Explanatory note

These Regulations prescribe requirements for the grant to seamen of certificates of competency as A.B. They revoke and replace, with amendments, the Merchant Shipping (Certificates of Competency as A.B.) Regulations 1959 as amended.

The principal changes are:—

1. (1)

   Service at sea reckonable as qualifying service for the grant of a certificate will now include, in addition to service in a deck rating, service in a general purpose rating in ships having general purpose or integrated crews (Regulation 8).

2. (2)

   The extent to which prescribed periods of qualifying service may be reduced in the case of persons who have undergone courses of pre-sea training at prescribed training schools and establishments is altered, and new provisions are made for such reduction in the case of persons who have served at sea in an engine room rating and undergone a course of training in the duties of a deck rating (Regulation 9 and Schedule 2).

3. (3)

   The requirements relating to the examination to be taken for the grant of a certificate, including the qualifications of applicants, the syllabus and the manner in which the examination may be taken have been revised (Regulations 5 and 6 and Schedule 1).