MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF
SINGAPORE
SHIPPING CIRCULAR TO SHIPOWNERS
NO 2 OF 2015
MPA Shipping Division
460 Alexandra Road
#21-00, PSA Building
Singapore 119963
Fax: 6375-6231
http://www.mpa.gov.sg
9 January 2015
Applicable to: Shipowners, ship managers, holders of certificates of
competency issued by Singapore, crew and masters of Singapore ships and
the shipping community.
ENHANCEMENTS TO THE SEAFARER CERTIFICATION SYSTEM (SCS)
1 This circular highlights key enhancements to MPA’s Seafarer Certification
System (SCS) which includes on-line application system for the issuance of tanker
endorsements, certificates of proficiency, certificates of competency (COC),
revalidation of certificates of competency and authentication of certificates issued by
the Authority.
2 These enhancements are part of MPA’s efforts to continuously improve its
services to the shipping community. The enhancements include improving services
for issuance of certificates in compliance with the requirements of the 2010 Manila
amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification
and Watchkeeping of Seafarers, 1978 (STCW -2010).
3 The enhancements to the SCS will take effect from today.
NEW SERVICES/ENHANCEMENT TO EXISTING SERVICES
4 Applications for the following certificates, which currently can only be applied
through paper application, have been enhanced to enable shipping community to
apply on-line for the following certificates:-
a. Certificate of proficiency (COP) in survival craft and rescue boats;
b. COP as Able Seafarer Deck;
c. COP as Able seafarer Engine;
d. COP as Electro-technical rating;
e. COP for ratings forming part of Navigational watch;
f. COP for ratings forming part of Engine-room Watch;
g. Type Rating Certificate for High Speed Craft;
h. Ships’ Cook Certificate; and
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i. COC as Electro-Technical Officer.
5 The on-line application for the following types of certificates, which were
available earlier, has been enhanced.
a. Deck Officer and Marine Engineer Officer COC for all grades including
applications for COC restricted to serve on Singapore ships (for holders of
Taiwanese qualifications);
b. Tanker Endorsements; and
c. Authentication of COC , COP and endorsements issued by MPA
The enhancements include guidance on filling up the e-application form and facility
to attach scanned copies of ancillary certificates, photograph of seafarer and
additional ancillary courses to comply with the requirements of STCW-2010.
Applicants will also be able to check the progress of their applications.
6 Applications can be made through a MARINET account – in which case
charges will be deducted directly from the owner’s appointed manager account with
MPA. In case of applicants without MARINET accounts, e-application form can be
assessed through MPA’s website and payments can be made by cheque or NETS
quoting the application number.
CHANGES TO TANKER ENDORSEMENTS
7 The tanker endorsements to enable a COC holder or a seafarer to serve on
oil, chemical or liquefied gas tanker will be issued at two levels (instead of current
practice of 3 levels) as follows:-
(a) Officers at management level and those having immediate
responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of cargo
tank cleaning or other cargo related operations on tankers; and
(b) Officers and ratings who are assigned specific duties and
responsibilities related to cargo or cargo equipment on tanker.
MPA’s tanker endorsements are required for all officers serving on Singapore
tankers including those who hold appropriate tanker endorsements issued by their
COC issuing authorities. However, ratings who hold appropriate tanker
endorsements issued by their national administrations do not require tanker
endorsements from MPA.
CHANGE OF CERTIFICATE FORMAT
8 The format of COC, COP and other certificates’ templates have been revised.
A unique certificate number will be allocated to all certificates. Other new features
include printed photograph of the holders in COC, electronic image of the signature
of the Director of Marine and Embossed MPA stamp on certificates.
9 Samples of revised certificates templates of COP and COC are attached in
Annex A and B respectively.
VALIDITY OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED
10 Applications for COC or other certificate of proficiency and tanker
endorsement which comply with the requirements of STCW-2010, MPA would
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issue a full-term certificate with a validity for 5 years. Applications which only qualify
under the earlier regime of STCW Convention, validity of such certificates will be
limited until 31 Dec 2016. After 1 January 2017, all applications should comply with
the requirements of STCW-2010.
11 COC, COP, tanker endorsements, and other certificates issued by MPA prior
to 2 Jan 2015 will continue to be valid until its period of expiry stated on the
certificate
QUERIES
12 Any queries relating to this circular should be addressed to Capt I G
Sangameswar (Tel no. 6375 6205) or Capt Khoo Gek Hung (Tel no. 6375 1935) or
Mr Zulfiqur Husain (Tel no 6375 6218) .
TAN SUAN JOW
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
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