SEA-003 - Approval Of Maritime Training Center Courses And Programs

TO: ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF MERCHANT SHIPS, AGENTS AND RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS

SUBJECT: Approval of Maritime Training Center, Courses and Programs

References: (a) Maritime Regulation 10.325(3) (b) International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978, as amended

1. Publication RLM-118, Requirements for Merchant Marine Personnel Certification
2. Marine Notice ISM-001, on International Safety Management (ISM)

Code

Supersedes: Marine Notice SEA-003, dated 07/20

The following changes have been included: updates to the requirements that must be met to become approved training centers for the Republic of Liberia, as mandated by STCW Regulation I/6 and I/8.

PURPOSE:

This Notice provides policy guidance on this Administration’s standards and procedures for the approval of Maritime Training Centers in accordance with the Liberia Maritime Regulations and STCW 1978 as amended.

This policy shall be mandatory for all Maritime Training Centers that have been approved or that desire to be approved by the Republic of Liberia to provide training programs and/or courses for seafarers working on Liberian-flagged vessels.

APPLICABILITY:

This Notice applies to:

1. Receiving/ Filing Agents accepting and processing certification applications to which are attached certificates of completion from Maritime Training Centers.

Inquiries concerning the subject of this Notice should be directed to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Republic of Liberia, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, 22980 Indian Creek Drive., Suite 200, Dulles, VA 20166, USA. The most current version of all Marine Notices are available in the Online Library at: http://www.liscr.com

1. Maritime Training Centers located inside the Republic of Liberia seeking approval or renewed approval to provide training programs, and courses for seafarers working on Liberian-flagged vessels.

1. Maritime training centers located outside the Republic of Liberia seeking approval or renewed approval to provide training programs and courses for seafarers working on Liberian-flagged vessels.

1. and Recognized Organizations seeking authorization from the Administration to assess and certify Maritime Training Centers on its behalf (Marine Notice ISM-001); or any auditor/inspector so authorized and appointed by this Administration.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 Submission Process

1.1 Maritime Training Centers seeking approval or renewed approval from Liberia must submit applications along with the required documentation to the office of the Deputy Commissioner via the Liberia Training Center website at https://seafarer.liscr.com.

2.0 General STCW 1978 Convention and Code

Regulation I/10 of STCW 1978, as amended, under Recognition of Certificates, states in paragraph 1.1: “the Administration has confirmed, through an evaluation of that Party, which may include inspection of facilities and procedures, that the requirements of the Convention regarding standards of competence, training and certification, and quality standards are fully complied with”.

2.1 Therefore, each Maritime Training Center seeking acceptance of its training certificates of completion, as evidence of compliance with the STCW Convention must be maintaining a program that is monitored by a certified Quality Standards System in accordance with STCW Reg. I/8, Code Section A-I/8, acceptable to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, or is accredited by a national government reported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as giving full and complete effect to the Convention, indicating that it is providing:

.1 course curricula which meet at a minimum, the requirements of the STCW Code equivalent to the “model” courses developed by the IMO;

.2 sufficient training to refresh the candidate’s knowledge, understanding and proficiency in the areas required by the STCW Code;

.3 modern and well-maintained facilities that accommodate the students and staff in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to learning;

.4 visual aids for realism, including simulators where appropriate, which are modern well-maintained and sufficient for the number of students to be accommodated;

.5 instructors who are duly qualified for the corresponding type and level of training in compliance with the provisions of Regulation I/6 of the amended STCW

Convention and Section A-I/6 of the STCW Code, including in the use of any

simulators;

.6 an efficient and effective instructor/trainee/equipment ratio for classroom and practical training and maintaining the same as appropriate for the intended instruction;

.7 where appropriate, written or practical examinations in the course material of such a degree of difficulty that a student who successfully completes them would pass, on first attempt, any examination prepared by the Republic of Liberia; and

.8 record keeping on each written examination given and/or, in the case of a practical test, reports on such testing and a record of each student’s classroom attendance being maintained for at least 5 years after the end of each student’s enrollment.

2.2 When a student successfully completes the course or courses, including the examinations and practical demonstrations required, the training center must be issuing an appropriate course completion certificate in a form that is acceptable to the Administration. All such “Liberian Course Certificate” forms shall be issued from the Deputy Commissioner via the Liberia Maritime Training Center website at https://seafarer.liscr.com.

2.3 At any time upon request by the Administration, the training center shall allow representatives of the Administration to:

.1 inspect its facilities, equipment, and records, including scholastic records;

.2 conduct interviews and surveys of students to aid in course evaluation and improvement;

.3 assign personnel to observe or participate in the course of instruction; and to

.4 observe, supervise or administer the required examinations or practical demonstrations.

2.4 No major changes in an approved curriculum may be made unless that change is approved in writing by the Administration.

3.0 Initial authorization Request

3.1 Written requests shall be made by a Maritime Training Center directly to the Administration via email TrainingCenter@liscr.com, or directly in the online portal https://seafarer.liscr.com and must be accompanied by the following documents and materials:

.1) a written and signed statement indicating the need for a training center to be approved as mandated by STCW regulations, and Code, and as implemented by the Republic of Liberia;

.a) Training Center Director’s name, e-mail, address & CV

.2) a list of the curricula including descriptions of and the number of classroom hours required in each subject area;

.3) a description of the facility and equipment;

.4) sample of theoretical and practical exams of the training programs, and courses offered by the training center;

.5) a list of instructors including the experience, background, and the qualifications of each instructor, CVs of same and each instructor must be certified as having completed a training course for instructors based on the IMO Model Course 6.09, (Train the Trainer) or the equivalent;

.6) the number of students enrolled per course with instructor/trainee/equipment ratios;

.7) samples of course completion certification to be issued;

.8) authorization or approval documentation as to accreditation by a national government, duly signed and legalized. The accreditation must be issued by a country included in the International Maritime Organization circular MSC.1/Circ.1163/ Rev. 13 or later revision.

.9) documentation as to ISO 9001: 2018 quality standard system certification, or equivalent, verifying compliance to STCW 1978, as amended, standards.

3.2 ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION NOT SUBMITTED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MUST HAVE AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION ENCLOSED.

3.3 The Maritime Training Center shall make this submission directly to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner as prescribed above in section 3.1.

4.0 Review and Certification of Seafarer Training Centers

4.1 The review of the training centers must be done in accordance with the minimum standards and procedures established by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for the approval of maritime training centers, courses and programs as specified in this Marine Notice, which must be taken into consideration during the preparation and performance of an STCW compliance assessment.

4.2 Each maritime training center course or program must be reviewed by the Director of Training Centers to ensure compliance with the mandatory minimum standards of the STCW convention and Code, and the Liberia regulations which shall be a part of the terms of reference for the quality system being used to monitor the training course or program being certified.

4.3 The Authorized auditor/inspector or Recognized Organization must submit an Audit Report to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for each training center reviewed which includes the following:

.1 Identifies the training center reviewed;

.2 Identifies the Authorized auditors/inspectors, including verification of their qualifications, who performed the audit and onsite review of the training center and;

.3 Identifies the quality system standards or terms of reference (e.g. 9001:2018 or equivalent, STCW, etc.) and the scope of the certification upon which the review was made.

.4 Specifies the Administration audit requirements which have been met;

.5 Specifies the inclusive dates of the audit performed;

.6 Specifies any courses reviewed and approved; and

.7 Provides a copy of the certification issued to the training center which identifies the quality system standards used, and the scope of courses approved and the authority, i.e. Flag, under which the certificates have been issued.

4.4 The certification issued to the training center is to be valid for a period of not more than five (5) years. Annual surveillance audits should be conducted, and the results made available to the Administration as deemed necessary. In cases where major nonconformities are raised and/or it should become necessary to withdraw certification, the Administration must be notified.

4.5 Auditors must meet those qualification requirements already established by the Recognized Organization or by this Administration for its auditors, and

4.6 should possess or should have been in possession of Maritime Certificates of Competency or equivalent, which is pertinent to the field of knowledge under assessment.

5.0 Renewal of approval request

Training Centers with existing approval should approach the Administration for renewal within ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of their letter of approval. Training Centers seeking renewal for approval must provide: their most recent quality audit results, CVs of all training staff, any government approval certificates issued for the courses, whether any course material has changed, and any new course curriculum and syllabus. Also, each Training Center applying for renewal must include any new certification, diploma, or other national government issued credentials, in addition to the general documentation presented in this Marine Notice.

6.0 Training Center Onsite Visits

The Administration may conduct an onsite visit prior to renewal of approval for existing training centers. The Administration may not be able to issue renewals approval without an onsite visit. However, some exceptions may be granted by the office of the Deputy Commissioner on a case-by-case basis, and a written request must be made to the office of the Deputy Commissioner in advance.

7.0 Submissions from Maritime Training Centers and Recognized Organizations

All submissions are to be addressed to:

Liberian International Ship & Corporate

Registry Attn: Director of Training Centers

22980 Indian Creek Drive, Suite 200

Dulles, VA 20166,

USA Tel: (703) 790-3434

Fax: (703) 790-5655

Via website The Liberian Registry

e-mail: TrainingCenter@liscr.com

online portal https://seafarer.liscr.com

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