DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SHIPPING

The Following are conversion charts from various grades of Engineers under the old rules to NCV grade under the MEO 1995 rules. These conversions have been initiated to bring the entire spectrum of experienced existing engineers under the NCV grade, to obviate the shortage of the NCV grade engineers in coastal shipping.

Flow Chart No. 1 for Conversion of SGED Existing Certificate Holder to NCV Grade

Flow Chart No.2 Conversion of FVE, FVED, Harbour Craft Engine Driver to NCV Grade

Flow Chart No. 3 for Conversion of MEO Class III (Old) to NCV Grade

Flow Chart No. 4 for Conversion of MEO Class II (old) to NCV Grade

The Examination Centre has every right to verify the testimonials for authenticity of a Candidate who seeks assessment of eligibility.

The Examination for Class III and Service Endorsements on Class II as per the MEO 1989 rules shall be discontinued from June 2002.

Candidates appearing / approved and passed in a few subjects of Class III are advised to change over to the new system. Such of these candidates will not be required to do the preparatory courses as specified, but directly appear for the examinations in any of the Institution of their choice, conducting such courses. There is no provision for any exemptions from any of the functions under the new examination rules for purposes of benefit of the old candidates.

Further to the Instructions to Examiner Circular No. 025, Issue No. 00 dated 1st November 2000, the Chief Examiner of Engineers has considered the various routes to conversion / conduct of NCV Class III (Second Engineer) and NCV Class III (Chief Engineer) courses prior to appearing for the examination. After due consideration, the following are noted for your guidance:-

(1) As per META Manual I, Flow Diagram No. 4 (Page III/19) and under Section M-III/6 Sub-section 5.2 (Page III/16), a candidate wishing to appear for Marine Engineer Officer Class III - Second Engineer officer - NCV has to satisfactorily complete an approved 4 months course prior to appearing for exam. At present no institute is conducting this course, thereby creating hardship for these candidates.

It has been decided to allow these candidates to do 3 months course approved for MEO Class IV Part 'B' exam. (Please see Flow Diagram No. 1 Page III/7 of META Manual Vol. I) (Rule 25(2) IV of Chapter III of M.S. (STCW) Rules as given in Appendix III/2).

(2) Henceforth all NCV candidates who have successfully completed 3 months course for MEO Class IV Part 'B' exam will be allowed to appear for Marine Engineer Officer Class III - Second Engineer Officer - NCV Exam. The written examination shall be conducted by the approved institutes where the candidate has undergone his course. The level of examination would however be of Class III - Second Engineer Officer (NCV).

(3) The 3 months course covering code A-III/3 as applicable for A-I/3 of STCW 95, has not yet commenced and hence in lieu of that the MEO Class II Part 'B' preparatory course is to be used in lieu of the NCV course. However, the written examination at the approved institutes shall be for level of MEO Class III - Chief Engineer Officer. The written examination shall be conducted by the approved institutes where the candidate has undergone his course. However, the examination at the institute must be for the level of a Chief Engineer of vessel of Near Coastal Voyage. (Rule 22/2 (iii) of Chapter III of M.S. (STCW) Rules as given in Appendix M-III/2A).

(4) In the event the candidate finally decides to get into the main stream of MEO Examination, he would stand exempted from the 6 months course covering Code A-III/1 and Code A-III/2 of STCW 95 as enumerated in Flow Diagram No. 4 and Training course in an approved institution of 6 months and 4 months respectively as enumerated in Flow Diagram No.3.

(5) All such candidates who already hold Class II Certificate of Competency with service endorsement and have served for a minimum period of 2 years as Chief Engineer of Vessels under the NCV area shall revalidate and upgrade their certificates consequent to which they shall be entitled to serve as Chief Engineer of Vessel upto 6000 KW in the NCV area. Candidates holding the Second Engineer Certificate of Competency without a service endorsement shall revalidate and upgrade their certificate, consequent to which they shall be entitled to serve as Chief Engineer of a vessel with engines upto 3000 KW, after successfully passing an orals conducted by a designated MMD.

In all the cases examination would be conducted at the respective MMDs, under whose jurisdiction the preparatory course for the NCV examination at the approved institute has been conducted.

The issue of candidate appearing for NCV examination, to served their apporved seatime with approved TAR BOOK has been under consideration in the Directorate and the following decision have been taken:-

(1) All candidates appearing for NCV Preparatory course and examination are required to have an approved TAR BOOK for their sea service. Since many of the candidates have commenced their sea service without TAR BOOK for lack of information and due to the non availability of NCV TAR BOOK in early Phase, it is now decided, that such of those candidates who have done their approved sea service after 1998 and will be appearing for the examination need not produce a TAR BOOK while appearing for their examination. However, any candidate who goes out to sea after February 2002, it will be mandatory for him to produce the duly authenticated TAR BOOK when appearing for Examination. These rules refer to Rule 25 (ii) and (iii), 26 and 27 of Chapter 3 of Meta Manual.

(2) The approved sea service or qualified sea service is the propelling times by the virtue of a appropriate sea time. Certificate issued by the owners / managers.

(3) The TAR BOOKs can be obtained from Institute of Marine Engineers (India) Office Nerul, Navi Mumbai or any other office designated by them. Such a book must be endorsed by any one of the Examiner of Engineers of the 3 Mercantile Marine Departments ( Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai ) prior to service on board the vessel.

These Instructions must be brought to the notice of all candidates desirous of appearing NCV Examination.