jordan pulse -
In the latest issue of the Official Gazette, an agreement was issued between the Government of the Kingdom, represented by the Ministry of Transport and on behalf of the Jordan Maritime Authority, and the Government of the Kingdom of Spain, represented by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda/General Directorate of the Merchant Marine.
The agreement addresses the issue of recognition of seafarers' qualifications in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Monitoring of Seafarers 1978, as amended.
The agreement stipulates that the two parties are the issuers of the certificates whose national certificates are granted to captains, naval officers and radio operators, and whose recognition will be exchanged through acknowledgment, and each administration issues a certificate of acknowledgment of authentication for the purposes of recognizing the other party’s certificate.
The agreement indicates that the prerequisite for the two administrations to issue certificates of recognition is the certification of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee that full and complete compliance has been made by the two administrations with the provisions of the agreement.
Each party must, at the request of the other party, submit a form of national certificates with the declarations issued thereon to captains and officers in accordance with regulations 1/II, 2/II, 3/II, 1/III, 2/IV, 1-1/V, 1 -2/V, in addition to copies of alternative certificates, if any, issued in accordance with Regulation 2/VII.
Article (3) of the agreement stipulates that the two parties’ administrations shall confirm that the management and monitoring of education, training and competency assessment for seafarers is carried out in their countries in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 6/I of the agreement, and they shall also confirm that records of certificates and declarations are maintained, and that information relating to certificates, approvals and exemptions can be obtained. In accordance with Regulation 10/I of the Convention when requested by the administration of the other Party during the exchange of recognition of certificates submitted by seafarers.
The administrations of both parties confirm that those responsible in their countries for this type of training and evaluation are appropriately qualified for the type and level of training and evaluation in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 6/I of the agreement.
The administration of each party shall, in accordance with Clause (1) of Paragraph (1) of Regulation 10/I of the Agreement and upon a written request from the administration of the other party, provide the other party with the opportunity to conduct inspections of its facilities, including relevant procedures related to standards. Eligibility, issuance, authentication, renewal and revocation of certificates, record keeping, communications and the process of responding to verification requests.
Each administration must enable the administration of the other party to access the results of the evaluation of quality standards in accordance with Regulation 8/I of the agreement.
The administration of each party shall, within ninety days, inform the administration of the other party of any fundamental changes in the training arrangements and certificates granted in accordance with the agreement.
Article 5 stipulates that the administration of the Party that recognizes certificates issued by the other Party shall establish appropriate procedures to ensure that masters and officers at the management level to whom certificates of recognition are issued have appropriate knowledge of the maritime legislation of the recognizing Party relevant to the tasks permitted them to perform.
The agreement noted that national legislation may stipulate requirements other than those stipulated in the STCW Agreement, Regulation 10/I, and these requirements may include operational interviews or excess service.
If it becomes necessary for the administration of one of the parties to suspend, cancel, or withdraw acknowledgment of the recognition of a certificate issued by the administration of the other party for disciplinary or other reasons, the administration of that party must inform the administration of the other party of the circumstances that led to the decision being taken.
The agreement shall enter into force as of the date each party receives a written notification through diplomatic channels from the other party confirming the completion of the internal requirements necessary for its entry into force.
The agreement is valid for a period of five years, and the validity of this agreement is renewed for successive periods of five years each, unless one of the parties notifies the other party in writing of its desire to terminate it at least six months before the end date of the scheduled period. (Petra)