Maritime safety: seafarers, minimum training level

OBJECTIVE: to harmonise the minimum level of training of "seafarers" (masters, officers, deck officers, chief mates, engineers, radio operators, electricians, ratings and lifeboatmen). COMMUNITY MEASURE: Directive 94/58/EC on the minimum level of training for seafarers. CONTENT: this directive makes provision for the following: . masters, officers and ratings forming part of a navigational watch or engine room watch and lifeboatmen serving on a ship must be trained in compliance with the requirements of the STCW Convention (IMO Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) and must hold a certificate; . the training provided to seafarers must allow them to acquire the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required by the annex to the directive (in particular the use of life-saving and fire-fighting equipment) and must include language training for persons in contact with passengers and working on ships carrying dangerous or polluting products; . the Member States must designate the bodies authorised to provide training and issue certificates; . detailed provision is made for the mutual recognition of certificates between Member States (including certificates held by non-Community nationals); . in circumstances of exceptional necessity, a seafarer without a certificate may be granted dispensation to serve on board a ship for a period of no more than six months. This dispensation may not be granted to a master or chief engineer or radio operator (except in cases of force majeure) and may only be granted to a person with a certificate for the post immediately below; . the Member States must take measures to guarantee that third country ships with no Community certificate or certificate which complies with the STCW Convention are subject to aptitude inspections as a matter of priority; . provision is made for a procedure to adapt the directive to any amendments which may be made to the international codes applicable. DATE OF TRANSPOSITION: 31 December 1995.�