Vietnam: Change of the master/chief engineer certificate or qualification for working aboard fishing vessels

According to Circular No. 40/2019/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, regarding those who hold the unexpired master/chief engineer license or unexpired master/chief engineer qualification issued by Vietnamese competent authorities; foreigners or Vietnamese persons residing overseas who hold the unexpired master/chief engineer license or unexpired master/chief engineer qualification issued by foreign competent authorities, if they wish to work aboard the domestic inland waterway ships, they are required to apply for a change from this license or certificate to the certificate of competency of master or chief engineer, or equivalent domestic inland waterway ship qualification in accordance with regulations laid down herein.

As for the master/chief engineer certificate or qualification for working aboard fishing vessels:

- Those who hold the master/chief engineer qualification/certificate for working aboard the fishing vessel grade I and have been holding the title as a master or chief engineer working aboard the fishing vessel grade I for at least 18 months are eligible to have this qualification/certificate changed to the certificate of competency of master or chief engineer grade 2 for working aboard the inland waterway ship but are required to take tests in subjects equivalent to those that a master or chief engineer grade 2 must take, and satisfy the statutory requirements;

- Those who hold the master/chief engineer qualification/certificate for working aboard the fishing vessel grade II and have been holding the title as a master or chief engineer working aboard the fishing vessel grade II for at least 18 months are eligible to have this qualification/certificate changed to the certificate of competency of master or chief engineer grade 3 for working aboard the inland waterway ship but are required to complete the refresher training program equivalent to the refresher training program that a master or chief engineer grade 3 must complete, take tests in subjects equivalent to those that a master or chief engineer grade 2 must take, and satisfy the statutory requirements;

- Those who hold the master/chief engineer qualification/certificate for working aboard the fishing vessel grade III and have been holding the title as a master working aboard the fishing vessel grade III for at least 18 months are eligible to have this qualification/certificate changed to the certificate of competency of master grade 4 for working aboard the inland waterway ship but are required to complete the refresher training program equivalent to the refresher training program equivalent that a master or chief engineer grade 4 must complete, take tests in subjects equivalent to those that a master grade 4 must take, and satisfy the statutory requirements;

- Those who hold chief engineer qualification/certificate for working aboard the fishing vessel grade III and have been holding the title as a chief engineer working aboard the fishing vessel grade III for at least 18 months are eligible to have this qualification/certificate changed to the certificate of competency of chief engineer grade 3 for working aboard the inland waterway ship but are required to complete the refresher training program equivalent to the refresher training program that a chief engineer grade 3 must complete, take tests in subjects equivalent to those that a chief engineer grade 3 must take, and satisfy the statutory requirements;

- Those who hold the certificate of training for a deck rating or engine rating working aboard the fishing vessel are eligible to have this certificate changed to the certificate of training for deck rating or engine rating for working aboard the inland waterway ship but are required to complete the refresher training program equivalent to the refresher training program that a deck rating or engine rating must complete, take tests in subjects equivalent to those that a deck rating or engine rating must take and satisfy the statutory requirements;

- Those who hold the certificate of competency of master working aboard the fishing vessel grade III or higher, are above the legal working age and physically fit shall have this certificate changed to the certificate of training in ship operation without involvement in transport business but are required to complete the training program equivalent to the training program that a master must complete, take tests in subjects equivalent to those that a master must take and satisfy the statutory requirements.

View more details at Circular No. 40/2019/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, effective from January 01, 2020.

Thu Ba

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