Commission Directive 2005/23/EC of 8 March 2005 amending Directive 2001/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2005-03-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: crew, maritime shipping, professional qualifications, vocational training

L 62/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.3.2005

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2005/23/EC

of 8 March 2005

amending Directive 2001/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum
level of training of seafarers

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Article 1

Having regard to Directive 2001/25/EC of
Parliament and of
minimum level of
Article 22(1) thereof,

the European
the Council of 4 April 2001 on the
training of seafarers (1), and in particular

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Directive 2001/25/EC defines minimum training, certifi-
cation and watchkeeping requirements
seafarers
serving on board Community ships. Those requirements
are based on the standards laid down in the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) and the
Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code
(STCW Code).

for

The STCW Convention and the STCW Code have been
amended by Resolutions MSC.66(68) and MSC.67(68) of
the Maritime Safety Committee of
the International
Maritime Organisation, which entered into force on 1
January 1999, Resolution MSC.78(70), which entered
circulars
January
into
and
1
STCW.6/Circ.3 and
became
STCW.6/Circ.5, which
effective on 20 May 1998 and 26 May 2000, respec-
tively.

2003,

force

on

added

The new Regulation V/3 of the SCTW Convention, which
prescribes
by Resolution MSC.66(68),
was
mandatory minimum requirements of training and quali-
fications for masters, officers, ratings and other personnel
on passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships.

Directive 2001/25/EC should therefore be amended
accordingly.

The measures provided for
in this Directive are in
accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Safe
Seas, set up by Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 of the
European Parliament and of the Council (2),

In Annex I to Directive 2001/25/EC, Chapter V is amended as
follows:

1. In paragraph 3 of Regulation V/2,

the following text

is

added:

‘… or be required to provide evidence of having achieved the
required standard of competence within the previous five
years.’

2. The following text is added at the end of the Chapter:

‘Regulation V/3

Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and
qualifications of masters, officers, ratings and other
personnel on passenger
than ro-ro
passenger ships

ships other

1. This Regulation applies to masters, officers, ratings and
other personnel serving on board passenger ships, other
than ro-ro passenger ships, engaged on international
voyages. Administrations shall determine the applicability
of these requirements to personnel serving on passenger
ships engaged on domestic voyages.

2. Prior

to being assigned shipboard duties on board
passenger
shall have completed the
training required by paragraphs 4 to 8 below in
accordance with their capacity, duties and responsibilities.

seafarers

ships,

3. Seafarers who are required to be trained in accordance
with paragraphs 4, 7 and 8 below shall, at intervals not
exceeding five years, undertake appropriate refresher
training or be required to provide evidence of having
achieved the required standard of competence within
the previous five years.

(1) OJ L 136, 18.5.2001, p. 17. Directive as last amended by Directive

2003/103/EC (OJ L 326, 13.12.2003, p. 28).

(2) OJ L 324, 29.11.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) No 415/2004 (OJ L 68, 6.3.2004,
p. 10).

4. Personnel designated on muster lists to assist passengers
in emergency situations on board passenger ships shall
have
as
specified in section A-V/3, paragraph 1, of the STCW
Code.

completed training in crowd management

9.3.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/15

5. Masters, officers and other personnel assigned specific
ships
duties and responsibilities on board passenger
shall
training
the
specified in section A-V/3, paragraph 2, of the STCW
Code.

familiarisation

completed

have

Article 2

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this
Directive by 29 September 2005 at
the latest. They shall
forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

6. Personnel providing direct service to passengers on board
passenger ships in passenger spaces shall have completed
the safety training specified in section A-V/3, paragraph
3, of the STCW Code.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain
a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a
reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member
States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

7. Masters, chief mates and every person assigned immediate
responsibility for embarking and disembarking passengers
shall have completed approved training in passenger
safety as specified in section A-V/3, paragraph 4, of the
STCW Code.

8. Masters, chief mates, chief engineer officers,

second
engineer officers and any person having responsibility
for the safety of passengers in emergency situations on
board passenger ships shall have completed approved
training in crisis management and human behaviour as
specified in section A-V/3, paragraph 5, of the STCW
Code.

9. Administrations shall ensure that documentary evidence
of the training which has been completed is issued for
every person found qualified under the provisions of this
Regulation.’

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the
text of the provisions of national law which they adopt in the
field covered by this Directive.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day
following its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 March 2005.

For the Commission

Jacques BARROT
Vice-President