1 Introduction
Article 2.4.1 of annex 1 to the agreement regulates the surveys performed by the RO’s based on the HSSC Protocol 1988, as further detailed in IMO Resolution A.997(25), as may be amended.
Part of this resolution is that during several surveys (see below) the conditions regarding the manning of the ship and the manning documents are to be verified. Due to several detentions and an increase of manning related deficiencies, the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate (NSI) requested the RO’s to give more attention regarding this matter. This instruction provides a more detailed overview of what items to verify, and should be used as a guideline during these surveys.
2 Scope
This document contains instructions for RO’s with regard to:
- checking that the ship’s complement complies with the Minimum Safe Manning Document (SMD; SOLAS 74/88, reg.V/13(b));
- checking that the master, officers and ratings are certificated as required by the STCW Convention;
- checking that the master, officers and ratings, where applicable, hold the appropiate ships related STCW training as per STCW code chapter V/1.
3 Application
During the following surveys (all except initial) on RO-classed vessels, abovementioned items (ship’s complement and certificates of competence) are to be verified (in case of a combination of surveys, the safe manning will only have to be verified once, to the full extent):
| Code |
|
Initial (I) |
Annual (A) |
Periodical (P) |
Intermediate (In) |
Renewal (R) |
| E |
Safety Equipment |
|
X |
X |
|
X |
| C |
Safety Construction |
|
X |
|
X |
X |
| R |
Safety Radio |
|
|
X |
|
X |
| P |
Safety Passenger |
|
|
|
|
X |
| L |
Load Line |
|
X |
|
|
X |
| O |
IOPP |
|
X |
|
X |
X |
| N |
Noxious Liquid Substances |
|
X |
|
X |
X |
| D |
Dangerous Chemicals (COF) |
|
X |
|
X |
X |
| G |
Liquefied Gases (COF) |
|
X |
|
X |
X |
| S |
Sewage |
|
|
|
|
X |
| A |
IAPP |
|
X |
|
X |
X |
4 Specific Netherlands’ requirements
The manning act is a goal based legislative instrument. The Ministerial Decree on Safe Manning Systems took effect on 1 February 2002. The basic principle of Chapter 2, section 1 of the Maritime Crews Act is that the ships' manager bears primary responsibility for safe and environmentally responsible sea passage. The ship's manager also bears responsibility for establishing the minimum safe manning requirement. To acquire a SMD, the ship's manager has to submit a Minimum Safe Manning Proposal to the NSI, which assesses the feasibility of said plan within the context of statutory regulations with regard to the environment, safety and working hours.
The master of the ship must have the Dutch nationality or the nationality of one of the members the European Economic Area (European Union + Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). If not the case, proof of permission or an exemption should be provided for. Also, regulations prescribe that all officers sailing aboard a vessel flying the flag of the Netherlands possesses a Dutch Certificate of Competency (CoC). The Netherlands issues to officers from other EU member states and countries with which it has concluded an agreement (see Annex I), a Dutch Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) on the basis of their own national Certificate of Competency (for examples see Annex II). In general the Application Receipt (see annex III) as returned by the Inspectorate on receipt of an application for a CEC can serve as documentary proof and only on special request and for special circumstances a CRA (see annex IV) will be issued. In both cases the applicant is permitted to serve 3 months pending the issuance of an endorsement (CEC).
The Netherlands acknowledges the principles of a Maritime Officer as interpretation of STCW Convention, Chapter VII (reference is made on the CoC). A (First) Maritime Officer is in possession of an endorsement as (Chief Mate) Officer in charge of a navigational watch and (Chief Engineer) Officer in charge of an Engineering watch, and may be replaced as such (by two officers). To avoid confusion with PSCO in foreign countries, this is mentioned on the SMD as footnote on each table where maritime officers are applicable.
5 Verification if ship’s complement complies with SMD
During abovementioned surveys the following items are to be checked:
• A valid original Minimum Safe Mannning Document issued by the NSI is on board……………………...¤
| If not present, NSI should be contacted and be rectified before departure. |
• The number and positions of the crew are in accordance with the number and qualifications as mentioned on the Minimum Safe Manning Document……………………………………………………...¤
| If not the case, shipowner should rectify this before departure or contact NSI for further advise. |
6 Manning certificates
During abovementioned surveys the following items are to be checked:
• The Master of the ship has the Dutch nationality or the nationality of one of the members the European Economic Area (European Union + Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). If not the case, proof of permission (a so called (RTK) license, issued by a committee of emplyers and employee’s) or an exemption from the Administration of the Netherlands) should be provided for…………..…..…..¤
| If not the case, the shipowner should rectify this before departure, or contact NSI to apply for a dispensation. |
• All officers are in possession of a Dutch Certificate of (Equivalent) Competency……………………….....¤
A Certificate of Equivalent Competency may only be issued to officers who possess a valid STCW 95 'certificate of competency' issued in a country with whom the Netherlands has concluded an agreement to accept seafarers (see Annex I). When a foreign officer applies for a Dutch Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) the Inspectorate accepts that in general the Application Receipt (see annex III) as returned by the Inspectorate on receipt of an application for a CEC can serve as documentary proof and that only on special request and for special circumstances a CRA will be issued. In both cases the applicant is permitted to serve 3 months pending the issuance of an endorsement (CEC).
If neither a CoC, CEC, Application Receipt or CRA is present the shipowner should rectify this for departure. |
• In case of a Dutch Certificate of Equivalent Competency the reference number on the document matches the number of the original Certificate of Competency……………..……………....…¤
| If not the case, NSI should be contacted and be rectified before departure. |
• Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging and care in transit or handling of cargo on tankers shall have an endorsement for “(type of) tanker qualification” …………………..…………...….¤
Masters and officers shall have an edorsement in their CoC or CEC stating “tanker qualification” in combination with the type of tanker (gas, chemical or oil; also see Annex V). Every rating who is so qualified shall be duly certificated.
If the endorsement is not available or does not match the shiptype, NSI should be contacted and be rectified before departure. |
• All qualified STCW ratings are in possession of a Certificate of Competency and seaman’s book (may be issued by another country)………………………………………………………..…………………¤
| A Dutch Certificate of Competency (and seaman's book) is not compulsory for foreign ratings, provided they do possess a national Certificate of Competency (all countries accepted). If qualified STCW ratings are not in the possession of the required documents this should be rectified before departure. |
• All other ratings which do not require to have the STCW qualifications are in possession of a valid seaman’s book……………………………………………………………………………………….….¤
| A Dutch seaman's book is not compulsory for foreign ratings, provided they do possess a national seaman’s book. If ratings are not in the possession of the required documents this should be rectified before departure. |
NB. The signature of the Certificates of (Equivalent) Competency may differ. Older documents are signed by the Head of the Shipping Inspectorate, while the newer documents are signed with the Inspector-general Transport and Water Management Inspectorate. Both signatures are correct.
7 Procedure to be followed
Questions or verification
In most cases, any deficiencies related to the manning doucument result in a rectification of the deficiency before departure. In all other cases or in case of doubt, the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate should be consulted, via the contact details below.
|
Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate
Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate (Marine and Fishery)
|
Manning certificates
(CoC, CEC, CRA, Application Receipt, Seaman’s book etc.) |
Minimum Safe Manning Documents
(complement of the ship) |
|
Kiwa Register
E-mail: vergunningen@kiwa.nl
|
Section Manning Plans
Tel: +31(0)70-456 4672
E-mail: nsi-manningplan@ilent.nl |
Reporting
All (and only) deficiencies related to manning of the ship should be reported to NSI via nsi-manningplan@ivw.nl in a format up to the Recognised Organisations; If no deficiencies were found, this will not have to be reported.
Annex 1 - EU member states and countries with which the Netherlands concluded an agreement
EU member states and countries with which the Netherlands concluded an agreement
| Australia |
| Austria |
| Belgium |
| Bulgaria |
| Canada |
| Czech Republic |
| China |
| Croatia |
| Cyprus |
| Denmark |
| Germany |
| Estonia |
| France |
| Greece |
| Hong Kong |
| Hungary |
| Iceland |
| Ireland |
| India |
| Indonesia |
| Italy |
| Latvia |
| Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania |
| Luxembourg |
| Malta |
| New Zealand |
| Norway |
| Ukraine |
| Pakistan |
| Philippines |
| Poland |
| Portugal |
| Romania |
| Russian Federation |
| Singapore |
| Slovenia |
| Slovakia |
| South-Africa |
| Spain |
| Sweden |
| Switserland |
| Turkey |
| United Kingdom |
| Vietnam |
Annex 2 - Example of Dutch Certificates
Example of Dutch Certificates of (Equivalent) Competency
Annex 3 - Automated Application Receipt
Automated Application Receipt
Subject
Application receipt
Our reference
IVW/TBE/PDS/AR:
Dear, Sir I Madam,
Regarding your request dated ...., it is hereby confirmed that the
Administration has received the application for the Dutch Certificate of
(equivalent) Competency for the following seafater:
Name:
Date of birth:
Nationality:
No. Code Requested Capacity/Rank
Limitation
01
The processing and issue of the endorsement will take about 10 Working days.
Legally the decision must be taken within 6 weeks after date stamp on this Ietter. When the request
is incomplete you will be separately requested to provide us with the missing information.
This receipt confirms that an application has been received by the
Adminstration. It does not state that an endorsement will be issued.
Information
If you have any questions regarding your application please contact - during office hours - the
Transport and Waler Management Inspectorate Netherlands Information Centre through the
telephone number stated above.
This letter has been produced automatically and has been sent and is therefore not signed.
Annex 4 - Example of a Confirmation of Receipt Application
Example of a Confirmation of Receipt Application
Date
26 November 2008
Subject
Confirmation of Receipt Application
Our reference
IVW/TBE/PDS/AR/CRA:8500187439
Dear Sir,
Regarding your request dated 6th November 2008, it is hereby confirmed that the Administration
has received the application for the processing and issue of the seaman's document in
accordance with the provisions of the STCW 1978 as amended in 1995, Reg. 1/10, for the
following seafarer:
| Name : |
Kisielow, I. |
| Date of birth : |
9 October 1968 |
| Nationality : |
Polisch |
| No. Code Requested Capacity/Rank : |
Chief mate all ships/Oil tanker qualification/Chemical
tanker qualification/Gas tanker qualification/GMDS general radio operator |
| Limitation : |
none |
| Endorsement or Certificate Number : |
1040100521 |
: :
:
:
There is no objection for the seafarer to perform his duties on board of a Dutch flag stated vessel
for a period not exceeding three months, pending the issue of the related endorsement.
Yours sincerely,
THE UNITMANAGER LICENCES SHIPPING,
mw. H. Bosman-Koch
Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and qualification of masters, officers and ratings on
tankers
STCW Convention Annex Chapter V; regulation V/1
2 Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person with immediate responsibility for
loading, discharging and care in transit or handling of cargo shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of subparagraphs
1.1 or 1.2, have:
1. experience appropriate to their duties on the type of tanker on which they serve; and
2. completed an approved specialized training programme which at least covers the subjects set out in section AV/
1 of the STCW Code that are appropriate to their duties on the oil tanker, chemical tanker or liquefied gas
tanker on which they serve.
3 Within two years after the entry into force of the Convention for a Party, seafarers may be considered to have met the
requirements of sub-paragraph 2.2 if they have served in a relevant capacity on board the type of the tanker concerned
for a period of not less than one year within the preceding five years.
4 Administrations shall ensure that an appropriate certificate is issued to masters and officers, who are qualified in
accordance with paragraphs 1 or 2 as appropriate, or that an existing certificate is duly endorsed. Every rating who is so
qualified shall be duly certificated.