Subject:- Refresher Training for Basic and Advanced Safety Courses related to Fire Fighting and Survival Training as per Section A- VI/1 para 3 & 4), Section A- VI/2 (para 5 & 6), Section A-VI/3 (para 5 & 6) of STCW 2010

As the shipping Industry and the seafarers are well aware, the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention are scheduled to enter into force on 1st January 2012, through the Tacit Amendment Procedure as laid down in the STCW Convention.

These amendments have reaffirmed the need to provide evidence of having maintained the required standards of competency to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities in column 1 of table A-VI/1-1, A-VI/1-2, A-VI/2-1, and A-VI/3 of the STCW Code every five years.

These courses are:

Personal Survival Techniques (PST)

Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) (Commonly referred as Basic Fire Fighting)

Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF), respectively.

Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSCRB)

These standards of competence can be maintained either by training in the required competencies on board ships or ashore. Those identified areas where training can be imparted on board have been listed in the relevant sections of the A-Code of STCW 2010 and may be exempted by the Administration from the training requirements or demonstration of competence, and are hereby being exempted by the Maritime Administration of India.

However, in competence areas where training cannot be imparted on board ships in Basic and Advanced Safety Courses, the specific standards of competence are required to be demonstrated.

Therefore, seafarers in possession of Certificates issued more than five years ago are required to undertake Refresher Training and demonstration of competence to ensure continued maintenance of standards of competence.

Though, the transitional provisions under STCW 2010 - regulations II 15 extend upto 31st December 2016, the Directorate General of Shipping( DGS) has -

as a proactive measure;

in order to facilitate smooth transition to the amended requirements of the STCW Convention;

to ensure continued and uninterrupted employment for Indian Seafarers in a Global Scenario;

decided to make available such refresher training much earlier than the expected entry into force date of the amendments, as follows:

Personal Survival Techniques (PST):

All Maritime Training Institutes approved by the Director General of Shipping for conduct of Personal Survival Techniques (PST) course are hereby permitted to conduct Refresher Training in areas where training cannot be conducted on board ships in Personal Survival Techniques (PST) on obtaining approval of the Directorate General of Shipping.

Duration of Training: 2 Hrs

Capacity: Same as approved for the Personal Survival Techniques Course

Frequency of the Training: Not more than three Refresher Training Programmes in a week

Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF): All Maritime Training Institutes approved by the Director General of Shipping for conduct of Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) course are hereby permitted to conduct Refresher Training in areas where training cannot be conducted on board ships in Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) on obtaining approval of the Directorate General of Shipping.

Duration of Training: 3 Hrs

Capacity: Same as approved for the Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF)

Frequency of the Training: Not more than three Refresher Training Programmes in a week

Note: The refresher training for PST & FPFF as in para 7.1 & 7.2 should preferably be offered as a package of one day duration.

Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSCRB): All Maritime Training Institutes approved by the Director General of Shipping for conduct of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat other than fast Rescue Boats (PSCRB) course are hereby permitted to conduct Refresher Training in areas where training cannot be conducted on board ships

in Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat other than fast Rescue Boats (PSCRB), in addition to the Refresher Training for Personal Survival Techniques (PST) as per paragraph 7.1, on obtaining approval of the Directorate General of Shipping.

Duration of Training: 4.5 Hrs

Capacity: Same as approved for the Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat other than fast Rescue Boats (PSCRB)

Frequency of the Training: Not more than three Refresher Training Programmes in a week

This refresher training for PST & PSCRB should preferably be offered as a package of one day duration.

Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF): Maritime Training Institutes approved by the Director General of Shipping for conduct of Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) course are hereby permitted to conduct Refresher Training in areas where training cannot be conducted on board ships in Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF), in addition to Refresher Training in Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) as per paragraph 7.2, on obtaining approval of the Directorate General of Shipping. Duration of Training: 4 Hrs

Capacity: Same as approved for the Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)

Frequency of the Training: Not more than three Refresher Training Programmes in a week This refresher training for FPFF & AFF should preferably be offered as a package of one day duration.

The details of the Refresher Training Elements where demonstration of competence ashore in an approved training institute is required every five years for each of the Courses is listed in Annex 1.

The course outline for the above refresher trainings is attached as Annex 2 for reference purposes.

The institutes may need to engage additional faculty members / instructors to ensure continued compliance with the DGS stipulated maximum teaching hours and teacher: student ratio. The load matrix is to be submitted to the respective Academic Council and training branch of the Directorate for record, and the same will be verified during the scheduled inspections or unscheduled inspections by the Directorate.

The institutes are required to issue documentary evidence in the format attached in Annex 3, 4 5 or 6 as applicable to the candidates on their successful completion of the respective refresher training.

The processing fees for the said course is fixed as Rs. 25,000/-, each, which is required to be paid along with the proposal for the approval of the course

All other requirements as per the DGS Guidelines.

The approved Training Institutes should upload the details of Refresher Training in the E-Governance System notified by Training Circular 3 of 2011 dated 22nd March, 2011

This circular enters into force with immediate effect.

This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and ex- officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India, under the power conferred in the Chapter IX Rule 47 of Merchant Shipping (Standards of, Certification & watch-keeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998.

Sd/-

[Mahua Sarkar]

Dy Director General of Shipping