HC Deb 04 February 1999 vol 324 c721W
Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what financial assistance is available to existing master mariners who wish to meet the new international requirements coming into force on 1 February 2002. [68994]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Under the Government's Support for Maritime Training Scheme (SMarT), financial assistance of £25 a day (to increase to £26 a day from 1 April 1999) is paid to eligible SMarT Training Providers in respect of officers (including master mariners) already holding certificates of competency or service issued under STCW 78, who undertake approved shore-based training programmes in order to meet any extra requirements necessary for the issue of an equivalent certificate under STCW 95. Officers who are unemployed may apply for this assistance through Oceanair, a company operated by the officer's trade union, NUMAST.

Marine Guidance Note MGN 53(M), (to be revised in April as MGN 103 (M)) gives full details of the scheme and how to apply. Copies of the Marine Guidance Notes are available in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of master mariner certificates which will become unrecognised on 1 February 2002, when the new validation requirements come into force. [68995]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The international Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention 1978, as revised in 1995 (STCW 95) came into force on 1 February 1997, and the UK, as a party to the Convention, was given 5 years (until 1 February 2002) to comply with the new certification requirements.

Since certificates of competency are only valid for 5 years at a time, all current holders have been given the option of either revalidating them until 31 January 2002 under the old requirements, or for a full 5 years under STCW 95 provided they meet with the new requirements.

All valid certificates will therefore be recognised on 1 February 2002 but it is not possible at this stage to estimate how many certificated master mariners will decide not to revalidate under STCW 95.