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1. A concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on STCW will be initiated jointly by the member Authorities of the Tokyo and Paris Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control.

2. The inspection campaign will be held for three (3) months, commencing from 1st September 2022 and ending on 30th November 2022.

3. The purpose of the CIC is to;

a. The number of seafarers serving on board and their certificates are in conformity with the relevant provisions of STCW Convention and Code and the applicable safe manning requirements as determined by the Flag State Administration;

b. All seafarers serving on board, who are required to be certificated in accordance with STCW Convention, hold an appropriate certificate or a valid dispensation, or provide documentary proof that an application for an endorsement has been submitted to the Flag State Administration;

c. The seafarers on board hold a valid medical certificate as required by STCW Convention;

d. The watch-keeping schedules and hours of rest indicate compliance with the requirements of STCW Convention and Code;

e. Create awareness of shipowners, operators and crew on the specific requirements in the STCW Convention and Code.

4. Port State Control officer shall be using a questionnaire to assess the compliance with the STCW Convention and Code.

5. Deficiencies found during the inspection will be recorded by the PSC officer and actions may vary from recording a deficiency and instructing the master to rectify it within a certain period of time, to detaining the ship until serious deficiencies have been rectified.

6. Accordingly Owners and managers of the Shipping Companies are advised that the ship’s Masters are communicated to ensure that;

a. The Minimum Safe Manning Document (MSMD) is available onboard and that the number of seafarers onboard are in compliance with the MSMD requirements.

b. Master and officers are holding valid original certificate of competency as required by the Minimum Safe Manning Document. Where applicable, valid endorsements attesting the recognition of certificates or documentary proof of application is available onboard.

c. Seafarers onboard are holding valid original certificate of proficiency (COP) or documentary evidences.

d. All seafarers onboard are holding valid certificate(s) attesting medical fitness.

e. Up to date records of work or rest, as required under national standards, for each seafarer serving on the ship is maintained. Each seafarer to have a copy of the records pertaining to them which must be endorsed by the master, or a person authorized by the master, and by the seafarers. In this regard, it is to be noted that:

i. The minimum hours of rest must not be less than ten hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period, if the relevant national law relates to hours of rest, or, if the relevant national law relates to hours of work, the maximum hours of work must not exceed 14 hours in any 24-hour period and 72 hours in any seven-day period.

ii. Hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which must be at least six hours; the interval between consecutive periods of rest must not exceed 14 hours.

f. Compliance with the requirements concerning minimum hours of rest or maximum hours of work as above will be verified by checking relevant documents including deck and engine room log books, SEA and relevant CBA.

g. An approved standardized table of shipboard working arrangements for each seafarer serving on the ship containing atleast the national requirements for maximum hours of work or the minimum hours of rest and the schedule for service at sea and in port, is posted in an easily accessible place on the ship. The table of shipboard working arrangements is to be in the working language or languages of the ship and in English.

h. Newly joined seafarers have been familiarized with their specific duties that are relevant to their routine or emergency duties and records for same is maintained. Whilst the utmost care has been taken in the compilation of the Technical Information, neither Indian Register of Shipping, its affiliates and subsidiaries if any, nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents assume any responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused in any manner whatsoever by reliance on the information in this document.

i. Seafarers are able to communicate with each other, and with passengers, as appropriate, in the working language(s) specified in the Safety Management System to ensure the safe operation of the ship, especially in emergency situations.

j. A detailed voyage plan is prepared covering the entire voyage from berth to berth, including those areas where the services of a pilot will be used. The details of the voyage plan should be clearly marked and recorded, as appropriate, on charts and in a voyage plan record. Each voyage plan as well as the details of the plan, is approved by the ships' master prior to the commencement of the voyage.

Enclosure:

• Press Release by Paris MoU, dated 01 August 2022

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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