National Maritime Center to issue new STCW endorsement for designated duty engineers

The following is an announcement from the U.S. Coast Guard's National Maritime Center:

The US Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center is clarifying the bulletin on STCW Endorsements for Designated Duty Engineers (DDE) issued November 1, 2012. The bulletin ALSO contains information on a separate, yet related issue regarding compliance with Canadian Marine Personnel Regulations.


1) Compliance with Canadian Marine Personnel Regulations
The US Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin on October 26, 2012 (MSIB 021-12), advising owners, operators, and masters of US vessels operating in Canadian waters of changes to engineer manning requirements. Effective October 26, 2013, Canada will require US vessels, under their Marine Personnel Regulations, to perform an engineering watch on vessels having a propulsive power of at least 750 kW (1000 HP). The Canadian regulations will apply to vessels en route to and from a Canadian port. These regulations will not apply to US vessels transiting through Canadian waters from one US port directly to another. The Canadian regulations will primarily affect US uninspected vessels such as towing vessels, but have the potential to affect certain small-passenger vessels falling below the US tonnage threshold for a Chief Engineer.


2) STCW Endorsements for DDE
The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center will now issue STCW endorsements to qualifying a DDE as a Chief Engineer in accordance with 46 CFR 15.915. This means that a DDE license or endorsement authorizes service as Chief or Assistant Engineer on vessels not more than 500 gross tons subject to the following limitations:


 For vessels of not more than 4,000 horsepower, only on near coastal, Great Lakes, or inland waters; and


 A DDE with no horsepower limitations may serve on any waters.


Until the 2010 STCW rule is finalized and associated policy implemented, the holder of a DDE license or MMC officer endorsement complying with the requirements listed below may, upon application, be issued an STCW Endorsement in the capacity of Chief Engineer, under regulation III/2 or III/3 respectively, without further examination or sea service, except as noted below:

 A DDE applicant seeking endorsement in accordance with STCW III/2 or III/3 must meet the certification requirements for OICEW (III/1) and the requirements for STCW basic safety training (VI/1).


 A DDE applicant seeking endorsement in accordance with STCW III/2 must also have accrued not less than 36 months approved seagoing service of which not less than 12 months shall be served as an engineer officer in a position of responsibility while qualified to serve at least as a DDE.


Applicants meeting the above requirements may be issued one of the following STCW endorsement(s):


 REGULATION: III/2 CAPACITY: CHIEF ENGINEER LIMITATIONS: Limited to vessels of not more than 500 Gross Registered Tons (Domestic Tonnage).


OR

 REGULATION: III/3 CAPACITY: CHIEF ENGINEER LIMITATIONS: Limited to vessels of not more than 500 Gross Registered Tons (Domestic Tonnage). Valid for near coastal voyages only. Valid on ships of not more than 4,000 Horsepower (3,000 kW).


Sincerely,


/A. S. Lloyd/
Captain, U. S. Coast Guard

By Professional Mariner Staff