COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE STCW CONVENTION AND CODE Chapters IV, V and VII

1. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE STCW CONVENTION AND CODE Chapters IV, V and VII 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proposal STW 39/7/4 • Inclusion of familiarization training as guidance in Section B-1/14 (Company Responsibility) • Outdated provisions deleted • Remove inconstancies in text • GMDSS Radio Personnel versus GMDSS Radio Operators • Fairly broad support • US Supported changes

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

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

6. 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

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

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?