MPA Singapore issued a circular concerning training and certification requirements for seafarers on ships, subject to the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). The circular applies to shipowners, ship managers, masters, chief engineer officers, marine engineer officers, deck officers and ratings of Singapore registered ships subject to the IGF code.
The Danish Maritime Authority announced the launch of a pilot project concerning digital certificates for seafarers. The Mumbai Maersk vessel sailed on May 29 from Port of Aarhus towards destinations in Europe, Africa and Asia with crew certificates that are entirely digital instead of traditional paper certificates.
IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 6), held from 29 April to 3 May finalized draft amendments to the STCW Code, and namely the list of certificates or documentary evidence required under the STCW Convention.
During the 6th session of its Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 6) on 29 April-3 May, IMO established a correspondence group to consider how to address the use of electronic certificates and documents of seafarers.
Because of a continued backlog of credential applications and increased net processing time of both mariner credential applications and medical certificate applications caused by the lapse in appropriations and shutdown of National Maritime Center operations, the USCG had to adopt updated actions.
The European Parliament voted on April 4 regarding the revision of Directive 2008/106/EC on the minimum level of training for seafarers. The revision gives emphasis on the level of transparency that should prevail in processing demands for the recognition of seafarers’ certificates of new third countries. Such a recognition will now stop to be automatic, as the decision to launch this process will have to be taken by the Commission by means of an implementing decision and on grounds of several criteria.
According to the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Water (Polar Code), and further amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), Marshall Islands require deck officers on RMI-flagged vessels operating in Polar waters to be Polar certificated.
Starting from 1st April 2019, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has applied changes to shipping registration laws, some of which may impact operators. Namely, the way of closing a registration—for ships not required to be registered has changed.
NZ Pilots Association and NZ Merchant Service Guild sought the declaratory judgment after Maritime NZ indicated an experienced mariner who did not hold a Master certificate could enter a training programme to become a Marine Pilot.
The US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) informed it is experiencing delays in the time necessary to issue a Certificate of Documentation. To assist mariners, the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance issued guidance on Certificate of Documentation.
