Transport Malta has issued a revised revised Merchant Shipping Notice to reflect the adoption of the Seafarer Portal as the sole direct link to apply for seafarer documentation. Furthermore, the notice updates certain requirements that were introduced through the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention (Manila Amendments).
As explained, the Manila Amendments were transposed into the Laws of Malta, through the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification Regulations, 2013 (L.N 153 of 2013) while the portal for seafarer documentation is https://seafarers.transport.gov.mt
Certificate of Competency (Deck)
The revised Convention introduced a new requirement for deck officers engaged onboard ECDIS equipped ships to be in possession of an ECDIS training certificate.
All deck officers requiring revalidation of Maltese certificates of competency need to present an approved Generic ECDIS Certificate to be able to sail on board ECDIS equipped ships after 31 December 2016. Officers who do not hold an ECDIS training certificate will be issued with a certificate of competency stating “Not valid on vessels equipped with ECDIS from the 1 January 2017”.
Officers may be re-issued with a re-validated certificate of competency without ECDIS limitations upon submitting an approved Generic ECDIS Training Certificate.
Tanker Training
Seafarers engaged on tankers shall be in possession of a valid tanker certificate and/or endorsement. For revalidation of an existing tanker certificate, seafarers are to present approved seagoing service of at least 3 months in total in the preceding 5 years.
In order to be issued with a new tanker certificate including basic tanker training certificate and/or advanced tanker training certificate, seafarers shall present the course completion certificate issued by a maritime training institution approved by the Directorate.
Moreover, seafarers to be issued with an advanced tanker training certificate shall also submit evidence of 3 months approved seagoing service performed on relevant tankers, whilst holding a valid basic tanker training certificate.
Applications for the issue of any Tanker Certificate are to be submitted through the Seafarer Portal https://seafarers.transport.gov.mt
Online applications shall be accompanied by those documents prescribed in the Seafarer Portal and are to be uploaded in their respective areas.
Security Related Training
The revised STCW Convention requires that as from 1 January 2014, all persons employed or engaged onboard ships to which the ISPS Code applies shall be in possession of security related training certification. The 2010 amendments introduce three tiers of security training:
Security Related Familiarization
All persons engaged in any capacity on ISPS compliant ships shall follow security related familiarisation training before being assigned any shipboard duty. The training may be delivered by the Ship Security Officer or by any other equally qualified person as part of the safety familiarisation training required in terms of the ISM Code.
Documentary evidence should be readily available onboard to show that such training has been undertaken.
Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness
All seafarers engaged in any capacity onboard an ISPS compliant ship shall be in possession of a Certificate of Proficiency in Security-Awareness.
Certificate of Proficiency in Designated Security Duties Seafarers with designated security duties, including anti-piracy and anti-armed-robbery related activities, engaged in any capacity onboard an ISPS compliant ship, shall be in possession of a Certificate of Proficiency in Designated Security Duties.
In order to be issued with a Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness or Designated Security Duties an applicant shall meet the standard of competence for certification of proficiency in security awareness or designated security duties as set out in Section A-VI/6, paragraph 4 or Section A-VI/6, paragraphs 6 of the STCW Code.
