NVIC 02-04: Assessing proficiency for persons in charge of medical care

U.S. Department of Homeland Security United States Coast Guard Commandant United States Coast Guard 2100 Second Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20593-0001 Staff Symbol: G-MSO-1 Phone: (202) 267-0229 Fax: (202) 267-4570 19 DECEMBER 2003 COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 0 2 0 4 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 0 2 0 4 Subj: GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING MERCHANT MARINERS THROUGH DEMONSTRATIONS OF PROFICIENCY FOR PERSONS IN CHARGE OF MEDICAL CARE Ref: (a) International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW), Regulation VI/4 paragraph 2 and Section A-VI/4-2 of STCW Code, incorporated into regulations at 46 CFR 10.102(b) (b) Federal Register dated December 18, 2001, Docket No. USCG-2001-11149, Guidelines for Assessing Merchant Mariners Through Demonstrations of Proficiency for Persons in Charge of Medical Care (c) Comments on Table A-VI/4-2, Assessment Guidelines, Specification of minimum standard of competence for Persons in Charge of Medical Care, Docket No. USCG- 2001-11149-2, Available at: http://dms.dot.gov

Guidelines for assessing merchant mariners through demonstrations of proficiency for persons in charge of medical care. — PURPOSE. This Circular provides the national guidelines for assessing merchant mariners

through demonstrations of proficiency for persons in charge of medical care. These guidelines are for use in training programs approved or accepted by the Coast Guard as meeting reference (a) and by designated examiners (DEs) when carrying out their assessments unless alternatives are used as discussed in paragraph 5.c.

Guidelines for assessing merchant mariners through demonstrations of proficiency for persons in charge of medical care. — ACTION. Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMIs), should use this Circular when

establishing that candidates are entitled to hold STCW-95 certificates attesting proficiency as persons in charge of medical care as stipulated in 46 CFR 10.205(p). OCMIs should also bring this Circular to the attention of the appropriate people in the maritime industry within their zones. This Circular is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g- m/nvic/. The Coast Guard will distribute it by electronic means only. DISTRIBUTION – SDL No. 140 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z A B * 2 2 3 1 C 3 3 D 1 * E 1 2 F G H NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION: See Page 3 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 0 2 0 4

Guidelines for assessing merchant mariners through demonstrations of proficiency for persons in charge of medical care. — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

Guidelines for assessing merchant mariners through demonstrations of proficiency for persons in charge of medical care. — BACKGROUND.

a. The guidance from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on shipboard assessments of proficiency, MSC/Circular 853, suggests that administrations should develop standards and measures of performance for practical tests as part of a program of training and assessment of mariners. These standards and measures ensure the uniform assessment of mariners without regard to individuality of the DEs and will result in standardization, fairness, and consistency. Enclosure (1) provides an overview of the Coast Guard's policy on assessments of mariners as required by the STCW. b. The Coast Guard tasked the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) to recommend national assessment criteria for certification attesting proficiency as a person in charge of medical care. The National Maritime Center (NMC) then used MERPAC's recommendations to develop proposed national guidelines, which we published for public comment in reference (b). Reference (c) contains the public's responses to the request for public comment. Out of this process came the final version of the national assessment guidelines contained in enclosure (2).

Guidelines for assessing merchant mariners through demonstrations of proficiency for persons in charge of medical care. — DISCUSSION.

a.

All mariners who commence training or sea service required by the STCW on or after August 1, 1998, or all mariners applying for STCW certification attesting proficiency as persons in charge of medical care on or after February 1, 2002, must present documentation demonstrating competence in those skills specified in the table of enclosure (2).

The practical demonstrations of skills are required by 46 CFR 10.205(p) to be completed in the presence of, and certified by, a DE.

Unless a mariner demonstrates proficiency in the skills required for competence as a person in charge of medical care in enclosure (2), the OCMI will not issue the STCW certification as stipulated in 46 CFR 10.205(p). b.

A person assessing mariners for STCW certification attesting proficiency as persons in charge of medical care should use either the guidelines in enclosure (2) or an alternative as discussed in paragraph 5. c when assessing practical demonstrations of proficiency. c. 46 CFR 10.302 gives the Coast Guard authority to approve courses that satisfy regulatory requirements or that substitute for a Coast Guard examination or a portion of a sea- service requirement.

Those who assess the proficiency of mariners may refine these published guidelines and develop innovative alternatives; however, before they use any deviations from these guidelines, they must submit them to the NMC for approval by the Coast Guard.

A training institution submitting a course that leads to certification attesting proficiency as a person in charge of medical care should either state that the guidelines in enclosure (2) will apply or otherwise identify the guidelines to be used. d.

Merchant mariners required to demonstrate proficiency through demonstrations of skills for certification as persons in charge of medical care should use these guidelines for self- NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 0 2 0 4 study and self-assessment. e.

STCW Regulation VI/4 paragraph 2 requires those persons designated to take charge of medical care on board ships to meet these standards of competence for demonstrations of skills to meet the proficiency in Table A-VI/4, paragraphs 4, 5, and 6 of the STCW Code.

The STCW is not a manning document; it establishes standards for a mariner's professional qualifications.

United States' manning laws or regulations do not require that a vessel have someone specifically designated as a person responsible to take charge of extended medical care unless required by the vessel's Certificate of Inspection.

It is not the intent of this NVIC to formalize or impose new manning requirements.

It merely provides guidance for review of medical training courses that may meet the STCW's requirements and acceptance of the qualifications of mariners.

It therefore provides shipping companies an avenue for proving that the person designated to take charge of medical care meets the requirements of STCW.

Guidelines for assessing merchant mariners through demonstrations of proficiency for persons in charge of medical care. — DISCLAIMER.

a. While the guidance contained in this document may assist the industry, the public, the Coast Guard, and other Federal and State regulators in applying statutory and regulatory requirements, the guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements; nor is it itself a rule. Thus, it is not intended to nor does it impose legally-binding requirements on any party, including the Coast Guard, other Federal agencies, the States, or the regulated community. T. H. GILMOUR ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR MARINE SAFETY, SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Encl: (1) Assessments of mariners (2) Table A-VI/4-2, Assessment Guidelines, Specification of minimum standard of competence for Persons in Charge of Medical Care Non-Standard Distribution: B:a G-M(1); G-MS(1); G-MSO (4) D:l CG Liaison Officer MILSEALIFTCOMD (Code N-7CG) (1); CG Liaison Officer MARAD (MAR-720.2) (1).