Posted:
October 11, 2011
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued its Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) on the implementation of the 2010 STCW Manila Amendments. Although the public comment period has ended, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) will not be finalized until the Coast Guard reviews all comments.
STAR Center will provide detailed guidance for AMO members once the full implications of Coast Guard implementation are known. When the CFR is finalized, STAR Center will request a formal acceptance of its current ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) Course as meeting the new Coast Guard requirements, similar to what was done for the STAR Center Vessel Security Officer Course.
The new ECDIS requirements in the SNPRM 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. This limitation will prevent the individual from serving on 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 nations. 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 training in the ship-specific shipboard equipment, operating procedures and other arrangements needed for the proper performance of their duties. This training would include ECDIS equipment onboard the ship.
Although the proposed five-year phase-in period will run until January 2017, some contracted companies (and vetters) require documentation of completion of an approved ECDIS training course in order to sail 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 ship.
Updated information on ECDIS training requirements
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued its Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) on the implementation of the 2010 STCW Manila Amendments. Although the public comment period has ended, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) will not be finalized until the Coast Guard reviews all comments.
STAR Center will provide detailed guidance for AMO members once the full implications of Coast Guard implementation are known. When the CFR is finalized, STAR Center will request a formal acceptance of its current ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) Course as meeting the new Coast Guard requirements, similar to what was done for the STAR Center Vessel Security Officer Course.
The new ECDIS requirements in the SNPRM 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. This limitation will prevent the individual from serving on 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 nations. 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 training in the ship-specific shipboard equipment, operating procedures and other arrangements needed for the proper performance of their duties. This training would include ECDIS equipment onboard the ship.
Although the proposed five-year phase-in period will run until January 2017, some contracted companies (and vetters) require documentation of completion of an approved ECDIS training course in order to sail 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 ship.