On 1 January 2017, new regulations enter into force on refresher courses in the areas of maritime safety and fire-fighting. Therefore, the Danish Maritime Authority has issued a new order.
The Danish Maritime Authority has issued an order describing a number of new requirements for refresher courses in basic maritime safety and fire-fighting. The requirements have their base in the STCW Convention.
THe deadline is 1 January 2017
If you hold a certificate of competency and you are to renew it after 1 January 2017, you must, first of all, complete an approved refresher course.
If you are an ordinary seaman and are not required to hold a certificate of competency, you must – after 1 January 2017 – be able to document that you have obtained refresher training on board within the last five years. Until 31 December 2016, the master of the ship can issue a certificate to this effect. After this date, you must attend a refresher course in order to meet the requirement.
The course
The refresher course will take place ashore and be offered by an approved course provider, just as you know it from other courses today. Once you have completed the course, you will be issued with a certificate certifying that you have completed a refresher course in basic maritime safety and fire-fighting, which you must keep on board together with your other certificates. Subsequently, you will have to complete this course at intervals of a maximum of five years.
If you are at sea for at least 12 months every five years, you will automatically maintain some of your competences on board and, thus, will only have to go through a smaller curriculum at the required course.