Download PDF

1. Reference is made to Technical Circular No. 083/2020, dated 23 May 2020  and DGS, Order No. 13 of 2020 regarding Extension to the validity of Seafarers Certificates in view of COVID-19 outbreak

2. DGS Order No. 13 of 2020 provided following in respect of the extension of the validity of Seafarer’s certificates - 

   “All STCW certificates (including the training certificates i.e., certificates required under Chapter VI of the STCW) and associated endorsements issued by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) which are expiring between 01st March and 31st December 2020 (both dates inclusive), were extended for a period of 6 (six) months from the expiry date printed / typed on the relevant certificate (CoC / CoP/ CoE), irrespective of whether the seafarer is / was on ship at the time of expiry or not”.

3. Indian Administration vide DGS Order No.16 of 2020 has now provided following revised requirements in respect of the extension of the validity of Seafarer’s certificates - 

   1. All Certificates of Competency and Certificates of Proficiency for all Seafarers (including the training certificates required under Chapter V or VI of the STCW Convention, or their Refresher Training as prescribed under the STCW Convention, as amended or as per the guidance provided in the Maritime Labour Convention, as amended) and the associated endorsements issued by or under the authority of the DGS, which have expired or are expiring on or before 31st December 2020, who comply with the provisions of the STCW Convention as amended in 2010, which is attached as Annex 1 to DGS Order 16 of 2020, shall be deemed to be REVALIDATED till 31st December 2021, irrespective of whether the Seafarer is/was on ship at the time of expiry or not.

   2. However, the above interim revalidation is only applicable for the purpose of allowing the Seafarer to join ships with either existing expired or expiring certificates and not for issuance of new COCs or new endorsements. For issuance of new CoCs or new endorsements, the existing requirements will continue to be applied.

   3. No application is required to be made for aforesaid interim revalidation.

   4. Notwithstanding the above, whenever the revalidation of the expired certificate is to be carried out, the normal processes /fees will be applicable and the new validity date will be for a period of five years from the original date of expiry of the certificate. 

   5. Seafarers and the shipping companies, including Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) are required to ensure that the concerned seafarers have a print-out of their sea service record from the seafarers profile Master Checker available with them, which can be obtained from the E-Governance system.

4. Ship owners/ operators and Masters of Indian flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.

Enclosure:

• DGS Order No. 16 of 2020, dated 22 June 2020.

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.

 Download PDF