DIRECTIVE 2008/106/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 19 November 2008
on the minimum level of training of seafarers (recast)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),
After consulting the Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (2),
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 2001/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 April 2001 on the minimum level of training of seafarers (3) has been significantly amended on several occasions (4). Now that new amendments are being made to that Directive, it is desirable, for reasons of clarity, that the provisions in question should be recast.
(2)
Actions to be taken at Community level in the field of maritime safety and pollution prevention at sea should be in line with internationally agreed rules and standards.
(3)
In order to maintain and develop the level of knowledge and skills in the maritime sector in the Community, it is important to pay appropriate attention to maritime training and the status of seafarers in the Community.
(4)
A consistent level of training for the award of vocational competency certificates to seafarers should be ensured in the interests of maritime safety.
(5)
Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (5) applies to maritime occupations covered by this Directive. It will help promote compliance with the obligations laid down in the Treaty abolishing obstacles to the free movement of persons and services between Member States.
(6)
The mutual recognition of diplomas and certificates provided for under Directive 2005/36/EC does not always ensure a standardised level of training for all seafarers serving on board vessels flying the flag of a Member State. This is, however, vital from the viewpoint of maritime safety.
(7)
It is therefore essential to define a minimum level of training for seafarers in the Community. That level should be based on the standards of training already agreed at international level, namely the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention), as revised in 1995. All Member States are Parties to that Convention.
(8)
Member States may establish standards higher than the minimum standards laid down in the STCW Convention and this Directive.
(9)
The Regulations of the STCW Convention annexed to this Directive should be supplemented by the mandatory provisions contained in Part A of the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code). Part B of the STCW Code contains recommended guidance intended to assist Parties to the STCW Convention and those involved in implementing, applying or enforcing its measures to give the Convention full and complete effect in a uniform manner.
(10)
For the enhancement of maritime safety and pollution prevention at sea, provisions on minimum rest periods for watchkeeping personnel should be established in this Directive in accordance with the STCW Convention. Those provisions should be applied without prejudice to the provisions of Council Directive 1999/63/EC of 21 June 1999 concerning the Agreement on the organisation of working time of seafarers concluded by the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and the Federation of Transport Workers’ Unions in the European Union (FST) (6).
(11)
Member States should take and enforce specific measures to prevent and penalise fraudulent practices associated with certificates of competency as well as pursue their efforts within the IMO to achieve strict and enforceable agreements on the worldwide combating of such practices.
(12)
In order to enhance maritime safety and prevent loss of human life and maritime pollution, communication among crew members on board ships sailing in Community waters should be improved.
(13)
Personnel on board passenger ships nominated to assist passengers in emergency situations should be able to communicate with the passengers.
(14)
Crews serving on board tankers carrying noxious or polluting cargo should be capable of coping effectively with accident prevention and emergency situations. It is paramount that a proper communication link between the master, officers and ratings is established, covering the requirements provided for in this Directive.
(15)
It is essential to ensure that seafarers holding certificates issued by third countries and serving on board Community ships have a level of competence equivalent to that required by the STCW Convention. This Directive should lay down procedures and common criteria for the recognition by the Member States of certificates issued by third countries, based on the training and certification requirements as agreed in the framework of the STCW Convention.
(16)
In the interests of safety at sea, Member States should recognise qualifications proving the required level of training only where these are issued by or on behalf of Parties to the STCW Convention which have been identified by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) as having been shown to have given, and still to be giving, full effect to the standards set out in that Convention. To bridge the time gap until the MSC has been able to carry out such identification, a procedure for the preliminary recognition of certificates is needed.
(17)
Where appropriate, maritime institutes, training programmes and courses should be inspected. Criteria for such inspection should therefore be established.
(18)
The Commission should be assisted by a committee in carrying out the tasks related to the recognition of certificates issued by training institutes or administrations of third countries.
(19)
The European Maritime Safety Agency established by Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) should assist the Commission in verifying that Member States comply with the requirements laid down in this Directive.
(20)
Member States, as port authorities, are required to enhance safety and prevention of pollution in Community waters through priority inspection of vessels flying the flag of a third country which has not ratified the STCW Convention, thereby ensuring no more favourable treatment to vessels flying the flag of a third country.
(21)
It is appropriate to include in this Directive provisions on port State control, pending the amendment of Council Directive 95/21/EC (8) on port State control of shipping in order to transfer to that Directive the provisions on port State control which are included in this Directive.
(22)
It is necessary to provide for procedures for adapting this Directive to changes in international conventions and codes.
(23)
The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (9).
(24)
In particular the Commission should be empowered to amend this Directive in order to apply, for the purposes of this Directive, subsequent amendments to certain international codes and any relevant amendment to Community legislation. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC.
(25)
The new elements introduced into this Directive only concern the committee procedures. They therefore do not need to be transposed by the Member States.
(26)
This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Members States relating to the time limits for transposition into national law of the Directives set out in Annex III, Part B,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive:
1.
‘master’ means the person having command of a ship;
2.
‘officer’ means a member of the crew, other than the master, designated as such by national law or regulations or, in the absence of such designation, by collective agreement or custom;
3.
‘deck officer’ means an officer qualified in accordance with the provisions of Chapter II of Annex I;
4.
‘chief mate’ means the officer next in rank to the master upon whom the command of the ship will fall in the event of the incapacity of the master;
5.
‘engineer officer’ means an officer qualified in accordance with the provisions of Chapter III of Annex I;
6.
‘chief engineer officer’ means the senior engineer officer responsible for the mechanical propulsion and the operation and maintenance of the mechanical and electrical installations of the ship;
7.
‘second engineer officer’ means the engineer officer next in rank to the chief engineer officer upon whom the responsibility for the mechanical propulsion and the operation and maintenance of the mechanical and electrical installations of the ship will fall in the event of the incapacity of the chief engineer officer;
8.
‘assistant engineer officer’ means a person under training to become an engineer officer and designated as such by national law or regulations;
9.
‘radio operator’ means a person holding an appropriate certificate issued or recognised by the competent authorities under the provisions of the Radio Regulations;
10.
‘rating’ means a member of the ship’s crew other than the master or an officer;
11.
‘seagoing ship’ means a ship other than those which navigate exclusively in inland waters or in waters within, or closely adjacent to, sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply;
12.
‘ship flying the flag of a Member State’ means a ship registered in and flying the flag of a Member State in accordance with its legislation; a ship not corresponding to this definition shall be regarded as a ship flying the flag of a third country;
13.
‘near-coastal voyages’ means voyages in the vicinity of a Member State as defined by that Member State;
14.
‘propulsion power’ means the total maximum continuous rated output power in kilowatts of all of a ship’s main propulsion machinery which appears on the ship’s certificate of registry or other official document;
15.
‘oil-tanker’ means a ship constructed and used for the carriage of petroleum and petroleum products in bulk;
16.
‘chemical tanker’ means a ship constructed or adapted and used for the carriage in bulk of any liquid product listed in Chapter 17 of the International Bulk Chemical Code, in its up-to-date version;
17.
‘liquefied-gas tanker’ means a ship constructed or adapted and used for the carriage in bulk of any liquefied gas or other product listed in Chapter 19 of the International Gas Carrier Code, in its up-to-date version;
18.
‘Radio Regulations’ means the revised radio regulations, adopted by the World Administrative Radio Conference for the Mobile Service in their up-to-date version;
19.
‘passenger ship’ means a seagoing ship which carries more than 12 passengers;
20.
‘fishing vessel’ shall mean a vessel used for catching fish or other living resources of the sea;
21.
‘STCW Convention’ means the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as it applies to the matters concerned taking into account the transitional provisions of Article VII and Regulation I/15 of the Convention and including, where appropriate, the applicable provisions of the STCW Code, all being applied in their up-to-date versions;
22.
‘radio duties’ includes, as appropriate, watchkeeping and technical maintenance and repairs conducted in accordance with the Radio Regulations, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 74) and, at the discretion of each Member State, the relevant recommendations of the IMO, in their up-to-date versions;
23.
‘ro-ro passenger ship’ means a passenger ship with ro-ro cargo spaces or special-category spaces as defined in the SOLAS 74, in its up-to-date version;
24.
‘STCW Code’ means the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code as adopted by Resolution 2 of the 1995 STCW Conference of Parties, in its up-to-date version;
25.
‘function’ means a group of tasks, duties and responsibilities, as specified in the STCW Code, necessary for ship operation, safety of life at sea or protection of the marine environment;
26.
‘company’ means the owner of the ship or any other organisation or person such as the manager or the bareboat charterer who has assumed the responsibility for operation of the ship from the shipowner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed on the company by this Directive;
27.
‘appropriate certificate’ means a certificate issued and endorsed in accordance with this Directive and entitling the lawful holder thereof to serve in the capacity and perform the functions involved at the level of responsibility specified therein on a ship of the type, tonnage, power and means of propulsion concerned while engaged on the particular voyage concerned;
28.
‘seagoing service’ means service on board a ship relevant to the issue of a certificate or other qualification;
29.
‘approved’ means approved by a Member State in accordance with this Directive;
30.
‘third country’ means any country which is not a Member State;
31.
‘month’ means a calendar month or 30 days made up of periods of less than one month.
Article 2
Scope
This Directive shall apply to the seafarers mentioned in this Directive serving on board seagoing ships flying the flag of a Member State with the exception of:
(a)
warships, naval auxiliaries or other ships owned or operated by a Member State and engaged only on government non-commercial service;
(b)
fishing vessels;
(c)
pleasure yachts not engaged in trade;
(d)
wooden ships of primitive build.
Article 3
Training and certification
1. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that seafarers serving on ships as referred to in Article 2 are trained as a minimum in accordance with the requirements of the STCW Convention, as laid down in Annex I to this Directive, and hold certificates as defined in Article 4 or appropriate certificates as defined in Article 1(27).
2. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that those crew members that must be certified in accordance with Regulation III/10.4 of the SOLAS 74 are trained and certificated in accordance with this Directive.
Article 4
Certificate
A certificate shall be any valid document, by whatever name it may be known, issued by or under the authority of the competent authority of a Member State in accordance with Article 5 and with the requirements laid down in Annex I.
Article 5
Certificates and endorsements
1. Certificates shall be issued in accordance with Article 11.
2. Certificates for masters, officers and radio operators shall be endorsed by the Member State as prescribed in this Article.
3. Certificates shall be issued in accordance with Regulation I/2, paragraph 1, of the STCW Convention.
4. In respect of radio operators, Member States may:
(a)
include the additional knowledge required by the relevant regulations in the examination for the issue of a certificate complying with the Radio Regulations; or
(b)
issue a separate certificate indicating that the holder has the additional knowledge required by the relevant regulations.
5. At the discretion of a Member State endorsements may be incorporated in the format of the certificates being issued as provided for in section A-I/2 of the STCW Code. If so incorporated the form used shall be that set out in section A-I/2, paragraph 1. If issued otherwise, the form of endorsements used shall be that set out in paragraph 2 of that section. Endorsements shall be issued in accordance with Article VI, paragraph 2, of the STCW Convention.
6. A Member State which recognises a certificate under the procedure laid down in Article 19(2) shall endorse that certificate to attest its recognition. The form of the endorsement used shall be that set out in paragraph 3 of section A-I/2 of the STCW Code.
7. The endorsements referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6:
(a)
may be issued as separate documents;
(b)
shall each be assigned a unique number, other than endorsements attesting the issue of a certificate which may be assigned the same number as the certificate concerned, provided that that number is unique; and
(c)
shall each expire as soon as the certificate endorsed expires or is withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by the Member State or third country which issued them and, in any case, within five years of their date of issue.
8. The capacity in which the holder of a certificate is authorised to serve shall be identified in the form of endorsement in terms identical to those used in the applicable safe-manning requirements of the Member State concerned.
9. A Member State may use a format different from the format laid down in section A-I/2 of the STCW Code, provided that, as a minimum, the required information is provided in Roman characters and Arabic figures, taking account of the variations permitted under section A-I/2.
10. Subject to Article 19(7) any certificate required by this Directive shall be kept available in its original form on board the ship on which the holder is serving.
Article 6
Training requirements
The training required pursuant to Article 3 shall be in a form appropriate to the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required by Annex I, in particular the use of life saving and fire-fighting equipment, and approved by the competent authority or body designated by each Member State.
Article 7
Principles governing near-coastal voyages
1. When defining near-coastal voyages Member States shall not impose training, experience or certification requirements on seafarers serving on board ships entitled to fly the flag of another Member State or another Party to the STCW Convention and engaged in such voyages in a manner resulting in more stringent requirements for such seafarers than for seafarers serving on board ships entitled to fly their own flag. In no case shall a Member State impose requirements in respect of seafarers serving on board ships flying the flag of another Member State or of another Party to the STCW Convention in excess of those of this Directive in respect of ships not engaged in near-coastal voyages.
2. With respect to ships entitled to fly the flag of a Member State regularly engaged in near-coastal voyages off the coast of another Member State or of another Party to the STCW Convention, the Member State the flag of which a ship is entitled to fly shall prescribe training, experience and certification requirements for seafarers serving on such ships at least equal to those of the Member State or the Party to the STCW Convention off the coast of which the ship is engaged, provided that they do not exceed the requirements of this Directive in respect of ships not engaged in near-coastal voyages. Seafarers serving on a ship which extends its voyage beyond what is defined as a near-coastal voyage by a Member State and enters waters not covered by that definition shall fulfil the appropriate requirements of this Directive.
3. A Member State may afford a ship which is entitled to fly its flag the benefits of the near-coastal voyage provisions of this Directive when it is regularly engaged off the coast of a non-Party to the STCW Convention on near-coastal voyages as defined by that Member State.
4. Upon deciding on the definition of near-coastal voyages and the conditions of education and training required thereof in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Member States shall communicate to the Commission the details of the provisions they have adopted.
Article 8
Prevention of fraud and other unlawful practices
1. Member States shall take and enforce the appropriate measures to prevent fraud and other unlawful practices involving the certification process or certificates issued and endorsed by their competent authorities, and shall provide for penalties that are effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
2. Member States shall designate the national authorities competent to detect and combat fraud and other unlawful practices and exchange information with the competent authorities of other Member States and of third countries concerning the certification of seafarers.
Member States shall forthwith inform the other Member States and the Commission of the details of such competent national authorities.
Member States shall also forthwith inform any third countries with which they have entered into an undertaking in accordance with Regulation I/10, paragraph 1.2 of the STCW Convention of the details of such competent national authorities.
3. At the request of a host Member State, the competent authorities of another Member State shall provide written confirmation or denial of the authenticity of seafarers’ certificates, corresponding endorsements or any other documentary evidence of training issued in that other Member State.
Article 9
Penalties or disciplinary measures
1. Member States shall establish processes and procedures for the impartial investigation of any reported incompetence, act or omission, that may pose a direct threat to safety of life or property at sea or to the marine environment, on the part of the holders of certificates or endorsements issued by that Member State in connection with their performance of duties relating to their certificates and for the withdrawal, suspension and cancellation of such certificates for such cause and for the prevention of fraud.
2. Each Member State shall prescribe penalties or disciplinary measures for cases in which the provisions of this national legislation giving effect to this Directive are not complied with in respect of ships entitled to fly its flag or of seafarers duly certificated by it.
3. In particular, such penalties or disciplinary measures shall be prescribed and enforced in cases in which:
(a)
a company or a master has engaged a person not holding a certificate as required by this Directive;
(b)
a master has allowed any function or service in any capacity which under this Directive must be performed by a person holding an appropriate certificate to be performed by a person not holding the required certificate, a valid dispensation or having the documentary proof required by Article 19(7); or
(c)
a person has obtained by fraud or forged documents an engagement to perform any function or serve in any capacity which under this Directive must be performed or fulfilled by a person holding a certificate or dispensation.
4. Member States within the jurisdiction of which any company which or any person who is believed on clear grounds to have been responsible for or to have knowledge of any apparent non-compliance with this Directive specified in paragraph 3, is located shall extend cooperation to any Member State or other Party to the STCW Convention which advises them of its intention to initiate proceedings under its jurisdiction.
Article 10
Quality standards
1. Each Member State shall ensure that:
(a)
all training, assessment of competence, certification, endorsement and revalidation activities carried out by non-governmental agencies or entities under its authority are continuously monitored through a quality standards system to ensure the achievement of defined objectives, including those concerning the qualifications and experience of instructors and assessors;
(b)
where governmental agencies or entities perform such activities, there is a quality-standards system;
(c)
the education and training objectives and related quality standards of competence to be achieved are clearly defined and identify the levels of knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the examinations and assessments required under the STCW Convention;
(d)
the fields of application of the quality standards cover the administration of the certification systems, all training courses and programmes, examinations and assessments carried out by or under the authority of each Member State and the qualifications and experience required of instructors and assessors, having regard to the policies, systems, controls and internal quality-assurance reviews established to ensure achievement of the defined objectives.
The objectives and related quality standards referred to in point (c) of the first subparagraph may be specified separately for different courses and training programmes and shall cover the administration of the certification system.
2. Member States shall also ensure that independent evaluations of the knowledge, understanding, skills and competence acquisition and assessment activities, and of the administration of the certification system, are conducted at intervals of not more than five years by qualified persons who are not themselves involved in the activities concerned in order to verify that:
(a)
all internal management control and monitoring measures and follow-up actions comply with planned arrangements and documental procedures and are effective in ensuring that the defined objectives are achieved;
(b)
the results of each independent evaluation are documented and brought to the attention of those responsible for the area evaluated;
(c)
timely action is taken to correct deficiencies.
3. A report relating to each evaluation carried out pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be communicated by the Member State concerned to the Commission within six months of the date of the evaluation.
Article 11
Medical standards - issue and registration of certificates
1. Member States shall establish standards of medical fitness for seafarers, particularly regarding eyesight and hearing.
2. Member States shall ensure that certificates are issued only to candidates who comply with the requirements of this Article.
3. Each candidate for certification shall provide satisfactory proof:
(a)
of his or her identity;
(b)
that his or her age is not less than that prescribed in the Regulations in Annex I relevant to the certificate applied for;
(c)
that he or she meets the standards of medical fitness, particularly regarding eyesight and hearing, established by the Member State and holds a valid document attesting to his or her medical fitness, issued by a duly qualified medical practitioner recognised by the competent authority of the Member State;
(d)
of having completed the seagoing service and any related compulsory training prescribed in the Regulations in Annex I for the certificate applied for;
(e)
that he or she meets the standards of competence prescribed in the Regulations in Annex I for the capacities, functions and levels that are to be identified in the endorsement to the certificate.
4. Each Member State shall undertake:
(a)
to maintain a register or registers of all certificates and endorsements for masters and officers and, as appropriate, ratings, which are issued, have expired or have been revalidated, suspended, cancelled or reported lost or destroyed and of dispensations issued;
(b)
to make available information on the status of such certificates, endorsements and dispensations to other Member States or other Parties to the STCW Convention and companies which request verification of the authenticity and validity of certificates produced to them by seafarers seeking recognition of their certificates or employment on board ship.
Article 12
Revalidation of certificates
1. Every master, officer and radio operator holding a certificate issued or recognised under any chapter of Annex I other than Chapter VI who is serving at sea or intends to return to sea after a period ashore shall, in order to continue to qualify for seagoing service, be required at intervals not exceeding five years:
(a)
to meet the standards of medical fitness prescribed by Article 11; and
(b)
to establish continued professional competence in accordance with section A-I/11 of the STCW Code.
2. Every master, officer and radio operator shall, for continuing seagoing service on board ships for which special training requirements have been internationally agreed upon, successfully complete approved relevant training.
3. Each Member State shall compare the standards of competence which are required of candidates for certificates issued before 1 February 2002 with those specified for the appropriate certificate in Part A of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need to require the holders of such certificates to undergo appropriate refresher and updating training or assessment.
Refresher and updating courses shall be approved and include changes in relevant national and international regulations concerning the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment and take account of any updating of the standard of competency concerned.
4. Each Member State shall, in consultation with those concerned, formulate or promote the formulation of a structure of refresher and updating courses as provided for in section A-I/11 of the STCW Code.
5. For the purpose of updating the knowledge of masters, officers and radio operators, each Member State shall ensure that the texts of recent changes in national and international regulations concerning the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment are made available to ships entitled to fly its flag.
Article 13
Use of simulators
1. The performance standards and other provisions set out in section A-I/12 of the STCW Code and such other requirements as are prescribed in Part A of the STCW Code for any certificate concerned shall be complied with in respect of:
(a)
all mandatory simulator-based training;
(b)
any assessment of competence required by Part A of the STCW Code which is carried out by means of a simulator;
(c)
any demonstration, by means of a simulator, of continued proficiency required by Part A of the STCW Code.
2. Simulators installed or brought into use before 1 February 2002 may be exempted from full compliance with the performance standards referred to in paragraph 1 at the discretion of each Member State.
Article 14
Responsibilities of companies
1. In accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 Member States shall hold companies responsible for the assignment of seafarers for service in their ships in accordance with this Directive, and shall require every company to ensure that:
(a)
each seafarer assigned to any of its ships holds an appropriate certificate in accordance with the provisions of this Directive and as established by the Member State;
(b)
its ships are manned in accordance with the applicable safe-manning requirements of the Member State;
(c)
documentation and data relevant to all seafarers employed on its ships are maintained and readily accessible, and include, without being limited to, documentation and data on their experience, training, medical fitness and competence in assigned duties;
(d)
on being assigned to any of its ships seafarers are familiarised with their specific duties and with all ship arrangements, installations, equipment, procedures, and ship characteristics that are relevant to their routine or emergency duties;
(e)
the ship’s complement can effectively coordinate their activities in an emergency situation and in performing functions vital to safety or to the prevention or mitigation of pollution.
2. Companies, masters and crew members shall each have responsibility for ensuring that the obligations set out in this Article are given full and complete effect and that such other measures as may be necessary are taken to ensure that each crew member can make a knowledgeable and informed contribution to the safe operation of the ship.
3. The company shall provide written instructions to the master of each ship to which this Directive applies, setting out the policies and the procedures to be followed to ensure that all seafarers who are newly employed on board the ship are given a reasonable opportunity to become familiar with the shipboard equipment, operating procedures and other arrangements needed for the proper performance of their duties, before being assigned to those duties. Such policies and procedures shall include:
(a)
the allocation of a reasonable period of time during which each newly employed seafarer will have an opportunity to become acquainted with:
(i)
the specific equipment the seafarer will be using or operating; and
(ii)
ship-specific watchkeeping, safety, environmental protection and emergency procedures and arrangements the seafarer needs to know to perform the assigned duties properly;
(b)
the designation of a knowledgeable crew member who will be responsible for ensuring that each newly employed seafarer is given an opportunity to receive essential information in a language the seafarer understands.
Article 15
Fitness for duty
1. For the purpose of preventing fatigue, Member States shall establish and enforce rest periods for watchkeeping personnel and require that watch systems are arranged in such a way that the efficiency of watchkeeping personnel is not impaired by fatigue and that duties are organised in such a way that the first watch at the start of a voyage and subsequent relieving watches are sufficiently rested and otherwise fit for duty.
2. All persons who are assigned duty as officer in charge of a watch or as a rating forming part of a watch shall be allowed at least 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period.
3. The hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least six hours long.
4. The requirements for rest periods laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 need not be maintained in the event of an emergency or drill or in other overriding operational conditions.
5. Notwithstanding paragraphs 2 and 3, the minimum period of 10 hours may be reduced to not less than 6 consecutive hours provided that no such reduction shall extend beyond 2 days and at least 70 hours of rest are provided each 7-day period.
6. Member States shall require that watch schedules be posted where they are easily accessible.
Article 16
Dispensation
1. In circumstances of exceptional necessity, competent authorities may, if in their opinion this does not cause danger to persons, property or the environment, issue a dispensation permitting a specified seafarer to serve in a specified ship for a specified period not exceeding six months in a capacity, other than that of the radio operator, except as provided by the relevant Radio Regulations, for which he or she does not hold the appropriate certificate, provided that the person to whom the dispensation is issued shall be adequately qualified to fill the vacant post in a safe manner to the satisfaction of the competent authorities. However, dispensations shall not be granted to a master or chief engineer officer, except in circumstances of force majeure and then only for the shortest possible period.
2. Any dispensation granted for a post shall be granted only to a person properly certificated to fill the post immediately below. Where certification of the post below is not required, a dispensation may be issued to a person whose qualification and experience are, in the opinion of the competent authorities, of a clear equivalence to the requirements for the post to be filled, provided that, if such a person holds no appropriate certificate, he or she shall be required to pass a test accepted by the competent authorities as demonstrating that such a dispensation may safely be issued. In addition, the competent authorities shall ensure that the post in question is filled by the holder of an appropriate certificate as soon as possible.
Article 17
Responsibilities of Member States with regard to training and assessment
1. Member States shall designate the authorities or bodies which shall:
(a)
give the training referred to in Article 3;
(b)
organise and/or supervise the examinations where required;
(c)
issue the certificates of competence referred to in Article 11;
(d)
grant the dispensations provided for in Article 16.
2. Member States shall ensure that:
(a)
all training and assessment of seafarers is:
(i)
structured in accordance with the written programmes, including such methods and media of delivery, procedures and course material as are necessary to achieve the prescribed standard of competence; and
(ii)
conducted, monitored, evaluated and supported by persons qualified in accordance with points (d), (e) and (f);
(b)
persons conducting in-service training or assessment on board ship do so only when such training or assessment will not adversely affect the normal operation of the ship and they can dedicate their time and attention to training or assessment;
(c)
instructors, supervisors and assessors are appropriately qualified for the particular types and levels of training or assessment of competence of seafarers either on board or ashore;
(d)
any person conducting in-service training of a seafarer, either on board or ashore, which is intended to be used in qualifying for certification under this Directive:
(i)
has an appreciation of the training programme and an understanding of the specific training objectives for the particular type of training being conducted;
(ii)
is qualified in the task for which training is being conducted; and
(iii)
if conducting training using a simulator:
-
has received appropriate guidance in instructional techniques involving the use of simulators, and
-
has gained practical operational experience on the particular type of simulator being used;
(e)
any person responsible for the supervision of the in-service training of a seafarer intended to be used in qualifying for certification has a full understanding of the training programme and the specific objectives for each type of training being conducted;
(f)
any person conducting in-service assessment of the competence of a seafarer, either on board or ashore, which is intended to be used in qualifying for certification under this Directive:
(i)
has an appropriate level of knowledge and understanding of the competence to be assessed;
(ii)
is qualified in the task for which the assessment is being made;
(iii)
has received appropriate guidance in assessment methods and practice;
(iv)
has gained practical assessment experience; and
(v)
if conducting assessment involving the use of simulators, has gained practical assessment experience on the particular type of simulator under the supervision and to the satisfaction of an experienced assessor;
(g)
when a Member State recognises a course of training, a training institution, or a qualification granted by a training institution, as part of its requirements for the issue of a certificate, the qualifications and experience of instructors and assessors are covered in the application of the quality standard provisions of Article 10; such qualification, experience and application of quality standards shall incorporate appropriate training in instructional techniques and training and assessment methods and practice and comply with all applicable requirements of points (d), (e) and (f).
Article 18
On-board communication
Member States shall ensure that:
(a)
without prejudice to points (b) and (d), there are at all times, on board all ships flying the flag of a Member State, means in place for effective oral communication relating to safety between all members of the ship’s crew, particularly with regard to the correct and timely reception and understanding of messages and instructions;
(b)
on board all passenger ships flying the flag of a Member State and on board all passenger ships starting and/or finishing a voyage in a Member State port, in order to ensure effective crew performance in safety matters, a working language is established and recorded in the ship’s log-book;
the company or the master, as appropriate, shall determine the appropriate working language; each seafarer shall be required to understand and, where appropriate, give orders and instructions and report back in that language;
if the working language is not an official language of the Member State, all plans and lists that must be posted shall include translations into the working language;
(c)
on board passenger ships, personnel nominated on muster lists to assist passengers in emergency situations are readily identifiable and have communication skills that are sufficient for that purpose, taking into account an appropriate and adequate combination of any of the following factors:
(i)
the language or languages appropriate to the principal nationalities of passengers carried on a particular route;
(ii)
the likelihood that an ability to use elementary English vocabulary for basic instructions can provide a means of communicating with a passenger in need of assistance whether or not the passenger and crew member share a common language;
(iii)
the possible need to communicate during an emergency by some other means (e.g. by demonstration, hand signals, or calling attention to the location of instructions, muster stations, life-saving devices or evacuation routes) when verbal communication is impractical;
(iv)
the extent to which complete safety instructions have been provided to passengers in their native language or languages;
(v)
the languages in which emergency announcements may be broadcast during an emergency or drill to convey critical guidance to passengers and to facilitate crew members in assisting passengers;
(d)
on board oil tankers, chemical tankers and liquefied gas tankers flying the flag of a Member State, the master, officers and rating are able to communicate with each other in (a) common working language(s);
(e)
there are adequate means for communication between the ship and the shore-based authorities; these communications shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter V, Regulation 14, paragraph 4, of the SOLAS 74;
(f)
when carrying out port State control under Directive 95/21/EC, Member States also check that ships flying the flag of a State other than a Member State comply with this Article.
Article 19
Recognition of certificates
1. Seafarers who do not possess the certificates referred to in Article 4 may be allowed to serve on ships flying the flag of a Member State, provided that a decision on the recognition of their appropriate certificates has been adopted through the procedure set out in paragraphs 2 to 6 of this Article.
2. A Member State which intends to recognise, by endorsement, appropriate certificates issued by a third country to a master, officer or radio operator, for service on ships flying its flag, shall submit a request for recognition of that third country to the Commission, stating its reasons.
The Commission, assisted by the European Maritime Safety Agency and with the possible involvement of any Member State concerned, shall collect the information referred to in Annex II and shall carry out an assessment of the training and certification systems in the third country for which the request for recognition was submitted, in order to verify whether the country concerned meets all the requirements of the STCW Convention and whether the appropriate measures have been taken to prevent fraud involving certificates.
3. The decision on the recognition of a third country shall be taken by the Commission in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 28(2), within three months from the date of the request for recognition.
If granted, the recognition shall be valid subject to the provisions of Article 20.
If no decision is taken on recognition of the third country concerned within the period laid down in the first subparagraph, the Member State submitting the request may decide to recognise the third country unilaterally until a decision is taken in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 28(2).
4. A Member State may decide, with respect to ships flying its flag, to endorse certificates issued by the third countries recognised by the Commission, account being taken of the provisions contained in Annex II, points (4) and (5).
5. Recognitions of certificates issued by recognised third countries and published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series, before 14 June 2005 shall remain valid.
These recognitions may be used by all Member States unless the Commission has subsequently withdrawn them pursuant to Article 20.
6. The Commission shall draw up and update a list of the third countries that have been recognised. The list shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series.
7. Notwithstanding Article 5(6), a Member State may, if circumstances require, allow a seafarer to serve in a capacity other than radio officer or radio operator, except as provided by the Radio Regulations, for a period not exceeding three months on board a ship flying its flag, while holding an appropriate and valid certificate issued and endorsed as required by a third country, but not yet endorsed for recognition by the Member State concerned so as to render it appropriate for service on board a ship flying its flag.
Documentary proof shall be kept readily available that application for an endorsement has been submitted to the competent authorities.
Article 20
Non-compliance with the requirements of the STCW Convention
1. Notwithstanding the criteria specified in Annex II, when a Member State considers that a recognised third country no longer complies with the requirements of the STCW Convention, it shall notify the Commission immediately, giving substantiated reasons therefor.
The Commission shall without delay refer the matter to the Committee referred to in Article 28(1).
2. Notwithstanding the criteria set out in Annex II, when the Commission considers that a recognised third country no longer complies with the requirements of the STCW Convention, it shall notify the Member States immediately, giving substantiated reasons therefor.
The Commission shall without delay refer the matter to the Committee referred to in Article 28(1).
3. When a Member State intends to withdraw the endorsements of all certificates issued by a third country it shall without delay inform the Commission and the other Member States of its intention, giving substantiated reasons therefor.
4. The Commission, assisted by the European Maritime Safety Agency, shall reassess the recognition of the third country concerned in order to verify whether that country failed to comply with the requirements of the STCW Convention.
5. Where there are indications that a particular maritime training establishment no longer complies with the requirements of the STCW Convention, the Commission shall notify the country concerned that recognition of that country’s certificates will be withdrawn in two months’ time unless measures are taken to ensure compliance with all the requirements of the STCW Convention.
6. The decision on the withdrawal of the recognition shall be taken in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 28(2), within two months from the date of the communication made by the Member State.
The Member States concerned shall take appropriate measures to implement the decision.
7. Endorsements attesting recognition of certificates, issued in accordance with Article 5(6) before the date on which the decision to withdraw recognition of the third country is taken, shall remain valid. Seafarers holding such endorsements may not claim an endorsement recognising a higher qualification, however, unless that upgrading is based solely on additional seagoing service experience.
Article 21
Reassessment
1. The third countries that have been recognised under the procedure referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 19(3), including those referred to in Article 19(6), shall be reassessed by the Commission, with the assistance of the European Maritime Safety Agency, on a regular basis and at least every five years to verify that they fulfil the relevant criteria set out in Annex II and whether the appropriate measures have been taken to prevent fraud involving certificates.
2. The Commission shall define the priority criteria for assessment of third countries on the basis of performance data provided by the port State control pursuant to Article 23, as well as the information relating to the reports of the independent evaluations communicated by third countries pursuant to section A-I/7 of the STCW Code.
3. The Commission shall provide the Member States with a report on the results of the assessment.
Article 22
Port State control
1. Irrespective of the flag it flies each ship, with the exception of those types of ships excluded by Article 2, shall, while in the ports of a Member State, be subject to port State control by officers duly authorised by that Member State to verify that all seafarers serving on board who are required to be certificated by the STCW Convention are so certificated or hold appropriate dispensations.
2. When exercising port State control under this Directive, Member States shall ensure that all relevant provisions and procedures laid down in Directive 95/21/EC are applied.
Article 23
Port State control procedures
1. Without prejudice to Directive 95/21/EC, port State control pursuant to Article 22 shall be limited to the following:
(a)
verification that every seafarer serving on board who must be certificated in accordance with the STCW Convention holds an appropriate certificate or a valid dispensation or provides documentary proof that an application for an endorsement attesting recognition has been submitted to the authorities of the flag State;
(b)
verification that the numbers and certificates of the seafarers serving on board are in accordance with the safe-manning requirements of the authorities of the flag State.
2. The ability of the ship’s seafarers to maintain watchkeeping standards as required by the STCW Convention shall be assessed in accordance with Part A of the STCW Code if there are clear grounds for believing that such standards are not being maintained because any of the following has occurred:
(a)
the ship has been involved in a collision, grounding or stranding;
(b)
there has been a discharge of substances from the ship when under way, at anchor or at berth which is illegal under an international convention;
(c)
the ship has been manoeuvred in an erratic or unsafe manner whereby routing measures adopted by the IMO, or safe navigation practices and procedures have not been followed;
(d)
the ship is otherwise being operated in such a manner as to pose a danger to persons, property or the environment;
(e)
a certificate has been fraudulently obtained or the holder of a certificate is not the person to whom that certificate was originally issued;
(f)
the ship is flying the flag of a country which has not ratified the STCW Convention, or has a master, officer or rating holding a certificate issued by a third country which has not ratified the STCW Convention.
3. Notwithstanding verification of the certificate, assessment under paragraph 2 may require the seafarer to demonstrate the relevant competence at the place of duty. Such a demonstration may include verification that operational requirements in respect of watchkeeping standards have been met and that there is a proper response to emergency situations within the seafarer’s level of competence.
Article 24
Detention
Without prejudice to Directive 95/21/EC, the following deficiencies, in so far as they have been determined by the officer carrying out the port State control that they pose a danger to persons, property or the environment, shall be the only grounds under this Directive on which a Member State may detain a ship:
(a)
failure of seafarers to hold certificates, to have appropriate certificates, to have valid dispensations or provide documentary proof that an application for an endorsement attesting recognition has been submitted to the authorities of the flag State;
(b)
failure to comply with the applicable safe-manning requirements of the flag State;
(c)
failure of navigational or engineering-watch arrangements to conform to the requirements specified for the ship by the flag State;
(d)
absence in a watch of a person qualified to operate equipment essential to safe navigation, safety radio communications or the prevention of marine pollution;
(e)
failure to provide proof of professional proficiency for the duties assigned to seafarers for the safety of the ship and the prevention of pollution;
(f)
inability to provide for the first watch at the commencement of a voyage and for subsequent relieving watches persons who are sufficiently rested and otherwise fit for duty.
Article 25
Regular monitoring of compliance
Without prejudice to the powers of the Commission under Article 226 of the Treaty, the Commission, assisted by the European Maritime Safety Agency, shall verify on a regular basis and at least every five years that Member States comply with the minimum requirements laid down by this Directive.
Article 26
Reports
1. Not later than 14 December 2008 the Commission shall submit an evaluation report to the European Parliament and the Council, based on a detailed analysis and evaluation of the provisions of the STCW Convention, the implementation thereof and new insights gained with regard to the correlation between safety and the level of training of ships’ crews.
2. Not later than 20 October 2010 the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council an evaluation report drawn up on the basis of the information obtained pursuant to Article 25.
In the report the Commission shall analyse the Member States’ compliance with this Directive and, where necessary, make proposals for additional measures.
Article 27
Amendment
1. This Directive may be amended by the Commission in order to apply, for the purposes of this Directive, subsequent amendments to the international codes referred to in points (16), (17), (18), (23) and (24) of Article 1 which have entered into force.
This Directive may also be amended by the Commission in order to apply, for the purposes of this Directive, any relevant amendments to Community legislation.
Those measures designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 28(3).
2. Following the adoption of new instruments or protocols to the STCW Convention, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, shall decide, taking into account the Member States’ parliamentary procedures, as well as the relevant procedures within the IMO on the detailed arrangements for ratifying those new instruments or protocols, while ensuring that they are applied uniformly and simultaneously in the Member States.
3. The amendments to the international instruments referred to in Article 1(16), (17), (18), (21), (22) and (24) may be excluded from the scope of this Directive, pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 November 2002 establishing a Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS) (10).
Article 28
Committee procedure
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS), established by Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at eight weeks.
3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4), and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
Article 29
Transitional provisions
Where pursuant to Article 12 a Member State reissues or extends the validity of certificates which it originally issued under the provisions which applied before 1 February 1997, the Member State may, at its discretion, replace tonnage limitations appearing on the original certificates as follows:
(a)
‘200 gross registered tonnes’ may be replaced by ‘500 gross tonnage’;
(b)
‘1 600 gross registered tonnes’ may be replaced by ‘3 000 gross tonnage’.
Article 30
Penalties
Member States shall lay down systems of penalties for breaching the national provisions adopted pursuant to Articles 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 to 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24 and 29, and Annexes I and II, and shall take all the measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Article 31
Communication
Member States shall immediately communicate to the Commission the texts of all the provisions which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.
The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.
Article 32
Repeal
Directive 2001/25/EC, as amended by the Directives listed in Annex III, Part A, is repealed, without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time limits for transposition into national law of the Directives set out in Annex III, Part B.
References to the repealed Directive shall be construed as references to this Directive and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex IV.
Article 33
Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 34
Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 19 November 2008.