【PSC】Paris MOU Guidance on Certification of Seafarers and Manning Requirements

Paris MOU issued 'PORT STATE CONTROL COMMITTEE INSTRUCTION 57/2024/05' which is a guidance for PSC inspector about Certification of Seafarers and Manning Requirements according to the STCW Convention, MLC and SOLAS.

This document is intended to provide guidance for port State control inspections for Seafarer's certificate, manning and Hours of rest.

Please also note that there's a list of detainable deficiencies in this guidance which may be worth for your preparation.

3.3 Deficiencies that may warrant detention
Deficiencies which may be deemed to pose a danger to persons, property or the environment as specified in paragraph 2 of regulation I/4 of the STCW 1978, Convention, as amended:

1. failure of seafarers to hold a certificate, to have an appropriate certificate, to have a valid dispensation or to provide documentary proof that an application for an endorsement has been submitted to the flag State in accordance with regulation I/10, paragraph 5;
2. failure to comply with the applicable safe manning requirement of the flag State;
3. failure of navigational or engineering watch arrangements to conform to the requirements specified for the ship by the flag State;
4. absence in a watch of a person qualified to operate equipment essential to safe navigation, safety radio communications or the prevention of marine pollution; and
5. inability to provide, for the first watch at the commencement of a voyage and for subsequent relieving watches, persons who are sufficiently rested and otherwise fit for duty.

Examples of detainable deficiencies according to STCW 1978 and SOLAS 1974 are listed below:
Ship-related

1. MSMD or equivalent not presented (SOLAS 1974, regulation V/14.2); and
2. records of daily hours of rest are not on board (STCW Code A-VIII/1.7); and Seafarers' documentation:
3. not available or serious discrepancy in the CoC (STCW 1978, regulation
   I/4.2.1);
4. absence in watch of a radio operator (general/restricted GMDSS); certificates and endorsement not available (STCW 1978, regulations I/4.2.1, I/4.2.2, I/4.2.3, I/4.2.4 and II/1.2.1);
5. documentation for personnel with designated safety, security and marine environmental duties not available (STCW 1978, regulation I/4.2.1, I/4.2.2, I/4.2.3 and I/4.2.4);
6. expired certificates (STCW 1978, regulation I/4.2.1), and for medical certificates also refer to STCW 1978, regulation I/9.6 and I/9.7; and
7. evidence that a certificate has been fraudulently obtained or the holder of a certificate is not the person to whom that certificate was originally issued.

Please refer below link

https://parismou.org/2024/07/guidance-certification-seafarers-and-manning-requirements-according-stcw-convention-mlc-and