The US Coast Guard released CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-21, titled “Guidance on voluntary compliance with training requirements for personnel serving on US-flagged passenger ships that carry more than 12 passengers on international voyages.”
This policy provides guidance to passenger vessel owners and operators on voluntary compliance with the 2016 amendments to the STCW Convention, 1978 as amended and the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code). Vessels may be subject to detentions in foreign ports if personnel have not received appropriate training in accordance with the STCW Convention and the STCW Code.
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More specifically, the policy letter advises vessel owners and operators of the 2016 amendments to references (a) and (b), which added training requirements for personnel on passenger vessels. Details on these trainings follows below:
(i) Passenger Ship Emergency Familiarization. The 2016 amendments to reference (a), Regulation V/2, requires all personnel serving onboard passenger vessels to complete passenger ship emergency familiarization appropriate to their capacity, duties, and responsibilities before being assigned shipboard duties, as specified in section A-V/2, paragraph 1 of reference (b). This training will not require Coast Guard approval in accordance with 46 CFR part 10, subpart D, and can be conducted onboard the vessel or at a shore-based location. Mariners or vessel operators should maintain documentation verifying that personnel have completed the Passenger Ship Emergency Familiarization training.
(ii) Crowd Management Training. The 2016 amendments to reference (a), Regulation V/2 requires all mariners endorsed with qualified ratings on a vessel to complete Crowd Management training as specified in section A-V/2, paragraph 3 of reference (b), expanding the requirement from personnel designated on the muster list to assist passengers in emergency situations. This training must be Coast Guard approved in accordance with 46 CFR 10.402(a). b. Passenger vessels may be subject to foreign port state control enforcement if mariners or vessel operators do not have documentation that personnel have completed the training contained in paragraphs a. (i) and a. (ii).
All OCMIs shall be guided by the information in this policy letter. The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) shall ensure Commanding Officers of units with marine safety responsibilities bring this policy letter to the attention of the maritime industry in their AOR,
…USCG advised.
