1.         Regulation V/1, Section A-V/1 of the STCW 78 Convention, as amended in 1995, and other courses are hereby implemented pursuant to STCW.7/Circ. 1, dated 24 September 1996, Annex, page 2, stating, inter alia, the implementation date for training of personnel for tankers on 01 January 1996, is read as follows:

"The General Tanker Familiarization Course shall replace the three tanker familiarization courses (Oil, Chemical and Liquefied Gas) effective 01 February 1997; provided, however, that this course may be optional for those seafarers who had already taken any or all of the three Tanker Familiarization Courses prior to 01 February 1997, unless otherwise, required by foreign principals/employers for deployment purposes onboard tanker vessels."

2.         Seafarers employed or engaged in any capacity on board ship on the business of that ship as part of the ship's complement with designated safety or pollution-prevention duties in the operation of the ship shall, before being assigned to any ship, receive appropriate approved basic training or instruction effective 1 February 1997, in personal survival techniques as set out in table A-VI/I-1 (Personal Survival-IMO-Model Course 1.19); fire prevention and fire fighting as set out in table A-VI/1-2 (IMO Model Course 1.20); elementary first aid set out in table A-VI/1-3 (IMO Model Course 1.13) and personal safety and social responsibility as set out in table A-VI/1-4 (IMO-Model Course 1.21) of the STCW 95.

3.         Every seafarer who is a candidate for a certificate of proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats shall be required to demonstrate competence to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities set out in column 1 of table A-VI/2-1 of the STCW 95.

4.         Every seafarer who is a candidate for a certificate of proficiency in fast rescue boats shall be required to demonstrate competence to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities as set out in column 1 of table A-VI/2-2 of STCW 95.

5.         Seafarers designated to control fire-fighting operation shall have successfully completed advanced training in techniques for fighting fire, with particular emphasis on organization, tactics and command, and shall be required to demonstrate competence to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities as set out in column 1 of table A-VI/3 of the STCW 95.

6.         Every seafarer who is designated to provide-medical first aid on board ship shall be required to demonstrate the competence to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibility as listed in column 1 of Table A-V114-1 of the STCW 95.

7.         Every seafarer who is a candidate for a certificate of medical care on board ship shall be required to demonstrate to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities as listed in column 1 of Table A-VI/42 of the STCW 95.

8.         All seafarers before being engaged to shipboard duties shall be required to receive approved familiarization training in personal survival techniques or receive sufficient information and instruction, taking account or guidance given in part B of the STCW Code B.

9.         For training and qualification of masters, officers, ratings and other personnel in ro-ro passenger ship, they shall be required to undertake the following courses effective 1 February 1997:

.1 Crowd management training, regulation V/2, paragraph 4; Section A-V/2, para 1

.1 Familiarization training, regulation V/2, paragraph 5; Section A-V/2, para 2

.3 Safety Training, regulation V/2, paragraph 6; Section V/2 para 3

.4 Passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity training, regulation V/2, paragraph 7; Section A-V, para 4

.5 Crisis management and human behavior training, regulation V/2, paragraph 8; Section A-V-2, para 5

10.       For reference and guidance, the table of STCW 95 Certification requirements * is hereby quoted below:

11.       All Issuances inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

12.       This Memorandum Circular shall take effect on 1 February 1997.


Adopted: 2 Jan. 1997