Port State Control Action towards the 2010 Manila Amendments

19 December 2016  |  C16040

The transition period for the implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention ends on January 1st, 2017. This circular provides information on what action shall be taken in cases where not all seafarers carry certificates and endorsements meeting these amendment.

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners / Managers / Operators  |  Auditors

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 97th session on 21 to 25 November 2016, expressed concern about the implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, in light of the imminent end, on 1st January 2017, of the transitional provisions laid down in the STCW Convention, regulation I/15.

It was noted that a large number of certificates needed to be issued by certificate-issuing Parties confirming that their seafarers complied with the provisions of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, and further noted that the provisions of regulation I/10 required Administrations to issue endorsements to masters, officers and radio personnel for service on their ships.

The Committee was particularly concerned about and regretted the fact that, so close to the end of the transitional period, seafarers in some States were reportedly unable to obtain certificates and/or the necessary endorsements required by regulation I/10 meeting the requirements of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention.

The Committee recognized that some seafarers on board ships may not yet hold their certificates or flag State endorsements meeting the 2010 Manila Amendments to the Convention and urged port State control authorities to take the above factors into consideration when taking action under the control procedures in article X and regulation I/4 of the STCW Convention.

It has been agreed that, in cases where a seafarer’s documentation complied with the requirements in force immediately before 1st January 2017, but was not in accordance with the requirements of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, Port State Control authorities, until 1st July 2017, were recommended to take a pragmatic and practical approach during inspections and to notify the ships, seafarers and Administrations concerned accordingly.

Act now

Owners / Managers / Operators, including certificate-issuing Parties and Administrations, are urged to do their utmost to ensure that seafarers were issued with the appropriate certificates and necessary endorsements.

Dromon Auditors, conducting safety management audits under ISM Code are advised that, until 1st July 2017, if a seafarer’s documentation is not in accordance with the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, it would be sufficient to inform Dromon Head Office and not impose an official non-conformity to the vessel/ company.  Dromon Head Office will advise the flag State concerning the need for a seafarer to possess documentation in accordance with the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention.