Posted:
August 24, 2011
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued its Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rule Making (SNPRM) on Implementation of the 2010 STCW Manila Amendments. The public comment period runs through the end of September and the CFR won't be finalized until after all the comments have been reviewed. STAR Center will be providing detailed guidance to AMO members once the full implications of USCG policy are known. Once the CFR is finalized, STAR Center will request formal acceptance of our current ECDIS Course as meeting the new requirements, similar to the Vessel Security Officer Course.
The new ECDIS requirements in the SPNRM will be phased in over a five-year period between January 2012 and January 2017. If an officer does not have the required training by Jan. 1, 2017, his or her credential will have a limitation on it preventing the individual from working aboard ECDIS-equipped vessels.
Between now and January 2017, current credentials and endorsements should continue to be honored by port state inspectors both in the U.S. and in other countries. However, if your vessel designates ECDIS as the primary means of navigation, port/flag state authorities may require completion of an approved ECDIS training course after Jan. 1, 2012. STCW also requires companies to provide individuals employed onboard a ship with familiarization in the specific shipboard equipment, operating procedures and other arrangements needed for the proper performance of their duties. This would include ECDIS equipment onboard the ship.
Although the proposed five-year phase in period will run until January 2017, some contracted companies (and vetting authorities) require documentation establishing completion of an approved ECDIS training course in order to ship on ECDIS equipped vessels after Jan. 1, 2012. Officers who have not completed an approved ECDIS course are encouraged to do so as their schedules permit. It is recommended that each officer carry his or her approved ECDIS course certificate onboard the vessel.
ECDIS training requirements update
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued its Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rule Making (SNPRM) on Implementation of the 2010 STCW Manila Amendments. The public comment period runs through the end of September and the CFR won't be finalized until after all the comments have been reviewed. STAR Center will be providing detailed guidance to AMO members once the full implications of USCG policy are known. Once the CFR is finalized, STAR Center will request formal acceptance of our current ECDIS Course as meeting the new requirements, similar to the Vessel Security Officer Course.
The new ECDIS requirements in the SPNRM will be phased in over a five-year period between January 2012 and January 2017. If an officer does not have the required training by Jan. 1, 2017, his or her credential will have a limitation on it preventing the individual from working aboard ECDIS-equipped vessels.
Between now and January 2017, current credentials and endorsements should continue to be honored by port state inspectors both in the U.S. and in other countries. However, if your vessel designates ECDIS as the primary means of navigation, port/flag state authorities may require completion of an approved ECDIS training course after Jan. 1, 2012. STCW also requires companies to provide individuals employed onboard a ship with familiarization in the specific shipboard equipment, operating procedures and other arrangements needed for the proper performance of their duties. This would include ECDIS equipment onboard the ship.
Although the proposed five-year phase in period will run until January 2017, some contracted companies (and vetting authorities) require documentation establishing completion of an approved ECDIS training course in order to ship on ECDIS equipped vessels after Jan. 1, 2012. Officers who have not completed an approved ECDIS course are encouraged to do so as their schedules permit. It is recommended that each officer carry his or her approved ECDIS course certificate onboard the vessel.