Extension of Certificates of Seafarers

Extension of Certificates of Competency/Certificate of Proficiency of Seafarers

DGS Order 01 of 2021

1. Whereas vide DGS order 26 of 2020 dated 30.09.2020, the Director General of Shipping

granted deemed extension of CoPs to ratings till 31.12.2021or for one-contact, whichever comes first, provided that-

(D no extension has been availed by rating under previous orders / SOPs issued by

the Directorate and

(iD havejoined/ shall join ships on/prior to 31.12.2020 and

(iii) meet the continuous professional competence as per attached Annex I as on the

date oftheir joining.

2. Whereas vide DGS Order 33 of 2020 dated 03.11.2020, the Director General of Shipping

also granted extension of CoCs/CoPs issued to Master & Officers till 31.12.2021or for

one-contact, which-ever comes first, provided that-

(i) no extension has been availed by Masters & officers under previous orders / SOPs

issued by the Directorate and

(iD havejoined / shalljoin ship on/prior to 30 November 2020 ar.d,

(iiD meet continuous professional competence as per Annex I as on the date of their

joining.

3. Whereas INSA/FOSMAA,{ASSA in their submission has requested further extension of

above provisions of deemed extension for Master, Officers & ratings citing various

reasons such as lack of intemet connectivity, remote locations for undergoing the online

courses and at times they need to connect the seafarers due to unpredictable situations

arising due to the currently continuing pandemic posed by Covid-19 and hence requested

extension ofthe period for ratings till31.l2.202l and for offices ti1130.06.2021.

4. Noting that as early as in August 2020, the Directorate has facilitated conduct of

revalidation courses initially vide DGS Order 20 of 2020 dated 04.08.2020 via Three-Tier

training mechanism comprising of E-Learning, Virtual Classes/On-Line Video sessions

and Exit Exam and lately allowed conduct of all STCW Courses vide DGS Order 40 of

2020 dated 19.12.2020 via Three Tier training mechanism comprising of E-Learning,

Vim.ral Classes/On-Line Video sessions & Practical and Exit Exam.

5. Also considering that the grant of extension to all seafarer who are joining on/before

31.12.2021, which is almost for a period of l-year without revalidation will create long

queues of candidate requiring completion of mandatory courses once the pandemic is

over.

6. Further noting that it is only about 5-months since the Directorate facilitated completion

of mandatory training through newly devised Three Tier mechanism.

7. Taking all the above into consideration, the Directorate hereby grants deemed extension

of CoCs and/or CoPs until 31.12.2021 from date ofjoining or one contract whichever is

earlier for all those seafarers who comply with all of the following:

(i) the Seafarer has sigred-off from a ship on/after issue of DGS Order 20 of 2020.

(ii) the Seafarer has not availed any extension of CoC/CoP under any previously

issued Directorate Order/Circular/SoP whether while being on ship or ashore.

(iii) the seafarer joins the ship or/before 31.03.2021 and demonstrates continuous

professional competence as detailed in attached Annex I on the date of joining.