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1. The Maritime Administration of Bulgaria, vide attached Circular Ref 581/19.03.2020, has  adopted following extraordinary measures with respect to seafarers certificate of competency and certificate of proficiency issued by Bulgarian Maritime Administration in view of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
   
   a. Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) of the seafarers on board vessels expiring before 13th June 2020 are granted a general extended validity of up to three (3) months. Seafarers are not required to apply for the extension.

   b. Endorsement of foreign certificates:
   

   1. The validity of Bulgarian endorsements will be linked to the validity of the seafarer’s national CoC and CoP. If the seafarer’s national CoC or CoP is revalidated, request for a new endorsement is to be made to the Administration. The seafarer will be granted a Temporary endorsement valid for a period of up to three (3) months.
      
      
   2. If the Administration that has issued the seafarer’s national CoC or CoP chooses a general extension of the validity of the national CoC or CoP, the validity of the Bulgarian endorsements issued based on the current CoC or CoP will automatically considered extended accordingly.  Seafarers are not required to apply for the extension.
      
      

   c. Expired Medical Certificates:  The Administration permits a seafarer to work without a valid medical certificate provided that;

   1. The period does not exceed three (3) months; and

   2. The seafarer concerned holds an expired medical certificate on recent date.

2. Ship owners/ operators and masters of Bulgarian flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.

Enclosure: 

• Bulgaria Circular Ref 581/19.03.202020.

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.

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