RDIMS No .: 19859349
Date (Y-M-D) : 2023-11-03
This bulletin replaces Ship Safety Bulletin No. 01/2023.
Purpose
This bulletin provides updated guidelines to seafarers and marine stakeholders on how active and retired members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) can receive exam, course and sea service credits towards obtaining certificates of competency (CoC) or certificates of proficiency (CoP) from Transport Canada.
Scope
This bulletin applies to members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) seeking credit towards obtaining commercial marine certification under the Marine Personnel Regulations (MPR).
What you need to know
As detailed in the Transport Publication (TP) titled Recognized Institutions and Approved Training Courses - TP 10655, Transport Canada has accepted the RCN as an Approved Course Provider for the purpose of the MPR, as summarized below.
Deck certification and engineering certification
Transport Canada can issue certificates of proficiencies if the training has been completed within 5 years before the application date. The RCN has been approved to issue the following training certificates for all of their personnel who have completed the Naval Environmental Training Program:
- Marine Emergency Duties (MED) with STCW Basic Safety Training Certificate;
- MED with Respect to STCW Basic Safety Refresher Training Certificate with completion of the RCN Fire/Flood and Sea Survival Refresher Training;
- MED with Respect to Advanced Firefighting; and,
- MED with Respect to Advanced Firefighting Refresher Training Certificate with completion of the RCN Fire/Flood Refresher Training.
Deck certification
An applicant who holds a qualification issued by the Department of National Defence will receive exemptions as follows:
- Table 1 identifies, by the letter “x”, exemptions applicable to the following Royal Canadian Navy trade groups.
Table 1 RCN Nautical Course and Exam Credits
| Examination and courses | Naval Warfare Officers (MARS) | Fleet Navigating Officers | Boatswain QL3 | Sonar operators, Naval sensor operators, Naval combat intelligence operator, Naval communicators communication research operators, and Hull technicians at the QL3 level and above |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MED BS | X | X | X | X |
| MED SC | X | X | X | X |
| Steering Testimonial | X | X | X | X |
| BWR Course and Exam | X | |||
| ECDIS | X | X | ||
| COM | X | X | ||
| SEN 1 | X | X | ||
| SEN 2 | X | |||
| CP2 | X | X | ||
| MET 2 | X | X | ||
| SIM 1 | X | X | ||
| SIM 2 | X | |||
| Astro 2 | X | |||
| NS & I | X |
Table 2 RCN (Regular and Reserve) NCM Sea Service requirement for TCMSS Certificates
| Certificate of Competency Requested | Boatswain QL3 | Sonar operators, Naval sensor operators, Naval combat intelligence operators, Naval communicators, communication research operators, and Hull technicians at the QL3 level and above | Marine Personnel Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge Watch Rating | 60 days | 180 days | Section 171 |
| Chief Mate 150 | 360 days | 360 days | Section 136 |
| Master 150 | 720 days | 720 days | Section 129 |
| Chief Mate 500 | 720 days | 720 days | Section 135 |
| Officer Of the Watch | 1080 days | 1080 days | Section 134 |
Note: The sea service for the functions listed in table 1 and 2 counts as 8 hours per day for 1 day of sea service.
Regular force Naval Warfare Officers (NWO) pathway to commercial certification
The entry point for all Naval Warfare Officers regardless of rank and experience is the Master 150 Gross Tonnage, Domestic, Watchkeeping Mate or Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal certificates of competency. The NWO must fulfil all the requirements set out in section 129 or 134 of the Marine Personnel Regulations for these certificates and to comply with the sea service remission NWO must meet the requirements set out below:
- Successful completion of NWO II, III and IV;
- Obtain 360 days (day for day) onboard commissioned naval vessel as an NWO;
- Successful completion of the NWOPQ qualification package;
- Minimum 2 years post-secondary education; and
- Hold a Naval Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate.
Note: The pathway to higher certification and Naval Reserve NWO certification is presently under review by TCMSS.
Engineering certification
Levels of the Marine Technician (MARTECH) legacy training prior 2013 that had been assessed against TP 8911 – Engineering Officer Education and Training Program regarding members of the regular force serving in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
- A seafarer who achieves QL3, and has obtained a Certificate 1 from RCN is eligible, depending on an assessment, to receive an Engine-room Rating CoC under the MPR,
- A seafarer who achieves QL5 and has obtained Certificate 2 from RCN is eligible, depending on an assessment, to receive a Fourth-class Engineer, Motor Ship or Steamship CoC under the MPR,
- A seafarer who achieves QL6, and has obtained a Certificate 3 from RCN may receive additional credit of qualifying service with regard to the sea service acquire onboard RCN vessels, and
- A seafarer who achieves QL7 and has obtained a Certificate 4 may receive additional credit of qualifying service with regard to the sea service acquire onboard RCN vessels.
Qualifying service, credits toward academic subject and exemption from examination will be determine by AMSPE following the assessment and the applicant will be advised by letter accordingly.
MARTECH legacy training with the integration of the new training combining RCN trades (2013-2018). Applicant will be assessed on case-by-case basis.
The next step will be the assessment of the new training that is being delivered since 2018.
Ship’s cook certificate of competency
For a military cook who achieves the QL5 and has served on RCN vessels, RCN will issue a Transport Canada training certificate. The candidate will still be required to provide:
- 30 days of sea service,
- a valid marine medical certificate (whether a Provisional Medical Certificate issued under section 275 of the Marine Personnel Regulations; or a medical certificate issued by the Minister under section 278 of the Marine Personnel Regulations),
- current Marine Advanced First Aid training certificate, and
- valid MED training certificate with respect to STCW Basic Safety.
For Further Information
Please contact your local Transport Canada office to make an appointment to discuss receiving credit towards obtaining marine certification under the MPR.
Currently serving RCN/Canadian Armed Forces members should contact Naval Personnel and Training Group Headquarters RCN.
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Atlantic Region: |
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Toll Free Number for all Atlantic regions: 1-855-859-3123 |
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New Brunswick: |
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SaintJohnInspectionServices-InspectionServicesSaintJohn@tc.gc.ca |
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Newfoundland & Labrador: |
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Nova Scotia: |
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PortHawkesburyInspectionServices-ServicesDinspection@tc.gc.ca |
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Prince Edward Island: |
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Prairie & Northern Region: |
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Keywords:
1. Royal Canadian Navy
2. Equivalency
3. Certificates of Competency, Certificates of Proficiency
Questions concerning this Bulletin should be addressed to:
AMSP
Transport Canada
Marine Safety and Security
330 Sparks Street, 8th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Contact us at: Email: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or Telephone: 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).
