U.S. Coast Guard Publishes Series of Circulars on STCW Standards

The Coast Guard has released a number of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars setting out guidelines on qualifications for various endorsements under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, commonly known as the STCW. The Coast Guard will use the NVICs and related regulations when evaluating whether persons are qualified to hold the associated STCW endorsements for international service. The NVICs released include Guidelines for Qualification as:

• Master or Chief Mate on vessels of 3,000 GT or more (NVIC 10-14);
• Master or Chief Mate on vessels of between 500 GT and 3,000 GT (NVIC 11-14);
• Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of a vessel of 500 GT or more (NVIC 12-14);
• Master or Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of vessels less than 500 GT limited to near coastal waters (NVIC 13-14);
• Able Seafarer-Deck (NVIC 14-14);
• Chief Engineer and Second Engineer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP or more (NVIC 15-14);
• Chief Engineer and Second Engineer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of between 750 kW/1,000 HP and 3,000 kW/4,000HP (NVIC 16-14);
• Officer in Charge of an Engineering Warch in a Manned Engineroom on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP propulsion power or more (NVIC 17-14); and
• Able Seafarer-Engine (NVIC 18-14).

The Coast Guard also released a NVIC on the qualification and performance of “Qualified Assessors” who are authorized to evaluate candidates for STCW endorsements (NVIC 19-14).

STCW-related NVICs released earlier this year include Guidelines for Qualification as:

• Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (NVIC 06-14); and
• Rating Forming Part of an Engineering Watch (NVIC 07-14);

and also Guidelines for Endorsements in:

• Basic Training (NVIC 08-14);
• Advanced Firefighting (NVIC 09-14),
• Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats (NVIC 05-14); and
• Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (NVIC 04-14).