Coast Guard sets interim rule on requirements for vessel security officers

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Coast Guard sets interim rule on requirements for vessel security officers

The Coast Guard has announced an interim rule under which the vessel security officer training and certification requirements of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) will take effect June 19, 2008. The Coast Guard will begin enforcing these requirements July 1, 2009.

Under the interim rule, designated ship security officers aboard all vessels subject to the STCW convention will be required to have completed vessel security officer training that meets the requirements of the international STCW convention. When enforcement begins, ship security officers will be required to carry and present upon demand a certificate verifying they have completed such training.

Members of American Maritime Officers who have completed the Vessel Security Officer course at either RTM STAR Center site already hold the required certificate.

The STAR Center Vessel Security Officer course is certified by DNV for the Maritime Administration and has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard as meeting STCW requirements for vessel security officer training.

Since January 2008, the course completion certificates issued by STAR Center include a notation of the course's compliance with STCW requirements. For AMO members who completed the Vessel Security Officer course at STAR Center prior to this year, the course completion certificate does not contain the STCW notation.

Although STAR Center is not permitted to issue replacement certificates with the STCW notation for courses taken before January 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard has said it will honor STAR Center Vessel Security Officer course completion certificates without the STCW notation.

Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard has notified international port-state control authorities that the STAR Center Vessel Security Officer course meets STCW requirements and course completion certificates from STAR Center will be accepted, even those without the STCW notation, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Mayte Medina.

For mariners who have been serving as vessel security officers without training, certification by the Coast Guard and vessel security officer training will be required for compliance with the interim rule by July 1, 2009.

The notice of interim rulemaking as published in the Federal Register, complete with instructions for submitting comments, is available online at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-11225.pdf.

All comments and related materials must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before July 21, 2008. For more information about the interim rulemaking, contact Mayte Medina at (202) 372–1406 or by .