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STCW 2010 FAQ

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1. Why to do refresher Medical First Aid / Medical care ?
   Refresher MFA / MEDICARE are MLC 2006 requirement which came into force in AUG 2013. Refresher MFA / Medicare is required for operational / Management level rank and required to be done every 5 years.
   
   
2. Why are cooks required to have COC now ?
   Cook Certificate of competency too is MLC 2006 requirement.
   
   
3. What is Able Seafarer - DECK / ENGINE ?
   Ratings now require particular sea-time for promotion. Sea-time gets counted only after certification of rating forming part of a navigational /engine watch. To receive rating forming part of a navigational /engine watch certificate one needs to have actual sailing experience. Please refer STCW 2010 code Sec A II/5 or Sec A III/5 respectively for details.
   
   
4. Do I need to do up-gradation course along with Refresher Safety Course ?
   Since every seafarer needs to comply with STCW 2010 by Jan 2017, if your COC is expiring now you will be going for re-validation course too along with refresher safety course. Having said that, most Basic safety refresher course can be delayed till 31st Dec 2016.
   DG Shipping presently is issuing all COC till 31st Dec 2016, it  might be interesting to see how things turnout at that time as many seafarer will then need revalidation depending upon their merchant navy rank.
   
   
5. I am going for promotional exams, do I need to do upgradation course ?
   No, promotional STCW courses (2nd mates, Mates Phase 1/2, ASM, MEO Class 4, MEO Class 2 ,and MEO Class 1) already have incorporated STCW 2010 module after July 2012. Other basic safety courses are valid till 31st Dec 2016 or 5 yrs from issuing of basic safety courses (which ever is later).
    
   
6. Why am I asked to fill E-samudra ?
   Esamudra perhaps is Indian DG Shipping system of maintaining electronic copy of seafarer records. As per STCW 2010 "... provisions shall be made to allow controlled electronic access to such register or registers to allow Parties and companies to confirm..." seafarers details. Hence administration asks you to keep your records updated electronically.
   
   
7. Why am I asked to fill MMD Seafarer Profile then ?
   We did not find a single circular refrence of MMD seafarer profile, yet MMD Mumbai wants seafarers to fill the same ! We are sorry, we still do not know why ? (MMD Seafarer Profile not required at MMD Mumbai)

To keep our post simple we have omitted special ship types like Tankers and Passenger ships. We highly recommend every seafarer to check circulars issued by your administration pertaining to STCW 2010 for more details.