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TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1979

NEW SYLLABUSES FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY EXAMS

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THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS WISHING TO SIT VARIOUS EXAMINATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY IN THE MERCHANT NAVY FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW SYLLABUSES.

THE NEW SYLLABUSES, TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT MARCH, ARE CONTAINED IN THE +EXAMINATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY IN THE MERCHANT NAVY- DECK SYLLABUSES WITH SPECIMEN PAPERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID EXAMINATIONS BASED ON THE EXISTING SYLLABUSES WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD UNTIL THE END OF APRIL NEXT YEAR FOR THE BENEFIT OF CANDIDATES MAKING A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT ONLY.

FROM APRIL 30 NEXT YEAR, CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST MATE (CLASS 2) EXAMINATION ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN 18-MONTH WATCHKEEPING SERVICE INSTEAD OF THE EXISTING 12 MONTHS, A RADAR SIMULATOR COURSE ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE AND A SHIP CAPTAIN'S MEDICAL TRAINING CERTIFICATE.

+THE TOTAL PERIOD OF SERVICE AS A WATCHKEEPING OFFICER REQUIRED BETWEEN THE DATE OF QUALIFYING FOR A SECOND MATE (CLASS 3) CERTIFICATE AND BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR THE ISSUE OF A MASTER MARINER (CLASS 1) CERTIFICATE REMAINS UNCHANGED AT 3-1/2 YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

FROM SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR, CANDIDATES FOR THE SECOND MATE (CLASS 3) EXAMINATIONS MUST HAVE A FIRST AID AT SEA CERTIFICATE, AN ELECTRONIC NAVIGATIONAL AIDS (OPERATION) CERTIFICATE, A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY AS LIFEBOATMAN AND HAVE PASSED THE QUALIFYING EXAMINATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY AS ABLE SEAMAN.

FOR THOSE WISHING TO SIT THE MASTER MARINER (CLASS 1) EXAMINATIONS. THEY MUST HAVE A SHIP CAPTAIN'S MEDICAL TRAINING CERTIFICATE BEFORE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY IS ISSUED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS ARE SPECIFIED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM'S DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND WILL BE CONTAINED IN AN AMENDED VERSION OF +EXAMINATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY IN THE MERCHANT NAVY DECK OFFICER REQUIREMENTS+ IN DUE COURSE.

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