STCW 2010 COC UPGRADATION DETAILED EXPLANATION AND COURSES REQUIRED

Following is a very useful information issued by a leading company provided here for general benefit of all seafarers( Company name has been deliberately omitted to avoid any iconvenience)

Quote:
Good day.
As you are well aware that the STCW 2010 amendments will be coming into
force from 1/Jan/2017. Regarding upgradation of COC we would like to advise
as below.
Broadly speaking all our seafarers fall in the following categories:-
1. Seafarers whose COC is expiring on or before 31/Dec/2016 after
completing 5 years of validity.

2. Seafarers whose COC is expiring EXACTLY ON  31/Dec/2016 even though
their validity has not completed 5 years. Ex Completed revalidation in 2014
but COC valid only till 31/Dec/2016 instead of 2019
.
Regarding Category 1, the seafarers are expected to renew their COC and
upgrade same to STCW 2010 under normal case (within 1 year of expiry). Some
of you also must be giving higher grade exams which will automatically
upgrade your COC to STCW 2010 on clearing the exams.
Regarding Category 2, many of you would have done the required modular
courses under STCW 2010, but when you applied for upgradation, MMD gave
validity only till 31/Dec/2016. This was due to the fact that the Govt of
India had not officially used notification for issuance of STCW 2010 COC.
As many of you will be aware, this notification has already been issued
this year and now all our eligible to get the STCW 2010 COC after
undergoing the upgradation and revalidation courses.

Category 2 officers are therefore requested to reapply extension of your
COC beyond 31/Dec/2016 by the following the same procedure of revalidation
at the earliest (do not wait for window of 1 year within expiry). It means
once again please carry all upgraded course certificates along with
necessary Demand Draft (understand it is Rs 5000/-), submit same to
respective MMD and get the extension of your COC for a validity of 5 years
from date of issue.
Category 2 Officers are requested to carry out renewal at the earliest. You
need not wait till 2016, you can do it now only.

For Deck Officers upgradation, additional course requirements

1. ECDIS – 5 days DG approved course
2. PSSR – STCW 2010 (part of revalidation course as printed behind
certificate. If not there then you will have to do 3 day course separately)
3. Refresher AFF/FPFF – STCW 2010 (One day course if original certificate
is more than 5 yrs)
4. Refresher PST/PSCRB – STCW 2010 (One day course if original certificate
is more than 5 yrs)
5. GMDSS – Valid GOC issued by Ministry of Telecommunications
6. GMDSS Endorsement – STCW 2010 (Issued by MMD on basis of GOC)
7. SSO or STSDSD – STCW 2010 (part of revalidation course as printed behind
certificate. If not there then you will have to do course separately)
8. Revalidation Course certificate

For Engineers

Items 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8.
Normally all engineers are getting a limitation of 1000 Volts as an
additional endorsement on their revalidated COC. Unfortunately till date DG
Shipping has not issued any circular or instructions to enable the removal
of this limitation. We are expecting a DG approved High Voltage course to
commence sometime later this year. Probably after doing this course, the
limitation of 1000 V can be removed. However till such time we have to wait.
Medical refresher, as required by MLC 2006, is to be done every 5 years.
However same will not be required to be submitted for COC revalidation as
it is not under STCW 2010.

PLEASE NOTE
a. For our LNG officers, MMD will not issue DCE for foreign COC holders
henceforth. It has to be obtained from the same country issuing your COC.
b. UK GMDSS will also not be accepted for revalidating Indian COC. All
officers in this category are requested to approach respective MMD for
redressal of same.
There may be cases where officers have experienced the opposite concerning
points a and b above. This may be because of certain exemptions granted by
respective MMD, specially during this period.
Bottom line – All officers should verify the upgradation procedure with
respective MMD before applying. For foreign COC holders, request to follow
up with your respective administrations.
Now we come to something extremely important.
COC revalidation is an officer’s personal requirement. However we as a
Manning Company do get affected adversely if many of our Officers are
awaiting their COC renewal. Our Planning and Operations take a severe
beating.
Now with the STCW 2010 looming large, we find that there is a huge number
of officers whose COC is expiring by 2016 (many of them exactly on
31/Dec/2016).
As a Manning Company, we do not want to reach a situation where majority of
our Officers COC is expiring around the same time. The relief scenario will
take a turn for the worse. You can imagine the rush for doing the STCW 2010
courses, especially in 2016. Not to mention that there may be possible hike
in course fees seeing the demand.

It therefore becomes mandatory that at least Category 2 officers (as
mentioned in beginning) get their COC extended. At least that would provide
some kind of buffer in Officers availability. We do realize that these
officers have to spend extra money and effort in getting their COC
extended, but it is for everyone’s benefit.

Category 1 Officers will have to get their COC revalidated within one year
of expiry. Please ensure you do not wait right till the end.
Finally we would like to mention, that the next few months or so are going
to be very strenuous for this upgradation process and we will provide all
assistance to you in case of any doubts or difficulties. Please do not
hesitate to contact us. We would also like to add that there is a
possibility that you have obtained certain information from MMD which is
slightly contrary to our mail. In such cases MMD information will prevail.
We thank you for your continuous support and understanding.
Thanks & kind regards
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