Technical Circular No: 117/2020

Subject: Marshall Islands – Marine Safety Advisory No. 27-20 on Extension of the validity period of Seafarer’s Certificates/ SEA due to COVID-19

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  1. The Marshall Islands Administration vide Marine Safety Advisory No. 27-20 has provided guidance as detailed below on extension of the validity of seafarer’s certificates/ employment agreement due to restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    a. The Administration will grant a general extension for the validity of the following RMI certificates:

    • Certificate of Competency (CoCs);

    • Certificate of Proficiency (CoPs);

    • Medical Certificates;

    • Seafarer Identity and Record Books (SIRBs).

    b. The validity of RMI issued original CoCs and CoPs, which are due to expire, are granted an extended validity to 01 January 2021.

    c. The validity of STCW Medical Certificates, which are due to expire, are granted an extended validity to 01 January 2021.

    d. The Administrator will honor all extensions of national CoCs and CoPs issued by International Maritime Organization (IMO) White Listed parties by extending RMI Certificates of Endorsement accordingly. The Administrator, however, will not extend an endorsement unless the issuing Administration has allowed extension of the underlying CoC.

    e Mariners who are actively working on expired credentials that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired credential with a copy of this advisory. Once the pandemic has ended, seafarers are to apply for recertification.

    f. The Administrator will not issue temporary authorization letters, extensions of Certificate of Receipts of Application (CRA), Urgent Authorizations (UA), Acknowledgements, or dispensations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    g. The Administrator will allows for extended Seafarers Employment Agreement on a case by case basis. 

  2. Ship owners/ operators and masters of Marshall Islands flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.

  3. This Technical Circular supersedes and revokes earlier Technical Circular No. 082/2020, dated 20th May 2020.

Enclosure:

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority. 

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