Types of professional certificates issued to seafarers working on Vietnamese-flagged ships

According to Circular No. 03/2020/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, professional certificates issued to seafarers working on Vietnamese-flagged ships include:

1. “Certificate of competency (CoC)” means a certificate issued to a seafarer in accordance with the provisions of the STCW Convention.

2. “Certificate of proficiency (CoP)” means a certificate issued to a seafarer in accordance with the provisions of the STCW Convention, including:

- Certificate of Proficiency in Basic Training (CoP in basic training);

- Certificate of Proficiency in Special Training (CoP in specialized training);

- Certificate of Proficiency in Professional Training (CoP in professional training).

Templates of professional certificates are available in Appendix I enclosed herewith.

In which, CoC shall be issued by Vietnam Maritime Administration, or its branch office, or the Maritime Administration with authorization from Vietnam Maritime Administration, to seafarers to serve in the relevant capacity. A CoC shall be valid for 05 years from the date of issue. Where the remaining working period of a seafarer until his retirement age is less than 05 years, the period of validity of the CoC shall be equal to that seafarer’s remaining working period as prescribed in the Labor Code.

Moreover, CoP in basic training shall be issued by training institutions to seafarers who have successfully completed basic training programs in personal survival techniques, fire fighting and fire prevention, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibility, and proficiency in security awareness in accordance with the provisions of the STCW Convention. A CoP in basic training shall be valid for 05 years from the date of issue. Where the remaining working period of a seafarer until his retirement age is less than 05 years, the period of validity of the CoP in basic training shall be equal to that seafarer’s remaining working period as prescribed in the Labor Code.

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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