How should the shipping company apply for a safe manning document (Safe Manning Certificate)?
Until a new digital solution is in place, the company must use the following application and report forms for minimum safe manning: KS-0308, KS 0308-1 and KS 0308-KS-0308.2.
The forms must be completed and sent as an e-mail attachment to post@sdir.no.
Does the vessel need to be manned with the minimum safe manning when the vessel is being moved and is not in operation?
When the ship is not carrying cargo, passengers or is on a non-commercial voyage, the company may determine the manning level in agreement with the master. The manning shall in such cases be justifiable in terms of safety, cf. section 13 of the Regulations on the manning of Norwegian ships (Manning Regulations).
Our company has been instructed to update the safe manning certificate following a revision of the STCW Convention. How do we proceed?
The shipowner must apply to the NMA for an updated safe manning certificate. Applications which only concern update of qualification requirements for positions that are already part of the safe manning certificate should not be submitted using the regular form. Instead, they should be submitted by e-mail to post@sdir.no or by regular mail to the Norwegian Maritime Authority, P.O. Box 2222, N-5509 HAUGESUND.
The application should include the following:
- the name of the ship, call sign and IMO number
- a photocopy/scanned copy of the current safe manning certificate
What does the term "daytime schedule" mean?
The term "daytime schedule" does not limit the operating hours of the ship.
On ships using a daytime schedule, the persons working on board have common normal working hours. The hours of rest are also effected within the time periods that are common to the persons working on board.
The hours of rest are effected while the ship is securely moored at berth. Ships using daytime schedules cannot operate round the clock.
More information on working hours arrangements on which application for determination of minimum safe amnning can be found in Circular No. RSV 08-2015.
Which vessels are required to hold a safe manning certificate issued by the NMA?
- Norwegian passenger ships regardless of size;
- Norwegian cargo ships of 50 gross tonnage and upwards;
- Norwegian fishing vessels of 24 metres in length (L) and upwards, unless otherwise provided by the individual provision. This is regardless of trade area.
For ships which are used for training and teaching purposes only and ships which are employed in the pilot or rescue service, these Regulations shall apply only to the extent the Norwegian Maritime Authority decides in the individual case, cf. section 1 of the the Manning Regulations.
Are all the positions in the safe manning document (Safe Manning Certificate) required to be present on board when the vessel is in hot or cold lay-up?
The company and the master are responsible for the safe operation of the ship. The required number of crew members on board when the ship is laid up depends on a number of factors, inlcuding lay-up location, level of security, hot or cold lay-up and local requirements. Because of this, the NMA will not determine the minimum safe manning levels for individual ships during lay-up.
You can find more informaion and general safety and security requirements for laid-up ships in Circular No. RSV 01-2016 "Guidelines for laid-up Norwegian ships - exemption from annual fees for laid-up ships".
Are all the positions in the safe manning document (Safe Manning Certificate) required to be present on board when the vessel is moored at berth?
No. The safe manning level specified in the safe manning certificate is the absolute minimum safe manning on board when/if a vessel leaves the port for a voyage.
When the vessel is safely moored in port, it is the master in agreement with the company who determines the safe manning level on board.
This manning level must be capable of carrying out watchkeeping duties in port, cf. Regulations of 27 April 1999 No. 537 on watchkeeping on passenger ships and cargo ships, part 4 "Watchkeeping in port".
The NMA is not required to provide a statement regarding or approval of the manning level that the master and the company have agreed on for the duration of the ship's stay in port.
Can crew members forming part of the minimum safe manning be required to carry out tasks that are not safety-related, such as collecting fares during the ferry crossing?
The actual workload on the vessel may vary widely depending on the type of vessel, market segment, route, density of vessel traffic, etc. The crew members that are part of the minimum safe manning should primarily carry out safety-related tasks. When all the safety-related tasks have been carried out, and there is more time, the company may require minimum safe manning crew members to carry out other types of tasks.
This means that a person in the minimum safe manning may collect fares during the ferry crossing if this does not affect his or her performance of the safety-related tasks.
It is the duty of the company to continously consider the need for manning of the vessel. This duty is stipulated in both the Manning Regulations and other safety management regulations. It is the duty ofthe company to ensure that the operation of the vessel is carried out within the framework of the legislation.
Does the safe manning certificate have an expiry date?
No, the safe manning certificate is issued without an expiry date provided that it is not a temporary safe manning certificate. Unless there are amendments to international and national legislation that make it necessary to change previously issued safe manning certificates, the validity is unlimited.
Which vessels are covered by the Deck Officer Class 6 (D6) certificate and how do we proceed to update the safe manning certificate with D6?
The Certificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 6 entitles the holder to serve on board ships of less than 500 gross tonnage in trade area Small Coasting, except passenger ships and fishing vessels, as:
- officer in charge of a watch on ships of less than 24 metres in length (L);
- chief mate on ships of less than 24 metres in length (L);
- master on ships of less than 15 metres in overall length.
Holders of Certificate of Competency Deck Officer Class 6 who have turned 20 years and have at least 1 months of seagoing service on ships of less than 8 metres in overall length or more as officer in charge of a watch may serve as master on ships of less than 24 metres in overall length (L) in trade area Small Coasting, cf. the Regulations on qualifications etc. for seafarers section 23.
In order to update the Manning Certificate, the company must submit an application to the NMA.
The application should be sent by e-mail to post@sdir.no or by regular mail to the Norwegian Maritime Authority, P.O. Box 2222, N-5509 HAUGESUND. The application should include the following:
- the name of the ship, call sign and IMO number
When is the crew required to include a ships' cook?
Vessels with a minimum safe manning of 10 persons or more are required to have a ships' cook.
The qualification requirements for ships' cooks are found in section 52 of the Qualification Regulations.
- Any person serving as a ships' cook shall be at least 18 year of age, with education and training relevant for the position.
- Education as described in the programme structure of the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (education programmes for Restaurant and Food Processing), or equivalent education recognised by the authorities of another country, shall be deemed relevant education pursuant to the first paragraph, provided that a practical test has been completed and successfully passed.
- On ships with a minimum safe manning of less than 10 persons, the company may use a person who does not have education as mentioned in the second paragraph, provided that the company can document that the cooking skills of the person in question have been evaluated. The evaluation shall at least include practical cookery, nutritional knowledge and food hygiene, including processing and storage. For ships to which requirements for safe manning do not apply, the provision shall apply correspondingly where the overall manning amounts to less than 10 persons.
What are the qualification requirements for the engine-room attendant/ordinary seafarer position?
Engine room attendant/ordinary seafarer must comply with the qualification requirements for both engine-room attendant and ordinary seafarer. The requirements are stipulated in the Regulations on qualifications and certificates sections 78 and 80.
Section 78. Ordinary seafarer
An ordinary seafarer shall have a length of service of six months on deck. Practical training, work experience in mechanical skills, maritime subjects or relevant service on mobile offshore units may be considered as service time.
Section 80. Able seafarer engine who is not required to hold a certificate of proficiency ans engine-room attendant
An able seafarer engine who is not required to hold a certificate of proficiency as able seafarer engine and who does not hold a certificate of apprenticeship, and an engine-room attendant, shall have a length of service of at least six months in the engine department and a length of service as specified in section 77 of 30 months.
Section 77. Greaser
A greaser shall have a length of service of six months in the engine department. Practical training, work experience in mechanical skills, maritime subjects or relevant service on mobile offshore units may be considered as service time.
The safe manning document (Safe Manning Certificate) does not state certificate requirements for able seafarer. What are the qualification requirements for the position?
Seafarers who are to serve as able seafarer deck on seagoing ships of 500 gross tonnage or more shall hold the Certificate of Proficiency Able Seafarer Deck, cf. section 34 of the Regulations on qualifications and certificates for seafarers.
If the vessel operates in trade area 2 or lesser trade area or has a gross tonnage of less than 500, there will be no certificate requirements related to this position in the safe manning certificate.
The certificate requirements for able seafarers who are not required to hold a Certificate of Proficiency as able seafarer deck is found in section 79 of the Regulations on qualifications and certificates for seafarers.
An able seafarer deck who is not required to hold a certificate of proficiency as able seafarer deck and who does not hold a certificate of apprenticeship shall have a length of service of at least on year as ordinary seafarer and two years of seagoing service as specified in section 78. Service in a position which includes deck service or relevant service on mobile offshore units may replace seagoing service as ordinary seafarer. Seafarers holding a certificate of apprenticeship as able seafarer deck shall have a length of service of one year on deck.
What does it mean that the master should be skilled in engines?
The Regulations on qualifications and certificates for seafarers do not regulate the requirements for a person skilled in engines. The company needs to define this in their safety management system.
Are the certificates specified in the safe manning document (Safe Manning Certificate) the only certificates which can be accepted?
The certificate requirements for masters and mates have been set in accordance with the trade area stated in the manning certificate. If the vessel operates within a smaller trade area than what is stated in the safe manning certificate, it is possible to perform service with a certificate of a lower class. In such cases, the certificate must provide sufficient rights for the position.
All safe manning documents (safe manning certificates) have the following footnote:
(*) The certificate codes refer to national codes. STCW references in parenthesis. Other certificates may be accepted if they provide sufficient rights for the position. Check all certificates for possible limitations.