Directive 2012/35 - Amendment of Directive 2008/106/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 343/78

The training and certification of seafarers is regulated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (the ‘STCW Convention’), which entered into force in 1984 and which was significantly amended in 1995.

The STCW Convention was incorporated into Union law for the first time by Council Directive 94/58/EC of 22 November 1994 on the minimum level of training of seafarers (3). The Union rules on training and certification of seafarers were later adapted to the subsequent amendments to the STCW Convention, and a common Union mechanism for the recognition of the systems of training and certification of seafarers in third countries was set up. Those rules are, as the result of a recast, contained in Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4).

A Conference of Parties to the STCW Convention held in Manila in 2010 introduced significant amendments to the STCW Convention (the ‘Manila amendments’), namely on the prevention of fraudulent practices for certificates, in the field of medical standards, in the matter of training on security, including piracy and armed robbery, and with respect to training in technology-related matters. The Manila amendments also introduced requirements for able seafarers and established new professional profiles, such as electro-technical officers.

All Member States are parties to the STCW Convention and none of them has objected to the Manila amendments under the procedure foreseen to that effect. Member States should therefore align their national rules with the Manila amendments. A conflict between the international commitments of Member States and their Union commitments should be avoided. Moreover, given the global nature of shipping, Union rules on training and certification of seafarers should be kept in line with international rules. Several provisions of Directive 2008/106/EC should, therefore, be amended in order to reflect the Manila amendments.

Improved training for seafarers should cover proper theoretical and practical training so as to ensure that seafarers are qualified to meet security and safety standards and are able to respond to hazards and emergencies.

Quality standards and quality standards systems should be developed and implemented taking into account, where applicable, the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training (5) and related measures adopted by the Member States.

European social partners have agreed on minimum hours of rest applicable to seafarers and Directive 1999/63/EC (6) was adopted with a view to implementing that agreement. That Directive also allows for the possibility to authorise exceptions to the minimum hours of rest for seafarers. The possibility to authorise exceptions should, however, be limited in terms of maximum duration, frequency and scope. The Manila amendments aimed, amongst other things, to set objective limits to the exceptions to the minimum rest hours for watchkeeping personnel and seafarers with designated tasks related to safety, security and prevention of pollution with a view to preventing fatigue. The Manila amendments should be incorporated in Directive 2008/106/EC in a manner that ensures coherence with Directive 1999/63/EC, as amended by Directive 2009/13/EC (7).

Further recognising the importance of setting out minimum requirements governing the living and working conditions of all seafarers, Directive 2009/13/EC will take effect as specified therein, when the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, enters into force.

Directive 2008/106/EC also contains a mechanism for the recognition of the systems of training and certification of seafarers of third countries. The recognition is granted by the Commission in accordance with a procedure under which the Commission is assisted by the European Maritime Safety Agency (the ‘Agency’) established by Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8) and by the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS), established by Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9). Experience gained in applying that procedure suggests that it should be changed, namely with respect to the deadline for the Commission decision. Since the recognition requires an inspection to be performed by the Agency, which has to be planned and carried out, and, in most cases, involves significant adjustments to the STCW Convention requirements by the third country concerned, the whole process cannot be completed in three months. On the basis of experience, a more realistic time-frame in this respect appears to be 18 months. The deadline for the Commission decision should therefore be changed accordingly, while the possibility for the requesting Member State to provisionally recognise the third country’s STCW system should be kept in order to maintain flexibility. Furthermore, the provisions for recognition of professional qualifications under Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (10) are not applicable with regard to the recognition of certificates of seafarers under Directive 2008/106/EC.

Available statistics on seafarers in the Union are incomplete and often inaccurate, which makes policy-making in this sector more difficult. Detailed data on certification of seafarers cannot entirely solve this problem but they would clearly help. Under the STCW Convention Parties are obliged to maintain registers of all certificates and endorsements and the relevant revalidations or other measures affecting them. Member States are obliged to maintain a register of issued certificates and endorsements. In order to have information that is as complete as possible on the employment situation in the Union and exclusively with a view to facilitating policy-making by Member States and the Commission, Member States should be required to send to the Commission selected information already contained in their registers of seafarers’ certificates of competency. That information should be communicated for the purposes of statistical analysis only, and is not to be used for administrative, legal or verification purposes. That information must be in line with the data protection requirements of the Union and, therefore, a provision to that effect should be introduced in Directive 2008/106/EC.

The results of the analysis of such information should be used to anticipate trends in the labour market with a view to improving the options for seafarers with regard to career planning and taking advantage of available vocational education and training opportunities. Such results should also contribute to the improvement of vocational education and training.

In order to gather data on the seafaring profession in line with its evolution and with that of technology, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of adaptations of Annex V of Directive 2008/106/EC. The use of such delegated acts should be limited to cases in which amendments to the STCW Convention and Code require changes to that Annex. Additionally, such delegated acts should not modify the provisions on anonymising data referred to in that Annex. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and the Council.

The Union shipping sector has maritime expertise of high quality which helps to underpin its competitiveness. The quality of training for seafarers is important for the competitiveness of this sector and for attracting Union citizens, in particular young people, to the maritime professions.

In order to uphold quality standards regarding training for seafarers, measures to prevent fraudulent practices associated with certificates of competency and of proficiency need to be improved.

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Directive 2008/106/EC implementing powers have been conferred on the Commission in the field of training and certification of seafarers. For the same reason implementing powers should also be conferred on the Commission in relation to the statistical data on seafarers to be supplied by Member States to the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (11).

The examination procedure should be used for the adoption of technical requirements necessary to ensure the appropriate management of statistical data referred to in Annex V to Directive 2008/106/EC and for the adoption of implementing decisions on the recognition and withdrawal of recognition of third countries’ STCW systems.

The Manila amendments entered into force on 1 January 2012, whilst transitional arrangements may be applied until 1 January 2017. In order to allow for a smooth transition to the new rules, this Directive should provide for the same transitional arrangements as those established in the Manila amendments.

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee at its 89th session noted the need for clarification with regard to the implementation of the Manila amendments, taking into account the transitional arrangements established therein and Resolution 4 of the STCW Conference which recognises the need for full compliance to be achieved by 1 January 2017. Such clarification was provided by the IMO Circulars STCW.7/Circ.16 and STCW.7/Circ.17. In particular, STCW.7/Circ.16 states that the validity of any revalidated certificate should not extend beyond 1 January 2017 for seafarers holding certificates issued in accordance with the provisions of the STCW Convention which applied immediately prior to 1 January 2012, and who have not met the requirements of the Manila amendments, and for seafarers who commenced approved seagoing service, an approved education and training programme or an approved training course before 1 July 2013.

Further delays in incorporating the Manila amendments in Union law should be avoided, in order to maintain the competitiveness of seafarers from the Union as well as to uphold safety on board ships through up-to-date training.

For the sake of uniform implementation of the Manila amendments within the Union, it is advisable that, when transposing this Directive, Member States should take into account the guidance contained in the IMO circulars STCW.7/Circ.16 and STCW.7/Circ.17.

Since the objective of this Directive, namely the alignment of the current rules of the Union with international rules on training and certification of seafarers, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve that objective.

Directive 2008/106/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

Article 1 is amended as follows:

in Article 3, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that seafarers serving on ships as referred to in Article 2 are trained as a minimum in accordance with the requirements of the STCW Convention, as laid down in Annex I to this Directive, and hold certificates as defined in points (36) and (37) of Article 1, and/or documentary evidence as defined in point (38) of Article 1.’;

Article 4 is deleted;

Article 5 is amended as follows:

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 5a

Information to the Commission

Each Member State shall make available to the Commission on a yearly basis the information indicated in Annex V to this Directive on certificates of competency, endorsements attesting the recognition of certificates of competency as well as, on a voluntary basis, certificates of proficiency issued to ratings in accordance with Chapters II, III, and VII of the Annex to the STCW Convention, for the purposes of statistical analysis only and exclusively for use by Member States and the Commission in policy-making.’;

Article 7 is amended as follows:

in Article 8, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   Member States shall take and enforce appropriate measures to prevent fraud and other unlawful practices involving certificates and endorsements issued, and shall provide for penalties that are effective, proportionate and dissuasive.’;

Article 9 is amended as follows:

Article 10 is amended as follows:

Article 11 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 11

Medical standards

• 1. 

  Each Member State shall establish standards of medical fitness for seafarers and procedures for the issue of a medical certificate in accordance with this Article and Section A-I/9 of the STCW Code, taking into account, as appropriate, Section B-I/9 of the STCW Code.

• 2. 

  Each Member State shall ensure that those responsible for assessing the medical fitness of seafarers are medical practitioners recognised by that Member State for the purpose of seafarer medical examinations, in accordance with the Section A-I/9 of the STCW Code.

• 3. 

  Every seafarer holding a certificate of competency or a certificate of proficiency, issued under the provisions of the STCW Convention, who is serving at sea shall also hold a valid medical certificate issued in accordance with this Article and Section A-I/9 of the STCW Code.

• 4. 

  Candidates for medical certification shall:

• 5. 

  Medical certificates shall remain valid for a maximum period of two years unless the seafarer is under the age of 18, in which case the maximum period of validity shall be one year.

• 6. 

  If the period of validity of a medical certificate expires in the course of a voyage, Regulation I/9 of the Annex to the STCW Convention shall apply.

• 7. 

  In urgent cases, a Member State may permit a seafarer to work without a valid medical certificate. In such cases, Regulation I/9 of the Annex to the STCW Convention shall apply.’;

Article 12 is amended as follows:

in Article 13, paragraph 2 is deleted;

Article 14 is amended as follows:

Article 15 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 15

Fitness for duty

• 1. 

  For the purpose of preventing fatigue, Member States shall:

• 2. 

  Member States shall, for the purpose of preventing drug and alcohol abuse, ensure that adequate measures are established in accordance with the provisions laid down in this Article.

• 3. 

  Member States shall take account of the danger posed by fatigue of seafarers, especially those whose duties involve the safe and secure operation of a ship.

• 4. 

  All persons who are assigned duty as officer in charge of a watch or as a rating forming part of a watch, and those whose duties involve designated safety, prevention of pollution and security duties shall be provided with a rest period of not less than:

• 5. 

  The hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least six hours in length, and the intervals between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours.

• 6. 

  The requirements for rest periods laid down in paragraphs 4 and 5 need not be maintained in the case of an emergency or in other overriding operational conditions. Musters, firefighting and lifeboat drills, and drills prescribed by national laws and regulations and by international instruments, shall be conducted in a manner that minimises the disturbance of rest periods and does not induce fatigue.

• 7. 

  Member States shall require that watch schedules be posted where they are easily accessible. The schedules shall be established in a standardised format in the working language or languages of the ship and in English.

• 8. 

  When a seafarer is on call, such as when a machinery space is unattended, the seafarer shall have an adequate compensatory rest period if the normal period of rest is disturbed by call-outs to work.

• 9. 

  Member States shall require that records of daily hours of rest of seafarers be maintained in a standardised format, in the working language or languages of the ship and in English, to allow monitoring and verification of compliance with this Article. Seafarers shall receive a copy of the records pertaining to them, which shall be endorsed by the master, or by a person authorised by the master, and by the seafarers.

• 10. 

  Notwithstanding the rules laid down in paragraphs 3 to 9, the master of a ship shall be entitled to require a seafarer to perform any hours of work necessary for the immediate safety of the ship, persons on board or cargo, or for the purpose of giving assistance to other ships or persons in distress at sea. Accordingly, the master may suspend the schedule of hours of rest and require a seafarer to perform any hours of work necessary until the normal situation has been restored. As soon as practicable after the normal situation has been restored, the master shall ensure that any seafarers who have performed work in a scheduled rest period are provided with an adequate period of rest.

• 11. 

  With due regard for the general principles of the protection of the health and safety of workers and in line with Directive 1999/63/EC Member States may, by means of national laws, regulations or a procedure for the competent authority, authorise or register collective agreements permitting exceptions to the required hours of rest set out in point (b) of paragraph 4 and in paragraph 5 of this Article provided that the rest period is no less than 70 hours in any seven-day period and respects the limits set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of this Article. Such exceptions shall, as far as possible, follow the standards set out but may take account of more frequent or longer leave periods, or the granting of compensatory leave for watchkeeping seafarers or seafarers working on board ships on short voyages. Exceptions shall, as far as possible, take into account the guidance regarding prevention of fatigue laid down in Section B-VIII/1 of the STCW Code. Exceptions to the minimum hours of rest provided for in point (a) of paragraph 4 of this Article shall not be allowed.

• 12. 

  Exceptions referred to in paragraph 11 to the weekly rest period provided for in point (b) of paragraph 4 shall not be allowed for more than two consecutive weeks. The intervals between two periods of exceptions on board shall not be less than twice the duration of the exception.

• 13. 

  In the framework of possible exceptions to paragraph 5 referred to in paragraph 11, the minimum hours of rest in any 24-hour period provided for in point (a) of paragraph 4 may be divided into no more than three periods of rest, one of which shall be at least six hours in length and neither of the two other periods shall be less than one hour in length. The intervals between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours. Exceptions shall not extend beyond two 24-hour periods in any seven-day period.

• 14. 

  Member States shall establish, for the purpose of preventing alcohol abuse, a limit of not greater than 0,05 % blood alcohol level (BAC) or 0,25 mg/l alcohol in the breath or a quantity of alcohol leading to such alcohol concentration for masters, officers and other seafarers while performing designated safety, security and marine environmental duties.’;

in Article 17(1), point (c) is replaced by the following:

Article 19 is amended as follows:

in Article 20, paragraph 6 is replaced by the following:

‘6.   The decision on the withdrawal of the recognition shall be taken by the Commission. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 28(2). The Member States concerned shall take appropriate measures to implement the decision.’;

in Article 22, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   Irrespective of the flag it flies, each ship, with the exception of those types of ships excluded by Article 2, shall, while in the ports of a Member State, be subject to port State control by officers duly authorised by that Member State to verify that all seafarers serving on board who are required to hold a certificate of competency and/or a certificate of proficiency and/or documentary evidence under the STCW Convention, hold such a certificate of competency or valid dispensation and/or certificate of proficiency and/or documentary evidence.’;

in Article 23(1), point (a) is replaced by the following:

in Article 23, paragraph 2 is amended as follows:

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 25a

Information for statistical purposes

• 1. 

  The Member States shall communicate the information listed in Annex V to the Commission for the purposes of statistical analysis only. Such information may not be used for administrative, legal or verification purposes, and is exclusively for use by Member States and the Commission in policy-making.

• 2. 

  That information shall be made available by Member States to the Commission on a yearly basis and in electronic format and shall include information registered until 31 December of the previous year. Member States shall retain all property rights to the information in its raw data format. Processed statistics drawn up on the basis of such information shall be made publicly available in accordance with the provisions on transparency and protection of information set out in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002.

• 3. 

  In order to ensure the protection of personal data, Member States shall anonymise all personal information as indicated in Annex V by using software provided or accepted by the Commission before transmitting it to the Commission. The Commission shall use this anonymised information only.

• 4. 

  Member States and the Commission shall ensure that measures for collecting, submitting, storing, analysing and disseminating such information are designed in such a way that statistical analysis is made possible.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph, the Commission shall adopt detailed measures regarding the technical requirements necessary to ensure the appropriate management of the statistical data. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 28(2).’;

Article 27 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 27

Amendment

The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 27a, amending Annex V to this Directive with respect to specific and relevant content and details of the information that needs to be reported by Member States provided that such acts are limited to taking into account the amendments to the STCW Convention and Code and respect the safeguards on data protection. Such delegated acts shall not change the provisions of anonymisation of data as required by Article 25a(3).’;

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 27a

Exercise of the delegation

• 1. 

  The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

• 2. 

  The delegation of power referred to in Article 27 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 3 January 2013. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than 4 April 2017. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

• 3. 

  The delegation of power referred to in Article 27 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

• 4. 

  As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

• 5. 

  A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 27 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council.’;

Article 28 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 28

Committee procedure

• 1. 

  The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS) established by Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (12). That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (13).

• 2. 

  Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. Where the Committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Article 29 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 29

Penalties

Member States shall lay down systems of penalties for breaching the national provisions adopted pursuant to Articles 3, 5, 7, 9 to 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24 and Annex I, and shall take all the measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.’;

Article 30 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 30

Transitional provisions

In respect of those seafarers who commenced approved seagoing service, an approved education and training programme or an approved training course before 1 July 2013, Member States may continue to issue, recognise and endorse, until 1 January 2017, certificates of competency in accordance with the requirements of this Directive as they were before 3 January 2013.

Until 1 January 2017, Member States may continue to renew and revalidate certificates of competency and endorsements in accordance with the requirements of this Directive as they were before 3 January 2013’;

Article 33 is deleted;

this point does not concern the English version;

the Annexes are amended as follows:

The Regulations referred to in this Annex are supplemented by the mandatory provisions contained in Part A of the STCW Code with the exception of Chapter VIII, Regulation VIII/2.

Any reference to a requirement in a Regulation also constitutes a reference to the corresponding section of Part A of the STCW Code.

Part A of the STCW Code contains standards of competence required to be demonstrated by candidates for the issue, and revalidation of certificates of competency under the provisions of the STCW Convention. To clarify the linkage between the alternative certification provisions of Chapter VII and the certification provisions of Chapters II, III and IV, the abilities specified in the standards of competence are grouped as appropriate under the following seven functions:

at the following levels of responsibility:

Functions and levels of responsibility are identified by subtitle in the tables of standards of competence given specified in Chapters II, III and IV of the Part A of the STCW Code.

Every officer in charge of a navigational watch serving on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of 3 000 gross tonnage or more shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of between 500 and 3 000 gross tonnage shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every officer in charge of a navigational watch serving on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage not engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency for ships of 500 gross tonnage or more.

Every master serving on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage not engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency for service as master on ships of between 500 and 3 000 gross tonnage.

Every officer in charge of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification as officer in charge of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages shall:

Every master serving on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on near-coastal voyages shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification as master on a seagoing ship of less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on a near-coastal voyages shall:

The Administration, if it considers that a ship’s size and the conditions of its voyage are such as to render the application of the full requirements of this regulation and Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code unreasonable or impracticable, may to that extent exempt the master and the officer in charge of a navigational watch on such a ship or class of ships from some of the requirements, bearing in mind the safety of all ships which may be operating in the same waters.

Every rating forming part of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more, other than ratings under training and ratings whose duties while on watch are of an unskilled nature, shall be duly certificated to perform such duties.

Every candidate for certification shall:

The seagoing service, training and experience required by points 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 shall be associated with navigational watchkeeping functions and involve the performance of duties carried out under the direct supervision of the master, the officer in charge of the navigational watch or a qualified rating.

Every able seafarer deck serving on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more shall be duly certificated.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every Member State shall compare the standards of competence which it required of Able Seamen for certificates issued before 1 January 2012 with those specified for the certificate in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need, if any, for requiring these personnel to update their qualifications.

Until 1 January 2017, a Member State which is also a party to the International Labour Organisation Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No 74) may continue to renew and revalidate certificates and endorsements in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid Convention.

Seafarers may be considered by the Member State to have met the requirements of this regulation if they have served in a relevant capacity in the deck department for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60 months preceding the entry into force of the present Directive.

Every officer in charge of an engineering watch in a manned engine-room or designated duty engineer officer in a periodically unmanned engine-room on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every chief engineer officer and second engineer officer on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 3 000 kW propulsion power or more shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every chief engineer officer and second engineer officer on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of between 750 and 3 000 kW propulsion power shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every engineer officer who is qualified to serve as second engineer officer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3 000 kW propulsion power or more, may serve as chief engineer officer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 3 000 kW propulsion power, provided that the certificate is so endorsed.

Every rating forming part of an engine-room watch or designated to perform duties in a periodically unmanned engine-room on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more, other than ratings under training and ratings whose duties are of an unskilled nature, shall be duly certificated to perform such duties.

Every candidate for certification shall:

The seagoing service, training and experience required by points 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 shall be associated with engine-room watchkeeping functions and involve the performance of duties carried out under the direct supervision of a qualified engineer officer or a qualified rating.

Every able seafarer engine serving on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more shall be duly certificated.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every Member State shall compare the standards of competence which it required of ratings in the engine department for certificates issued before 1 January 2012 with those specified for the certificate in Section A-III/5 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need, if any, for requiring these personnel to update their qualifications.

Seafarers may be considered by the Member State to have met the requirements of this regulation if they have served in a relevant capacity in the engine department for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60 months preceding the entry into force of this Directive.

Every electro-technical officer serving on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more, shall hold a certificate of competency.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every Member State shall compare the standards of competence which it required of electro-technical officers for certificates issued before 1 January 2012 with those specified for the certificate in Section A-III/6 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need for requiring those personnel to update their qualifications.

Seafarers may be considered by the Member State to have met the requirements of this regulation if they have served in a relevant capacity on board a ship for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60 months preceding the entry into force of this Directive and meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/6 of the STCW Code.

Notwithstanding the above requirements of paragraphs 1 to 4, a suitably qualified person may be considered by a Member State able to perform certain functions of Section A-III/6.

Every electro-technical rating serving on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more shall be duly certificated.

Every candidate for certification shall:

Every Member State shall compare the standards of competence which it required of electro-technical ratings for certificates issued before 1 January 2012 with those specified for the certificate in Section A-III/7 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need, if any, for requiring these personnel to update their qualifications.

Seafarers may be considered by the Member State to have met the requirements of this regulation if they have served in a relevant capacity on board a ship for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60 months preceding the entry into force of this Directive and meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/7 of the STCW Code.

Notwithstanding the above requirements of paragraphs 1 to 4, a suitably qualified person may be considered by a Member State able to perform certain functions of Section A-III/7.

Except as provided in point 2, the provisions of this chapter apply to radio operators on ships operating in the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) as prescribed by the SOLAS 74, as amended.

Radio operators on ships not required to comply with the provisions of the GMDSS in Chapter IV of the SOLAS 74 are not required to meet the provisions of this chapter. Radio operators on these ships are, nevertheless, required to comply with the Radio Regulations. Member States shall ensure that the appropriate certificates as prescribed by the Radio Regulations are issued to or recognised in respect of such radio operators.

Every person in charge of or performing radio duties on a ship required to participate in the GMDSS shall hold an appropriate certificate related to the GMDSS, issued or recognised by the Member State under the provisions of the Radio Regulations.

In addition, every candidate for certification of competency under this regulation for service on a ship which is required by the SOLAS 74, as amended, to have a radio installation shall:

Officers and ratings assigned specific duties and responsibilities related to cargo or cargo equipment on oil or chemical tankers shall hold a certificate in basic training for oil and chemical tanker cargo operations.

Every candidate for a certificate in basic training for oil and chemical tanker cargo operations shall have completed basic training in accordance with provisions of Section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code and shall have completed:

Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of cargo, tank cleaning or other cargo-related operations on oil tankers shall hold a certificate in advanced training for oil tanker cargo operations.

Every candidate for a certificate in advanced training for oil tanker cargo operations shall:

Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of cargo, tank cleaning or other cargo-related operations on chemical tankers shall hold a certificate in advanced training for chemical tanker cargo operations.

Every candidate for a certificate in advanced training for chemical tanker cargo operations shall:

Member States shall ensure that a certificate of proficiency is issued to seafarers, who are qualified in accordance with paragraph 2, 4 or 6 as appropriate, or that an existing certificate of competency or certificate of proficiency is duly endorsed.

Officers and ratings assigned specific duties and responsibilities related to cargo or cargo equipment on liquefied gas tankers shall hold a certificate in basic training for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations.

Every candidate for a certificate in basic training for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations shall have completed basic training in accordance with provisions of Section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code and shall have completed:

Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of cargo, tank cleaning or other cargo-related operations on liquefied gas tankers shall hold a certificate in advanced training for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations.

Every candidate for a certificate in advanced training for liquefied gas tanker cargo operations shall:

Member States shall ensure that a certificate of proficiency is issued to seafarers, who are qualified in accordance with paragraph 2 or 4 as appropriate, or that an existing certificate of competency or certificate of proficiency is duly endorsed.

This Regulation applies to masters, officers, ratings and other personnel serving on board passenger ships engaged on international voyages. Member States shall determine the applicability of these requirements to personnel serving on passenger ships engaged on domestic voyages.

Prior to being assigned shipboard duties on board passenger ships, seafarers shall have completed the training required by paragraphs 4 to 7 below in accordance with their capacities, duties and responsibilities.

Seafarers who are required to be trained in accordance with paragraphs 4, 6 and 7 shall at intervals not exceeding five years undertake appropriate refresher training or be required to provide evidence of having achieved the required standard of competence within the previous five years.

Masters, officers and other personnel designated on muster lists to assist passengers in emergency situations on board passenger ships shall have completed training in crowd management as specified in Section A-V/2, paragraph 1, of the STCW Code.

Personnel providing direct service to passengers in passenger spaces on board passenger ships shall have completed the safety training specified in Section A-V/2, paragraph 2, of the STCW Code.

Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and any person designated on muster lists of having responsibility for the safety of passengers in emergency situations on board passenger ships shall have completed approved training in crisis management and human behaviour as specified in Section A-V/2, paragraph 3 of the STCW Code.

Masters, chief mates, chief engineer officers, second engineer officers and every person assigned immediate responsibility for embarking and disembarking passengers, loading, discharging or securing cargo, or closing hull openings on board ro-ro passenger ships shall have completed approved training in passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity as specified in Section A-V/2, paragraph 4, of the STCW Code.

Member States shall ensure that documentary evidence of the training which has been completed is issued to every person found qualified under the provisions of this regulation.

Seafarers shall receive familiarisation and basic training or instruction in accordance with Section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code and shall meet the appropriate standard of competence specified therein.

Where basic training is not included in the qualification for the certificate to be issued, a certificate of proficiency shall be issued indicating that the holder has attended the course in basic training.

Every candidate for a certificate of proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats shall:

Every candidate for a certificate of proficiency in fast rescue boats shall:

Seafarers designated to control firefighting operations shall have successfully completed advanced training in techniques for fighting fire with particular emphasis on organisation, tactics and command in accordance with the provisions of Section A-VI/3 paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code and shall meet the standard of competence specified therein.

Where training in advanced firefighting is not included in the qualifications for the certificate to be issued, a certificate of proficiency shall be issued indicating that the holder has attended a course of training in advanced firefighting.

Seafarers designated to provide medical first aid on board ship shall meet the standard of competence in medical first aid specified in Section A-VI/4, paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, of the STCW Code.

Seafarers designated to take charge of medical care on board ship shall meet the standard of competence in medical care on board ships specified in Section A-VI/4, paragraphs 4, 5 and 6, of the STCW Code.

Where training in medical first aid or medical care is not included in the qualifications for the certificate to be issued, a certificate of proficiency shall be issued indicating that the holder has attended a course of training in medical first aid or in medical care.

Every candidate for a certificate of proficiency as ship security officer shall:

Member States shall ensure that every person found qualified under the provisions of this regulation is issued with a certificate of proficiency.

Seafarers shall receive security-related familiarisation and security-awareness training or instruction in accordance with Section A-VI/6, paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Code and shall meet the appropriate standard of competence specified therein.

Where security awareness is not included in the qualification for the certificate to be issued, a certificate of proficiency shall be issued indicating that the holder has attended the a course in security awareness training.

Every Member State shall compare the security-related training or instruction it requires of seafarers who hold or can document qualifications before the entry into force of this Directive, with those specified in Section A-VI/6, paragraph 4 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need for requiring these seafarers to update their qualifications.

Seafarers with designated security duties shall meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-VI/6, paragraphs 6 to 8 of the STCW Code.

Where training in designated security duties is not included in the qualifications for the certificate to be issued, a certificate of proficiency shall be issued indicating that the holder has attended a course of training for designated security duties.

Every Member State shall compare the security training standards required of seafarers with designated security duties who hold or can document qualifications before the entry into force of this directive with those specified in Section A-VI/6, paragraph 8 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need for requiring these seafarers to update their qualifications.

Notwithstanding the requirements for certification laid down in Chapters II and III of this Annex, Member States may elect to issue or authorise the issue of certificates other than those mentioned in the regulations of those chapters, provided that:

No certificate shall be issued under this chapter unless the Member State has communicated the information required by the STCW Convention to the Commission.

A Member State which elects to issue or authorise the issue of alternative certificates shall ensure that the following principles are observed:

The principle of interchangeability in point 1 shall ensure that:

In issuing any certificate under the provisions of this chapter the following principles shall be taken into account:

The principles contained in points 1 and 2 shall ensure that the competency of both deck and engineer officers is maintained.’.

The Commission, assisted by the European Maritime Safety Agency and with the possible involvement of any Member State concerned, has confirmed, through an evaluation of that Party, which may include inspection of facilities and procedures, that the requirements of the STCW Convention regarding standards of competence, training and certification and quality standards are fully complied with.’.

Where reference is made to this Annex, the following information specified in Section A-I/2, paragraph 9 of the STCW Code for all certificates of competency or endorsements attesting their issue, all endorsements attesting the recognition of certificates of competency issued by other countries, shall be provided and where marked (*) this provision shall be in an anonymised form as required by Article 25a(3):

Certificates of competency (CoC)/Endorsements attesting their issue (EaI):

Endorsements attesting the recognition of certificates of competency issued by other countries (EaR):

Member States may provide, on a voluntary basis, information on the certificates of proficiency (CoP) issued to ratings in accordance with Chapters II, III, and VII of the Annex to the STCW Convention, such as: