Technical Circular No: 27/2020
Download PDF- Barbados Maritime Administration has issued Bulletin No. 323 (copy attached) providing guidance with regard to extensions, postponements of Seafarers Certificates, surveys, audits, inspections etc as outlined below. These measures are temporary and their duration will be based on the global evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.
a. Extension of the validity of Seafarers Certificate of endorsement:
If a Seafarers Certificate of Competency (CoC) is expiring or already expired, Seafarers are required to contact their Certificate of Competency (CoC) issuing authority and request for extension to their existing CoC.
Based on the extension to CoC by the issuing authority, the Administration will issue a Flag State Endorsement to CoC with the new extended expiry date as on the CoC.
b. Expired Medical Certificates:
A medical certificate that expires while the seafarer is at sea, will remain valid until the next port of call where a medical practitioner may be available to issue a new medical certificate, but should not usually exceed three months. Any request for a seafarer without a valid medical certificate to join a ship as a matter of urgency must be cleared first with the Administration by emailing at ‘ops@barbadosmaritime.com’.
c. Extension of Seafarers Employment Agreement (SEA):
The Administration does not need to be contacted where the SEA is extended and:
- the extension is agreed between the seafarer and shipowner;
- a new SEA is made, or an addendum to the present SEA is signed by both parties;
- the period of service does not exceed 12 months (or, if there is a CBA in place, the alternative limit agreed therein)
In case the service period exceed 12 months or whatever limit has been agreed in a CBA, operators should contact the Administration at -ops@barbadosmaritime.com for further advice.
d. Minimum Safe Manning Document (MSMD):
Due to travel restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, if a seafarer is unable to join or leave a ship, and this impacts on the MSMD, operators should contact the Administration for permission to sail with less than the minimum number of seafarers stated on the MSMD. Contact Administration at ops@barbadosmaritime.com in such cases to request a temporary dispensation.
e. Extension of Statutory Certificates, Surveys, Audits and Inspections:
In cases where surveyors, auditors and/or inspectors are not able to undertake scheduled surveys, audit and inspections due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19, ROs should submit recommendations to the Administration for an extension to the validity of statutory certificates and this will be reviewed and authorised by the Administration on a case by case basis.
For extension of vessels dry docking or servicing of critical equipment as required under applicable IMO Convention, owners/ operators to submit application to the RO. Such application should be submitted before the due date or expiry date of the statutory certificate, to avoid PSC issues.
f. Extension of internal annual ISM Audit beyond the 15 months:
Due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19, if a Company cannot undertake ISM Audit within the allowable time scale (up to 15 months) as per ISM Code, Administration will consider extending this period on a case by case basis. Contact ops@barbadosmaritime.com for further advice.
2. Ship owners/ operators and masters of Barbados flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.
Enclosure:
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.