1. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE STCW CONVENTION AND CODE
Chapters IV, V and VII
Basic Intro
MERPAC meeting – April 2008
Stephen Hubchen

2. Areas addressed in working group 2
Chapter IV RADIOCOMMUNICATION AND RADIO PERSONNEL
GMDSS Radio Operators
Chapter V SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL ON CERTAIN TYPES OF SHIPS
Training for operation of electrical power plant above 1,000 Volts
Training requirements for RO/RO passenger ships and non-RO/RO passenger ships
Oil Tankers
Chemical Tankers
LNG Tankers
Chapter VII ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION
Able Seafarers Deck
Able Seafarers Engine

3. Chapter IV Radiocommunication and Radio Personnel – GMDSS Radio Operators
No MERPAC Recommendation other than insertion of reference to MSC.1/circ.1208 regarding additional Company responsibility
Iran proposal STW 39/7/4
Inclusion of familiarization training as guidance in Section B-1/14 (Company Responsibility)
Outdated provisions deleted
Remove inconstancies in text
GMDSS Radio Personnel versus GMDSS Radio Operators
Fairly broad support
US Supported changes
Favor term “Operators” over “Personnel” and replace text in Chapt IV
Find out about MSC.1/circ.1208
Fam training for GMDSS was recommended in STW 38
Follow examples of STW 37 re free fall lifeboat training
Place guidance in B-1/14 rather than in regulation IV, requiring companies to insure GMDSS fam as appropriate. Will be considered by the WG that is considering Chap I in when finalizing.

4. Chapter VII Alternative Certification
MERPAC Recommendation was no changes to Reg VII.
Concerns about reduced standards
Concerns about de-skilling of seafarers
Concerns about resulting confusion
Proposal from Iran and Austria (EU)
Able seafarer deck & Able seafarer engine “support level”
US position – voice concerns as a port state
US does not issue Alt Certs
Concerns as a port state
Sea time is a concern.
Result – Annex 7 (Convention), Annex 8 (Code)
Amend Regulations VII/1 and VII/2 and Sections A-VII/1 and A-VII/2
Sea time (in the Code) was major issue.
Iran proposal
Austria proposal
“Able seafarer deck” “Able seafarer engine”
We wanted to limit the sea time reduction requirements for alternative certs such that the time required was not (too much) less than the amount required if one obtained a separate cert for each rating (the old fashioned way) Certainly some common skills in the two certs will allow some overlap of time - but not too much.
Iran 39/7/4 - not less than 6 months, including at least 2 mths performing E/R duties supervised by a qualified engineer and, where the function of navigation is required, a period of at least 2 mths doing watchkeeping duties supervised by a deck officer
at least 18 mths seagoing service at the support lvl related to the functions to be shown in the certificate, of which at least 12 mths served performing function specified in table A-II/4 and at least 6 mths shall be served performing functions specified in table A-III/4.
Austria (EU) 39/7/10 - seagoing service of no less than 12 mths, include a period of at least six mths performing E/R duties under an engineer officer and, where the function in the deck department is required, a period of at least six mths performing bridge watchkeeping duties under a qualified bridge watchkeeping officer;

5. Chapter V – Combining V/2 and V/3
Training requirements for RO/RO passenger ships and non-RO/RO passenger ships –
MERPAC opposed to combining the two regulations
US expressed concern regarding mariner’s need to undergo unnecessary training
Outcome
V/2 and V/3 were merged, but retained technical differences between the passenger and ro-ro passenger ship requirements
Philippines 39/7/28 Australia 39/7/37

6. New regulation A/4 and new section A/4
Chapter V/4 (new) –Training for operation of electrical power plants above 1,000 Volts
Bulgaria proposal
New regulation A/4 and new section A/4
Agreed that non-mandatory minimum training requirements be placed in section B, chapter V of Code
Submitted by Bulgaria, France, Poland, and the United Kingdom
proposed to add a new regulation V/4 to the convention and a new section A-V/4
to the code providing for mandatory minimum requirements for the training of engineering
personnel having management responsibilities for the operation of electrical power plant above
1,000 V
Issue of whether this involves a type of “ship” or type of “power plant” and thus not appropriate in Chap V

7. Chapter V/1 – Mandatory Minimum for Tankers
Tanker Types
Oil
Chemical
LNG/LPG - LG
US proposal
Combined Standard of Competence tables for Oil and Chem Tankers Familiarization Cert
Separate Tables for PIC of Oil and Chem Cert
LNG tables for Fam and PIC Cert

8. Chapter V/1 Continued Outcome
Two levels – Basic familiarization and PIC
Removed Adv Fire Fighting for familiarization competency
Basic familiarization comp for
Settled on 3 months minimum sea service for PIC
Wants anyone “assigned specific duties and responsibilities related to cargo or cargo equipment” to be required to hold Fam cert.
Did not get to LNG table but will re-visit as LG
Will want to combine LNG and LPG to one competency “LG”
Some wanted to have everyone aboard to be required some basic knowledge of LG – did not get there
Will consider UK proposal for a reduction in required sea service for training and certification of officers
two familiarization training requirements, one for oil and chemical tankers and another for liquefied gas tankers - did not get to our LPG tables but noted they will have to incorporate LNG
separate requirements for cargo system related personnel (upper level/PIC) serving on
oil tankers
on chemical tankers
on liquefied gas (LG) tankers – this may be a concern.
Minimum times to qualify
Sea time versus actual tanker ops We want to require actual load/discharges

9. Concerns US Concerns Awareness of National Laws/codes
Merging Standards for LNG and LPG operators
Appropriate sea service with required load/discharges

10. QUESTIONS?