§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation Conference on the training and certification of seafarers.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe main achievement of the conference which ended last Friday was the adoption of the first International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers together with 23 resolutions, many of which reinforce the convention by recommending additional procedures.
The convention includes technical provisions covering the deck, engine and radio departments. These set out mandatory basic principles to be observed in keeping navigational and engineering watches and lay down mandatory minimum requirements for the certification of masters, chief engineers, mates and others in charge or forming part of a watch. The radio chapter deals with radio watch-keeping and maintenance and establishes mandatory minimum requirements for certification of radio officers, radio operators and radiotelephone operators. For all three departments there are provisions to ensure continued proficiency and updating of knowledge.
Following a proposal by the United Kingdom, the conference developed and incorporated in the convention regulations and supporting recommendations dealing with the special training of masters, officers and ratings of oil, chemical and liquefied gas tankers.
A separate chapter specifies mandatory minimum requirements for the issue of certificates of proficiency in survival craft.
The convention, like most recent IMCO conventions, incorporates the "tacit acceptance" procedure which is designed to speed up the process whereby it can be amended and updated. It will enter into force 12 month after being accepted by 25 States owning between them 50 per cent. of the world's gross tonnage of merchant shipping.
Her Majesty's Government warmly welcomes this major step forward towards 510W improved maritime safety and will immediately begin a detailed examination of the text of the convention in preparation for its earliest possible ratification by the United Kingdom.