FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- I can't find the IMO letter on their official website. Has the IMO agreed to extend the validity of seafarers’ qualification documents?
The main thing to start with is that the extension of the validity of seafarers’ qualification documents issued on behalf of the Government of Ukraine does not require approval from the International Maritime Organization.
In this case the IMO Secretariat performs only the communication function between the state, which issued the documents to the seafarer (Ukraine) and the flag state of the vessel.
The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine decided to extend the validity of documents of Ukrainian seafarers, and the IMO Secretariat was informed about it.
The IMO Secretariat has distributed this information to all IMO member states and other interested parties through the IMODOCS document management system.
2. Ship’s Flag State Administration does not take into account the letter of the Ministry of Infrastructure and refuses to issue Flag State Endorsement. Is that legitimate?
Yes, the ship’s Flag State Administration may refuse to issue an Endorsement to work on a ship flying the flag of that state.
3. My certificates for mandatory periodic training have expired. Have these certificates been extended or is training required?
The letter of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine extended the validity of Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) issued on behalf of the Government of Ukraine.
This extension does NOT automatically signify an extension of the mandatory periodic training certificates as required by the STCW Convention and/or the national flag state legislation of the vessel.
4. Has the validity of medical certificates been extended?
STCW Convention 1978, as amended (Regulation I/9), provides that if the period of validity of a medical certificate expires in the course of a voyage, then the medical certificate shall continue in force until the next port of call where a medical practitioner recognized by the Party is available, provided that:
- the period of such permission does not exceed three months; and
- the seafarer concerned is in possession of an expired medical certificate of recent date.
The same requirements are set forth in Standard A1.2 of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
Thus, the provisions of paragraph 1.3 of the Annex to the letter of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine apply only to vessels flying the State Flag of Ukraine and allow seafarers – crew members of Ukrainian vessels – to perform their duties on board until the next port of call, but not no more than three months.
5. Has the validity of Seafarers’ Identity Documents been extended?
The provisions of paragraphs 1.4 and 1.5 of the Annex to the letter of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine extend the validity of Seafarers’ Identity Documents until December 31, 2023 for those seafarers, who are on board vessels.
Seafarers ashore are advised by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine to revalidate their Seafarers’ Identity Documents.
- Has the validity of Seafarers’ Identity Documents been extended?
The provisions of paragraphs 1.4 and 1.5 of the Annex to the letter of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine extend the validity of Seafarers’ Identity Documents until December 31, 2023 for those seafarers, who are on board vessels.
Seafarers ashore are advised by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine to revalidate their Seafarers’ Identity Documents.
