16/04/2024 14:26

Conditions to become a ship master in Vietnam

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I am currently a crew member working on a ship in Nha Trang. What are the conditions for becoming a ship master in Vietnam? "Mr. H - Nha Trang"

Regarding this matter, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Conditions to become a ship master in Vietnam

Based on Articles 24, 25, and 26 of Circular 20/2023/TT-BGTVT on the conditions for issuing Certificates of Professional Competence for ship masters and chief officers, as follows:

Certificate of Professional Competence for ship masters of ships from 50 GT to under 500 GT and chief officers of ships under 500 GT (near shore journey)

Certificate of Professional Competence for ship masters and chief officers of ships from 500 GT to under 3000 GT

Certificate of Professional Competence for ship masters and chief officers of ships from 3000 GT and above

Professional conditions

+ Have graduated from the marine navigation major at intermediate level or higher;

+ Have maritime English level 1 or higher;

+ Complete the professional training program prescribed by the Minister of Transport;

+ Pass the exam for ship masters and chief officer of a ship from 50 GT to under 500 GT.

+ Have graduated from the marine navigation major at college level or higher. In case of graduating from the marine navigation major at intermediate level, it is necessary to complete the advanced training program prescribed by the Minister of Transport;

+ Have maritime English level 2 or higher;

+ Complete the professional training program prescribed by the Minister of Transport;

+ Pass the exam for ship masters and chief officer of a ship from 500 GT to under 3000 GT.

+ Have graduated from the marine navigation major at university level; in case of graduating from the marine navigation major at college level, it is necessary to complete the advanced training program prescribed by the Minister of Transport;

+ Have maritime English level 3;

+ Complete the professional training program prescribed by the Minister of Transport;

+ Pass the exam for ship masters and chief officer of a ship from 3000 GT and above.

Conditions for holding the position

+ For chief officer: have a minimum of 24 months of experience as a deck officer on a ship under 500 GT on a near shore journey;

+ For ship masters: have a minimum of 24 months of experience as a deputy ship master on a ship under 500 GT on a near shore journey.

+ For chief officer: have a minimum of 24 months of experience as a deck officer on a ship from 500 GT and above;

+ For ship masters: have a minimum of 24 months of experience as a deputy ship master on a ship from 500 GT to under 3000 GT or have a minimum of 12 months of experience as a ship master from 50 GT to under 500 GT on a near shore journey and have a minimum of 12 months of experience as a deputy ship master on a ship from 500 GT to under 3000 GT.

+ For chief officer: have a minimum of 24 months of experience as a deck officer on a ship from 500 GT and above;

For the ship master: must have served as the deputy ship master of a ship of 3000 GT or more for at least 24 months, or have served as the ship master of a ship from 500 GT to under 3000 GT for at least 12 months and served as the deputy ship master of a ship of 3000 GT or more for at least 12 months.

In addition, ship masters in particular and crew members in general must ensure the general conditions stipulated in Article 23 of Circular 20/2023/TT-BGTVT.

- Meeting the age and health standards as prescribed.

- Having graduated or completed one of the following programs:

+ Graduated in the field or major of ship control, ship engine exploitation, or ship electrical engineering in accordance with the training program prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training or the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs;

+ Graduated in the fields or majors specified in point a of this clause at foreign training institutions recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training;

+ Graduated from the maritime officer training program as prescribed by the Minister of Transport;

+ Completed the training courses for OS watch seamen, Oiler watch engineers, electrical technicians under the college-level training program or higher at maritime training institutions and meet the regulations in Section A- II/4; A- III/4; A- III/7 of the STCW Code.

- The following cases must supplement the subjects not yet studied or not fully studied.

+ Graduated in the field or major specified in clause 2 of this Article at schools that do not offer maritime majors;

+ Graduated in the major of ship engine repair at maritime training institutions;

+ Graduated in the major of controlling inland waterway vehicles, inland waterway vehicle engines, or electrical engineering of inland waterway vehicles at inland waterway specialized training institutions.

- The following case does not need to supplement: Graduated in a field or major with a different name from the group of fields specified in clause 2 of this Article, but has fully studied the subjects according to the training program of the field or major specified in clause 2 of this Article at maritime training institutions.

- Meeting the professional qualifications and time of holding the corresponding position for each position stipulated in Articles 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 of Circular 20/2023/TT-BGTVT.

2. Duties of the ship master aboard a Vietnamese ship

Based on clause 1 of Article 52 of the Vietnam Maritime Code 2015:

- The ship master is the person vested with the supreme command of the ship as an organization’s head. All people onboard the ship must observe the ship master’s commands.

In addition, according to the regulations in Article 4 of Circular 23/2017/TT-BGTVT, the master is the ship's highest responsible officer. The master shall perform the following duties:

- Handing over and receiving the ship;

- Putting the ship into operation, suspending operation, or repairing or decommissioning;

- Ensuring all matters on the ship throughout the journey;

- Using pilot to guide the ship;

- Searching and rescuing victims;

- Search and rescue, salvage of distressed ships;

- Resolving when the ship encounters accidents, collisions;

- When abandoning the ship, the ship master must be the last person to leave the ship;

- Resolving when there are patients on the ship;

- Resolving when the ship enters, leaves the port, and anchors;

- Applying necessary measures to ensure absolute safety for passengers, crew, goods, luggage, and property on the ship;

- Receiving newly built ships;

- Repairing the ship;

- On duty.

Thus, to qualify to become a ship master of a Vietnamese sea vessel, you must meet the above criteria in accordance with the law.

Nguyen Minh Khoi.

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Nguyen Minh Khoi