Certificates of Officers
Certificates of Competency to be held by officers of Ships
- Every Indian ship, when going to sea from any port or place, must be provided with officers duly certificated under this Act in accordance with such manning scales as may be prescribed. The Central Government may prescribe different manning scales for different types of Ships.
- Every ship, whether at sea or in any port or place, shall engage such number of persons and with such qualifications as may be prescribed for maintaining watches.
When an officer is deemed to be duly certificatedAn officer shall be deemed to be duly certificated under this Act, only when he holds a certificate of a grade appropriate to his station in the ship or of a higher grade as granted in accordance with this Act.
Grades of Certificate of CompetencyAs mentioned in the META Manual, Volume I.
A Certificate of Competency for a foreign-going ship shall be deemed to be of a higher grade, than the corresponding certificate of a home-trade ship, and shall entitle the lawful holder thereof to go to sea, in the corresponding grade in such home-trade ship. However, no certificate of a home-trade ship shall entitle the holder to go to sea as a Master or Mate of a foreign-going ship.
Certificates of Competency as Extra-Master or Extra-First Class Engineer, must be deemed to be of higher grade, than any other relevant Certificate of Competency as may be issued in the Nautical and Engineering streams.
Examinations for, and grant of, CertificatesThe Central Government or a person so authorised by it in this regard, must appoint persons for the purpose of examining the qualifications of persons who are desirous of obtaining, Certificates of Competency, under this Act.
The Central Government or a person so authorised by it in this regard, shall grant to every applicant, who is duly reported by the examiner(s) to have passed the examination(s) satisfactorily, and to have given satisfactory evidence of his/her sobriety, experience and ability, and general good conduct on board ship(s), such a Certificate of Competency as the case requires.
However, if the Central Government may, in any case in which it has reason to believe that the report has been unduly made, require, before granting a Certificate, a re-examination of the applicant, or, a further inquiry into his testimonials and character.
Power to cancel or suspend certificates that have been obtained on false or erroneous informationIf it appears to the Central Government that the holder of a certificate as granted under this Act, has acquired it on false or erroneous information, it may cancel or suspend such a certificate, after giving an opportunity to the holder to make a representation against the proposed cancellation or suspension.
Foreign-ships not to sail without certificated officers
- Every Master of a foreign ship, must ensure that the ship has the requisite number of officers and engineers of the appropriate grades, as specified by the STCW Convention and the Manning document prescribed by the SOLAS convention, as amended.
- A Surveyor or any person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government may, at any reasonable time, go on board a ship, to which any of the provisions of this Part applies for the purpose of ensuring that the officers holding certificates issued in accordance with the STCW Convention and the Manning document prescribed by the SOLAS convention, as amended, are actually appointed, and are present, and satisfy himself about the adequacy of such officers for the watch-keeping duties required in port and at sea.
- If the Surveyor or any person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government observes any deficiency in relation to the requirements of the STCW Convention and the Manning document prescribed by the SOLAS convention, as amended, and the Central Government is satisfied that it will be unsafe for such a ship to proceed to sea, such a ship may be detained by the officer authorised for this purpose, till such time the requirements are fulfilled.