Requirements for Vietnamese-flagged ship’s complement from April 15, 2020

Ship-owners shall arrange seafarers who meet eligibility requirements in Article 59 of Vietnam Maritime Code to work on board Vietnamese-flagged ships. According to Circular No. 03/2020/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, a seafarer who is designated to work on a Vietnamese-flagged ship shall be required to meet the following requirements:

- He must hold an appropriate professional certificate. A seafarer cannot be designated to the capacity higher than the capacity and relevant limitations indicated in his CoC. A holder of CoC for deck officer or engineer officer or higher may be designated to the capacity of ratings forming a part of a navigational watch, AB deck rating, Oiler rating forming part of engine-room watch or AB engine rating.

- In addition to CoC and CoP required to work on normal ships, a seafarer assigned to work on oil, chemical or liquefied gas tanker, passenger ship, Ro-Ro passenger ship, ship operating in polar waters or a high-speed craft shall be required to have a CoP in special training appropriate to the capacity he will undertake on the ship.

Moreover, Circular No. 03/2020/TT-BGTVT also specifies principles for capacity designation in exceptional circumstances:

- In the event of incapacity of the master or chief engineer on a ship which is on his voyage, the ship-owner or the ship operator shall assign the chief officer or deck officer holding the highest capacity to take charge of responsibilities of the master or chief engineer to maneuver the ship until he reaches the first port of destination;

- A master on a passenger ship must have served in the capacity of master on non-passenger ships of the same grade for at least 24 months or in the capacity of chief officer on passenger ships for at least 24 months.

View more at Circular No. 03/2020/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, effective from April 15, 2020.

Thu Ba

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