SHIPPING NOTICE Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands

SHIPPING NOTICE Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands Head Office PO Box 2256 Grand Cayman KY1-1107 CAYMAN ISLANDS Tel: +1 345 949 8831 Email: caymanregistry@cishipping.com Website: www.cishipping.com SHIPPING NOTICE 01/2024 (Rev 02) THE STCW CONVENTION AND THE ISSUE OF ENDORSEMENTS ATTESTING TO THE RECOGNITION OF A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY To: OWNERS, MANAGERS, CHARTERERS, CREWING AGENCIES AND MASTERS OF CAYMAN ISLANDS SHIPS (INCLUDING YACHTS). PREAMBLE Section 459 of the Merchant Shipping Act 2024 permits the Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (CEO), with the approval of the Minister, to, by order, make such provisions to give effect to any provisions of an international agreement relating to merchant shipping or seafarers adopted by the United Kingdom and extended to the Islands and not otherwise prescribed in the Act. In accordance with section 459 of the Merchant Shipping Act 2024, the CEO makes the following order in respect of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping and the Maritime Labour Convention. 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, 1978 as may be amended, modified or replaced (“STCW” or “STCW Convention”), requires officers onboard a Cayman Islands ship to hold a Certificate of Competency (CoC) issued in accordance with that Convention from a country whose standards of competency and training are considered to be equivalent to those of the United Kingdom. 1.2 In accordance with regulation I/10 of STCW, holders of such a CoC also require an endorsement from the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry attesting to the acceptance of their CoC. 1.3 This Shipping Notice – • gives the list of countries whose Certificates of Competency are considered acceptable for service as an officer on a Cayman Islands ship; • gives details of countries whose Seafarer Medical Certificates are considered suitable for a seafarer serving on a Cayman Islands ship; • specifies the required testing and standards for eyesight (including colour vision) for seafarers; • outlines certain requirements for competence in the English language; • details measures to be adopted to prevent drug or alcohol abuse; Page 1 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) • details requirements for the safe manning levels of pleasure vessels; • outlines how certain seafarers can demonstrate adequate knowledge of Cayman Islands laws and administrative procedures; • highlights requirements in the STCW Convention in relation to the responsibilities of companies, the IGF Code and the Polar Code; and • clarifies policy on the acceptance of on-line STCW training. 1.4 This Shipping Notice primarily applies to ships subject to the STCW and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC), however Section 6 applies to pleasure vessels. 1.5 Shipping Notice 05/2011 is revoked and replaced by this Shipping Notice. A reference to Shipping Notice 05/2011 is to be taken as a reference to this Shipping Notice. 2. LIST OF COUNTRIES 2.1 Valid Certificates of Competency issued by the following countries are considered acceptable for service as an officer on a Cayman Islands ship. For Yacht restricted Certificates of Competency, please see our Manning Policy Manual - Yachts engaged in trade 24m and over, available via https://www.cishipping.com/forms. Certificates issuing Notes / Limitations Administration Algeria - Argentina - Certificates issued from the Australian Maritime Safety Australia Authority (AMSA) only. State issued certificates are not accepted. Evidence of English is not required. Azerbaijan - Bangladesh - Belgium - Brazil - Bulgaria - Canada Evidence of English is not required. Cape Verde - Chile - China - Croatia - Cuba - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Denmark - Ecuador - Egypt - Page 2 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) Certificates issuing Notes / Limitations Administration Estonia - Ethiopia - Faroe Islands - Fiji - Finland - France -. Georgia - Germany - Ghana - Greece - Hong Kong S.A.R Evidence of English is not required. Hungary Motorships Only. Iceland - India Evidence of English is not required. Indonesia - Iran Evidence of English is not required. Ireland Evidence of English is not required. Italy - Jamaica Evidence of English is not required. Japan - Jordan - Korea, Republic of - Latvia - Lithuania - Madagascar - Malaysia Evidence of English is not required. Evidence of English is not required. Malta Mexico - Montenegro - Morocco - Myanmar Evidence of English is not required. Netherlands - Evidence of English is not required. New Zealand Norway - Oman - Pakistan Evidence of English is not required. Page 3 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) Certificates issuing Notes / Limitations Administration Peru - Philippines - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Russia - Senegal - Serbia - Singapore Evidence of English is not required. Slovenia - South Africa Evidence of English is not required. Spain - Sri Lanka Evidence of English is not required. Sweden - Tunisia - Turkey - Ukraine - Uruguay - United Kingdom Evidence of English not required. USA Evidence of English not required. Vietnam - 2.2 Where a country has employed the “Principles governing near-coastal voyages” (STCW I/3) when issuing a Certificate of Competency, any Cayman Islands endorsement issued in recognition of such a certificate will be valid only for those same near-coastal voyages as defined by the issuing Administration and the underlying Certificate of Competency. 2.3 This list of countries will be updated from time to time and changes will be circulated by the re-issue of this Shipping Notice. 3. CERTIFICATES OF MEDICAL FITNESS 3.1 In accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention)(Medical Certification) Regulations, 2014, all seafarers serving on Cayman Islands ships are required to hold a valid medical certificate. 3.2 Medical certificates issued by, or on behalf of, a country listed on the “STCW Whitelist” (IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ. 1163, as amended refers) or a country which has ratified the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 are accepted for service on Cayman Islands ships. Such certificates must be issued in accordance with and contain the required information as specified under Regulation I/9 of the STCW Convention. Page 4 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) 3.3 Medical certificates must clearly state that they are issued by, or on behalf of, the Government of an STCW Whitelist country. It is insufficient to hold a certificate issued by a doctor residing in one of the above countries if the certificate is not issued, by or on behalf of, the Government of that country. 3.4 Medical certificates must state that the seafarer meets the minimum in-service eyesight standards for seafarers contained in Table A-I/9 of the STCW Code, noting that colour vision assessment only needs to be conducted every six years. 4. PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE 4.1 It is a requirement that the officers on board a Cayman Islands ship, both at operational and management level, and irrespective of the common language of the ship, have an appropriate level of proficiency in the English language, commensurate with the functions the officer is permitted to perform. 4.2 Officers do not need to demonstrate proficiency in the English language if their CoC was issued by countries where “Evidence of English is not required” is indicated in the “Notes” section of the table in Section 2, above. 5 MEASURES TO PREVENT DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE AND THE PREVENTION OF FATIGUE 5.1 Ships subject to the STCW Convention are to implement measures for preventing the abuse of drugs and alcohol. These measures must ensure that no seafarer with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.05% (BAC) or 0.25mg/l alcohol in their breath is to perform any designated safety, security or marine environmental duties. 5.2 In addition to the limitations on working hours contained in both STCW and MLC1, seafarers are reminded of their duty to use their non work hours so that they are properly rested prior to commencing their next period of duty. Watchkeepers’ attention is drawn to STCW A-VIII/19 to 23 and 56 to 58 regarding taking over a watch. 6 MANNING OF PLEASURE VESSELS 6.1 The master of every ship is responsible for the safety of the ship and those on board. This includes ensuring that manning of a pleasure vessel is sufficient to safely execute any intended voyage. 7 KNOWLEDGE OF MARITIME LEGISLATION 7.1 Officers serving at the “management level” (masters, chief officers, chief engineers and second engineers) are required to have an appropriate knowledge of the maritime legislation of the Administration, relevant to the functions they are permitted to perform. 7.2 For officers on Cayman Islands ships this requirement is met by the officer being able to demonstrate knowledge of Cayman Islands Laws and Administrative Procedures (LAP) which is available from www.cishipping.com. 1 Please see Shipping Notice 05-2014 “Requirements and Guidance for recording Hour of Work and Rest on Cayman Islands Flagged Vessels”, as may be amended, modified or replaced. Page 5 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) 7.3 To further assist our seafarers with knowledge of LAP, seafarers are encouraged to also review our Master or Yachtmaster’s Handbooks. These manuals are very useful day to day guides, please visit https://www.cishipping.com/forms. 8. APPLYING FOR AN ENDORSEMENT ATTESTING TO THE RECOGNITION OF A COC 8.1 To apply for an endorsement attesting to the recognition of a CoC, please visit https://www.cishipping.com/services/seafarers. 8.2 Completed applications and supporting documents should be submitted electronically to caymanregistry@cishipping.com, but may also be sent to our offices in George Town (Cayman Islands), Southampton (UK), Fort Lauderdale (USA) or France. 8.3 When applying for endorsements, candidates should ensure that applications are complete in all respects and that electronic copies of all required supporting documentation are included with the application. 8.4 Applicants should be aware that incomplete applications or missing supporting information can lead to lengthy delays in processing the application. 9. THE POLAR AND IGF CODES 9.1 IMO has adopted the Polar Code and the Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). Both of these Codes require certain seafarers to hold Certificates of Proficiency when serving on – .1 ships subject to the IGF Code (STCW V/3), and .2 ships operating in polar waters (STCW V/4). 9.2 Certificates of Proficiency issued under STCW V/3 or V/4 do not require recognition by the issue of an endorsement for service on a Cayman Islands ship. 10. ON BOARD FAMILIARISATION TRAINING 10.1 Before being assigned shipboard duties, all seafarers are required to have received familiarisation training in accordance with Section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code. 11. REFRESHER TRAINING 11.1 Seafarers qualified in accordance with the training listed below shall be required (as applicable), every five years, to provide evidence of having maintained the required standard of competence, to undertake the tasks, duties, and responsibilities – .1 Proficiency in Personal Survival Techniques, STCW Table A-VI/1-1; .2 Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, other than Fast Rescue Boats, STCW Table A-VI/2-1; .3 Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats, STCW Table A-VI/2-2; Page 6 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) .4 Proficiency in Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, STCW Table A-VI/1-2; .5 Proficiency in Advanced Fire Fighting, STCW Table A-VI/3 .6 Passenger ship Crowd Management training, STCW A-V/2 para. 3 .7 Crisis Management and Human Behaviour STCW A-V/2 para 4 12. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPANIES 12.1 As well as placing responsibilities on masters and other seafarers, the STCW Convention also places responsibilities on the owners / managers of ships subject to STCW. The obligations are outlined in STCW I/14 and in the Merchant Shipping (Manning, Hours of Rest and STCW) Regulations 2025, as may be amended or replaced. 12.2 In summary, these obligations relate to – .1 ensuring seafarers assigned to any of its ships are appropriately qualified in accordance with the STCW Convention; .2 ensuring its ships are manned in accordance with the applicable minimum safe manning document; .3 seafarers receiving the appropriate refresher and updating training; .4 full, readily available, records of seafarers being maintained (see STCW I/14.4 for details of the information to be recorded); .5 ensuring seafarers are properly familiarised when assigned to its ships; .6 ensuring effective coordination of the ship’s complement in emergency situations and when performing safety, security and pollution prevention duties; and .7 ensuring that there is an effective means of oral communication on board. 13. WATCHKEEPING ARRANGEMENTS 13.1 In addition to the measures to prevent fatigue in Section 5 (above) masters are required to ensure that the principles of keeping a safe watch outlined in STCW A-VIII are implemented on board. 13.2 Such measures include – .1 The principles contained in STCW A-VIII/2 Part 4-1 in relation to a navigation watch; .2 The principles contained in STCW A-VIII/2 Part 4-2 in relation to an engineering watch; .3 The principles contained in STCW A-VIII/2 Part 4-3 in relation to a radio watch; and .4 The principles contained in STCW A-VIII/2 Part 5 in relation to watchkeeping in port. Page 7 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) 14 STCW COURSE APPROVAL AND ONLINE TRAINING 14.1 Following the growth of online training, we would like to clarify that we do not consider online distance learning to adequately cover the practical requirements as detailed in STCW Code 1978 (as amended) Sect A-VI/1. Annex A details which STCW online training courses may be accepted for service on board Cayman Islands ships. 14.2 Annex A also details which approval is required i.e., certificates issued under the authority of any IMO 'Whitelist' country, (MSC.1/Circ.1163 - as amended) or certificates to be issued under the authority of a Country listed in Section 2 of this notice. 15 YACHTS WITH MULTIPLE ENGINE CONFIGURATIONS 15.1 The grade of STCW certificate required for Engineer Officers serving onboard yachts holding a Minimum Safe Manning Document for a large sailing or motor vessel issued under the provisions of the REG Yacht Code – Part A, will be based on the single highest rated engine (KW) when the yacht is fitted with two or more main engines. 15.2 For yachts with steerable propulsion, such as an azimuth thruster pod, the grade of STCW certificate required will be based on the highest rated thruster pod (kW). 16 MERCHANT SHIPPING (MANNING, HOURS OF REST AND STCW) REGULATIONS, 2025 AMENDMENT 16.1 It is hereby confirmed that regulation 12, Merchant Shipping (Manning, Hours of Rest and STCW) Regulations, 2025 ‘Shallers, firefighting and lifeboat drills’ should be read as ‘Musters, firefighting and lifeboat drills’. 17 STCW AMENDMENTS 17.1 Further to MSC.486(103), in STCW regulation I/1.1, the following new definition is noted: ".44 High-voltage means an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) voltage in excess of 1,000 volts." 17.2 Further to MSC.487(103), in STCW Part A, sect A-I/1.1.3.1, the definition for "Operational level" is replaced by the following: ".3.1 serving as officer in charge of a navigational or engineering watch or as designated duty engineer for periodically unmanned machinery spaces or as electro-technical officer or as radio operator on board a seagoing ship, and" 17.3 Further to MSC.540(107), in STCW regulation I/1.1, the following new definition is noted: ".45 Original form means a paper or an electronic form of any certificate required by the Convention, issued in the format approved by the Administration, provided that the minimum information, as required in paragraph 4 of section A-I/2 of the STCW Code, is readily available." and "11 Subject to the provisions of regulation I/10, paragraph 5, any certificate required by the Convention must be kept available in its original form on board the ship on which the holder is serving. If an electronic form* is used, the minimum required data must be accessible as defined by the Administration in accordance with the STCW Code, which is necessary to initiate a verification procedure. * Refer to the Guidelines on the use of electronic certificates of seafarers (MSC.1/Circ.1665)." Page 8 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) 17.4 Further to MSC.541(107), in STCW Part A, sect A-I/2.4, the following new definition is noted "4 In using formats which may be different from those set forth in this section, pursuant to regulation I/2, paragraph 10, Parties shall ensure that in all cases: .1 all information relating to the identity and personal description of the holder, including name, date of birth, photograph and signature, along with the date on which the document was issued, shall be displayed on the same side of the documents; .2 all information relating to the capacity or capacities in which the holder is entitled to serve, in accordance with the applicable safe manning requirements of the Administration, as well as any limitations, shall be prominently displayed and easily identified; .3 the terms "front", "back" and "overleaf", as referred to in these provisions, are not applicable for certificates and endorsements in electronic form; and .4 an official seal, photograph and signature of seafarer are not necessary for certificates and endorsements in electronic form." Page 9 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025 Shipping Notice 01/2024 (Rev 02) STCW & Recognition of Certificates of Competence (Continued) Annex A Recognition of STCW Training Courses for Service onboard Cayman Islands vessels Certificates issued under Online STCW Course (including Refresher Training the authority of any IMO STCW Code training 'White List' country unless stated) accepted (MSC.1/Circ.1163 - as amended)2 Personal Survival Techniques Table A-VI/1-1 N Y Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting Table A-VI/1-2 N Y Elementary First Aid Table A-VI/1-3 N Y Personal Safety and Social Responsibility Table A-VI/1-4 Y Y Proficiency in Security Awareness Table A-VI/6-1 Y Y Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Table A-VI/2-1 N Y Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats Table A-VI/2-2 N Y Advanced Fire Fighting Table A-VI/3 N Y Advanced Fire Fighting - Refresher only Table A-VI/3 Y Y Medical First Aid Table A-VI/4-1 N Y Medical Care Table A-VI/4-2 N Y Basic Oil and Chemical Tanker Training Table A-V/1-1-1 Y N* Basic Liquefied Gas Tanker Training Table A-V/1-2-1 Y N* Table A-V/1-1- Advanced Oil/Chemical Training Y N* 2/3 Advanced Liquefied Gas Tanker Training Table A-V/1-2-2 Y N* Proficiency for Seafarers with Designated Table A-VI/6-2 Y Y Security Duties Proficiency for Ship Security Officers Table A-VI/5 Y Y Certification for Company Security Officers See Note 1 Y Y Crowd Management Training Table A-V/2-1 Y Y Crisis Management and Human Behaviour Table A-V/2-2 Y Y Training Passenger Safety, Cargo Safety and Hull Sect A-V/2.5 Y Y Integrity Training for Ro-Ro Passenger Ships Polar Code Basic Table A-V/4-1 Y Y Polar Code Advanced Table A-V/4-2 Y Y Basic IGF (International Code of Safety for Ships Table A-V/3-1 Y N* Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels) Advanced IGF (International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Table A-V/3-2 N N* Fuels) Note 1: Must be approved by an IMO “Whitelist” country as meeting the standards contained in IMO Model Course 3.20 or MSC/Circ.1154. 2 N* means Certificates are only to be issued under the authority of a Country listed in Section 2 of this Shipping Notice Page 10 of 10 Rev 02: 24 July 2025