Notice to Shipowners, Ship Operators, Managers, Masters, Owners’ Representatives and Recognised Organisations by the Merchant Shipping Directorate.

This Notice revokes Merchant Shipping Notice 13

The 1974/78 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 74/78) makes it mandatory for trading ships of 500 gross tonnage and over to carry, at all times, a valid Minimum Safe Manning (MSM) Certificate issued by the ship’s Flag State.

In order to ensure and at the same time facilitate evermore compliance by Maltese trading ships with the relative SOLAS 74/78 provisions, the Directorate has reviewed the system outlined in MSD Notice No 13 for the issuing of MSM certificates.

As from 1 January 2013, the format of the MSM certificate will be changed in order to reflect recent developments. All current MSM certificates shall remain valid and a new certificate will be issued following:

    Entry of a ship in the Malta register; or

    Renewal of the MSM certificate; or

    Change in the ISM company, equipment, construction or use of the ship; or

    Any other changes that may affect the manning requirements of the vessel.

The new certificate will again be valid for a period of five years or for the remaining period of the five years, as the case may be, always to coincide with the date of the renewal of registry.

The MSM certificate will cease to be valid upon its expiry date, in the event of any change in the ISM Company, equipment, construction, use or particulars of the ship affecting the stipulated manning and on closure of registry.

It is important that all the information required for the issuance of a MSM certificate is made available to the Directorate concurrently with the application for provisional registration. The ship’s Provisional Certificate of Malta Registry will only be released with the MSM certificate. It is important that the relative MSD application is filed together with any other information that might be considered relevant for the issuance of the certificate.

In evaluating manning requirements the Directorate will consider the relevant information relating to the ship and the guidelines contained in IMO Resolution A.1047(27), in its up-to-date version. In the event of any differences the Directorate will consider any substantiated views. In such cases it may be necessary to arrange for some form of practical demonstration of the ability of the crew to carry out the necessary tasks in the principles of safe manning.

In accordance with the Directorate’s usual practices, fees shall be charged for these services accordingly.

It is pertinent to point out that:

    All officers serving on board Maltese trading vessels must be in possession of a recognized valid certificate of competency and an Endorsement issued by the Competent Authority in accordance with the 1978 STCW Convention; the originals should be kept on board; and

   All officers are required to be in possession of an endorsement issued under Regulation I/10 by the Merchant Shipping Directorate, stating that the holder is competent to serve in the respective capacity on board Maltese trading ships.

For further details, contact us on:

Tel: (00356) 21 651387
Fax: (00356) 21 651384
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.combinedmaritime.com