|
The other foot has fallen in the lengthy process of implementing changes in US Coast Guard licensing regulations to comply with international standards first set forth in STCW convention of 1978 and its subsequent amendments. The proposed changes will affect any one seeking a new US license or upgrading an existing license, especially captains and engineers.
"The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations to fully incorporate the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW Convention), as well as the Seafarer's Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code) in the requirements for the credentialing of United States merchant mariners," says the 90-page document published in the US Federal Register last November.
A public comment period is in place until mid-February, but if implemented as proposed, the new regulations would require 200grt Masters wishing to upgrade their licenses to complete three years sea time (possibly six calendar years) as first mate - an obvious burden for captains seeking to increase their salaries or who work for yacht owners who are making a leap in size. The Interim Mate OICNW level (known under UK MCA as OOW) will require nearly 26 weeks of its own training and assessments, in addition to the training and examinations that will later be required for the upgrade to Master. The British MCA system of gaining STCW yacht Certificates of Competency (license) is already set up in a similar way, but holders of US Coast Guard Master licenses may find it expensive and possibly detrimental to their careers.
"It's going to be rough for a lot of people in the next couple of years," says Amy Beavers, managing director and academic principal of Maritime Professional Training in Fort Lauderdale.
Others who could feel a strong impact from the new regulations are engineers. A shortage of skilled labour in the field and lax enforcement of existing regulations has resulted in some engineers not upgrading their credentials or not getting them at all. The regulations would require vessels with powerplants of 750kW and above that sails internationally to have a licensed engineer. The months of training required to obtain or upgrade a license likely would burden the individuals, as well as further stress the labour pool.
Beavers suggests current license holders apply for upgrades an complete their training now since existing licenses will be honored.
As is typical with the US Federal regulatory process, a public comment period has been implemented and a public hearing scheduled. The public hearing is scheduled for January 20 in Washington DC. The deadline for public comments is on or before February 16. The rulemakers will review public input before making their final decisions.
By Kenny Wooton
Editors notes:
There are considerable complications in this STCW implementation, not least is the establishment of what gross tonnage gt (international) is equivalent to what grt (an American gross ton). We felt it was important to inform US Licensed mariners now as many need to take action now, however the whole proposal will be described at in greater depth in The Crew Report (Issue 37) once we have completed the necessary research.
Related Links
The complete proposed rules document can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-26821.pdf.
To comment online, click here: In the "Document Type" drop-down menu, select "Proposed Rules" and insert "USCG-2004-17914" as the "Keyword."
|
