Following publication of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW) 'Final Rule' in the Federal Register', the US Coast Guard says it acknowledges that many mariners are anxious about the impact of the new regualions. Rear Admiral J.A. Servidio explains measures that have been taken to help address those anxieties, as follows:
"We will be publishing a number of policy documents, in the form of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVICs), to assist with the implementation of this FR. I hope that all NVICs will be published within 90 days of the FR publication. The NVICs will be posted to the USCG website, at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/.
We will announce the NVIC releases in the U.S. Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/), as well as through the NMC listserv. You should also consult the NMC’s website (http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/) to obtain the latest policy updates when preparing to apply for an endorsement.
The Coast Guard will also hold several meetings on this FR. Details regarding these meetings will be announced through the NMC website and the Federal Register in the near future. The first meeting will be held in January and will be conducted in a webinar (online) format. The first meeting, where the public will be able to attend, will take place in February in Washington, DC. During these meetings we will pass the latest information on the rule as well as provide an opportunity for you to ask questions.
An email address, [email protected], has been set up to receive questions on the FR. Questions sent to this address will be reviewed and may be added to NMC’s website, under a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section. We will continue to update the FAQ page to ensure maximum on issues impacting the implementation of the FR."
Further details at: www.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/pdfs/STCW_publication_final_rule_24Dec13.pdf
