have to take any particular steps.
• STCW certificates, will receive an STCW Manila 2010 certificate when they meet the MPR renewal requirements.

Certificates of Proficiency in MED will not be required on domestic vessels making voyages in Sheltered Waters, in Near Coastal, Class 2 or in Near Coastal, Class 1 (on the Great Lakes). For these vessels, the current training and certification requirements of MPR sections 205 to 210 remain. Holding one of the MPR accepted training certificates issued by a recognized institution is valid for personnel who:

• form part of the safe manning of the vessel
• are assigned to a survival craft team or a fire team.

ANNEX A

TABLE OF REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY (CoP)  IN MED, FIRST AID AND MEDICAL CARE
Certificate of Proficiency (CoP)	Required Training certificate from a recognized institution in:	Other requirements	Validity of CoP
STCW Basic Safety	STCW Basic Safety or STCW Basic Safety Refresher	16 years of age	5 years (Note 1)
Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats	Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats or Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats Refresher	18 years of age 6 months of experience as defined in section 155 of the MPR	5 years (Note 1)
Advanced Fire Fighting	Advanced Fire Fighting or Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher	18 years of age	5 years (Note 1)
Marine Advanced First Aid	Marine Advanced First Aid or Marine Advanced First Aid Refresher	18 years of age	5 years (Note 1)
Marine Medical Care	Marine Medical Care or Marine Medical Care Refresher	18 years of age	5 years (Note 1)

Note 1: The period of validity is 5 years starting from:

• The date of the CoP was issued, if the seafarer completed the related training or refresher training course less than 6 months before applying for a new CoP, or
• The date on which the seafarer completed the related training or refresher training course if that date is 6 months or more before applying for a CoP.

ANNEX B

TABLE OF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING REQUIRED FOR PASSENGER VESSELS AND RO-RO PASSENGER VESSELS
STCW Reference	Training Certificate	Applies to whom	Refresher Training every 5 years
Reg.V/2 par. 4 & STCW Code A-V/2 paragraph 1	Crowd management (TP 13024)	Masters, officers and other personnel designated on muster lists to assist passengers in emergency situations on board vessels > 500 Gross tonnage, carrying more than 12 passengers, making a voyage beyond sheltered waters	Refresher training or Provide evidence of having achieved the required standard of competence within the previous five years
Reg.V/2 par. 5 & STCW Code A-V/2 paragraph 2	Safety training (TP 13024)	Personnel providing direct service to passengers in passenger spaces on board vessels > 500 Gross tonnage, carrying more than 12 passengers, making a voyage beyond sheltered waters	Not required
Reg.V/2 par. 6 & STCW Code A-V/2 paragraph 3	Crisis management and human behavior (TP 13024)	Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person designated on muster lists as having responsibility for the safety of passengers in emergency situations on board vessels > 500 Gross tonnage, carrying more than 12 passengers, making a voyage beyond sheltered waters	Refresher training or Provide evidence of having achieved the required standard of competence within the previous five years
Reg.V/2 par. 7 & STCW Code A-V/2 paragraph 4	Passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity (TP 13024)	Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and every person assigned immediate responsibility for embarking and disembarking passengers, loading, discharging or securing cargo, or closing hull openings on board Ro–Ro vessels > 500 Gross tonnage, carrying more than 12 passengers, making a voyage beyond sheltered waters	Refresher training or Provide evidence of having achieved the required standard of competence within the previous five years

Contact us at: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).