The arrangement of crew members on Vietnamese sea-going vessels is regulated as follows.

According to Article 63 of Circular 03/2020/TT-BGTVT (effective from April 15, 2020), the regulations on the arrangement of crew members on Vietnamese seagoing vessels are as follows:

- Shipowners are responsible for arranging crew members to work on Vietnamese seagoing vessels who meet the conditions stipulated in Article 59 of the Vietnam Maritime Code.

- The arrangement of crew members holding positions on Vietnamese seagoing vessels must satisfy the following requirements:

+ Must have an appropriate professional certificate. Crew members must not be assigned to positions higher than the position and category limitations specified in the Certificate of Competency (GCNKNCM).

+ Crew members holding a GCNKNCM as deck officers; engine officers and above are allowed to assume the positions of OS watchman, AB watchman; Oiler, AB engine watchman.

+ Crew members assigned to work on oil tankers, chemical tankers, liquefied gas ships, passenger ships, Ro-Ro passenger ships, ships operating in polar regions, and high-speed vessels must in addition to GCNKNCM and required service certificates for working on ordinary seagoing vessels, have the corresponding specific service certificates (GCNHLNVDB) for the type of vessel and position.

- Principles for the arrangement of positions in certain special cases:

+ In the event that a vessel is at sea and the captain or chief engineer is unable to perform their duties, the shipowner or ship operator can arrange for the senior first officer or the highest-ranking engine officer to replace the captain or chief engineer in order to continue the voyage but only up to the next port of call;

+ Captains of passenger ships must have at least 24 months of experience in the position of captain of a non-passenger ship of the same class or have served as the senior first officer on a passenger ship for at least 24 months.

The editorial board informs you accordingly.