Requirements for foreign seafarers working onboard Vietnamese-flagged ships

Requirements for foreign seafarers working onboard Vietnamese-flagged ships are specified in Circular No. 17/2017/TT-BGTVT amended by Clause 3 Article 1 of Circular No. 43/2019/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, specifically as follows:

First, general requirements:

A foreign seafarer must:

- meet all standards of seafarer’s health and working age under Vietnam’s labor legislation;

- possess a working permit, or a written document confirming his/her exemption from a work permit, granted by the Employment Department under the management of the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, or provincial Departments of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs;

- have a seafarer’s employment contract signed in accordance with regulations of the law of Vietnam and in conformity with the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention by the International Labour Organization. Such employment contract must be consistent with the work permit or the written document confirming exemption from a work permit;

- hold the passport which is at least 6 months left to the expiry date and is issued by a competent regulatory authority in his/her home country;

Second, professional requirements:

- A foreign seafarer working onboard a Vietnamese-flagged ship must possess a Certificate issued by the competent authority of Vietnam or of the State or the territory that has entered into an agreement with Vietnam on endorsement of certificates. If a foreign seafarer possesses a Certificate issued by the competent authority of the State or the territory that has entered into an agreement with Vietnam on endorsement of certificates issued in conformance to principles II/1, II/2, II/3, II/4, II/5, III/1, III/2, III/3, III/4, III/5, III/6, III/7, IV/2, V/1-1 and V/1-2 of the STCW, he/she must obtain an endorsement of Certificate of professional competence;

- Experience: He/she must spend the sea time extending the minimum period of 36 months.

Endorsement of Certificate of Professional Competence refers to a written document that Vietnam Maritime Administration, or a Maritime Department or a Maritime Administration authorized by Vietnam Maritime Administration issues to a foreign seafarer certificated by competent entities of countries or territories with which Vietnam has signed agreements on endorsement of professional certificates to qualify for serving on board Vietnamese-flag ships.

View more details at Circular No. 43/2019/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, effective from August 01, 2020.

Thu Ba

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE