STCW & Seafarers Documentation

It is mandatory for all seafarers serving onboard a St. Kitts & Nevis Ship to hold a "Continuous Discharge Certificate and Identity Document (CDC)", also commonly known as a Discharge Book or Seamen's Book.

It is also mandatory for the Master, all officers and all watchkeeping ratings, serving onboard a St Kitts & Nevis ship to hold an appropriate Endorsement from St. Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry (SKANReg).

A CERTIFICATE OF ENDORSEMENT (CoE) shall be issued to Officers holding Certificates of Competency – (CoC) and title endorsement from a "White Listed" country under Regulation I/10 of the STCW 1978/95 Convention and for Ratings holding appropriate certification from their home country or any "White Listed" country.

Attention is drawn to the Guidance Notes at the end of this notice for descriptions of Officers and Ratings and their required qualifications and duties.

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION FOR EITHER A CONTINUOUS DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE (CDC) OR A CERTIFICATE OF ENDORSEMENT (CoE)

An Officer or Rating requiring a Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) or a Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) from St. Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry (SKANReg), shall apply as below:

The following are to be submitted

  1. Application Form A15 (Application for Seafarers Documents) This Application Form should be downloaded from our website www.StKittsNevisRegistry.net
  2. Copy of passport - showing personal details of Applicant as per those entered on this Application Form
  3. 2 x Passport size photos - with applicants name printed on the reverse.  Please see attached link for the standard requirements for these photos - http://www.photomat.eu/PLE03_web_Mar05.pdf
  4. Valid Medical Fitness Certificate (the medical examination must be carried out no more than 18 months before this application)
  5. Copies of training certificates
  6. Payment & Proof of payment of fees
  7. Any other documentation SKANReg may deem necessary for this application (if requested)
    In addition - for Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC)
  8. Current CDC (if requesting renewal/replacement)  
    In addition - for Certificate of Endorsement (CoE)
  9. Copy of current Certificate of Competency (CoC)
  10. Copy of current additional Endorsement (GMDSS, Tanker, etc) (if applying for this)
  11. Proof of Sea Service - copy of sea service certificates or pages from seamen's book showing personal details and ranks served.
  12. Current CoE (if applying for extension)

NOTES:

  1. All information must be printed in CAPITAL LETTERS in black ink or by typing.
  2. Failure to complete the Application Form fully or submit the required documentation may result in rejection or delays in processing.
  3. Applicants must sign in the box shown, keeping their signature within the box lines.
  4. Passport - This must be a National Passport.  If a National Identity Card or Seamen's Passport is submitted, this must be recognised by the issuing authority as a travel document i.e. can be used in lieu of a National Passport.
  5. Applicants may initially submit their application by scanning the Application Form and supporting documents and submitting by email to mail@StKittsNevisRegistry.net.  The original can be forwarded by mail/courier.
  6. All supporting documents submitted must be clear copies and legible.
  7. For an up to date status on the IMO "Whitelist" see www.imo.org
  8. Endorsements issued by SKANReg will have the same expiry date as the Certificate Whose recognition they attest, up to a maximum of 5 years.
  9. Applicants for Endorsements, must be in possession of, or have applied for, a St. Kitts & Nevis CDC.
  10. Application Fees will NOT be returned if incorrect information or documentation is submitted.
  11. For more information see the website www.StKittsNevisRegistry.net

The applications may be submitted to the office of the Department of Maritime Affairs, Maritime Registrar of St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry for that region or to SKANReg direct . Where applications are made to a Maritime Registrar they shall check the originals and certify the copies as true copies

The Certificate of Endorsement shall only be issued after due verification by St. Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry (SKANReg), of the authenticity of the documents submitted by the applicant.

If a negative answer regarding the authenticity of a document submitted in support of an application is received from the Administration/Issuing Authority the seafarer will be barred from obtaining an SKN certificate or any endorsement for 10 years from the date of the application and on conviction be liable to a fine according to the applicable provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act No 24. of 2002. SKANReg will inform IMO of such debarring.

REVALIDATION OF CoE'S

Seafarer's may apply to SKANReg for revalidation for their Certificate of Endorsement (CoE) as soon as their Home Country Certificate of Competency (CoC) has been revalidated by the Flag Administration who issue it:

The procedure is as follows:

  1. Submit via a Maritime Registrar (MR) to the Seafarer's Registration Department at SKANReg Head Office, a clear copy (by fax/email) of the revalidated home CoC.
  2. Payment of appropriate fees (Q-Form).
  3. SKANReg will check the validity of the revalidated CoC with the Home Country.
  4. When revalidation is authenticated, SKANReg will authorise the MR to revalidate the CoE on the reverse, with the new expiry date.
  5. MR to sign and stamp reverse of CoE accordingly.
  6. MR will send a copy of reverse of CoE showing revalidation to SKANReg Head Office. 

Where the CoC has been reissued by the Home Country with a serial/issue number different to that of the original CoC (this can be in cases where this is the Home Countries policy or a new CoC has been issued for a higher rank) this should be treated as a new application for a CoE.

The process then is as follows:

  1. After checking the application the MR may issue a Certificate of Processing an Endorsement (CPE) and then forward a copy of the CPE and the CoC to the Seafarers Registration Department at SKANReg Head Office.
  2. Payment of appropriate fees (Q-Form).
  3. SKANReg will check the validity of the revalidated CoC with the Home Country.
  4. When the CoC is authenticated, SKANReg will issue a new CoE and forward to the MR for passing to the seafarer. 

GUIDANCE NOTES - These do not form part of the Merchant Shipping Act No. 24 of 2002 and are for guidance only

Officer Qualifications

A person is qualified as an officer where he holds a Certificate of Competency issued by St. Kitts & Nevis or a Certificate of Competency, which has been duly recognised and endorsed in accordance with the STCW 1978/95 Convention, in one of the following capacities -

(a) Master;
(b) Chief Mate;
(c) Officer in charge of a navigational watch;
(d) Chief Engineer Officer;
(e) Second Engineer Officer;
(f) Officer in charge of an engineering watch; or
(g) Radio Operator

Ratings Qualifications

(1)       Every rating forming part of a navigational watch on a ship of 500 GT or more, other than ratings under training and ratings whose duties while on watch are of an unskilled nature, shall hold a St. Kitts & Nevis Certificate or one issued by or under the authority of another STCW country.

(2)       Every rating forming part of an engine-room watch or designated to perform duties in a periodically unmanned engine-room on a ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more, other than ratings under training and ratings whose duties are of an unskilled nature, shall hold a St. Kitts & Nevis Certificate or one issued by or under the authority of another STCW country.

Radio Communication Personnel Qualifications

(1) Every ship shall carry a person or persons -

    (a)  qualified for distress and safety radio communication purposes and

    (b)  who are holders of a Radio Operators certificate issued by St. Kitts & Nevis or one issued by or under the authority of another STCW country, as appropriate and one such person shall be designated by the master to have primary responsibility for radio communications during distress incidents.

(2) On Area A1 ships the person mentioned at (1a) above shall hold at least a GMDSS Restricted Operator's Certificate (ROC)

(3) On ships operating in Areas A1/A2, A1/A2/A3 and A1/A2/A3/A4, the person mentioned at (1b) above shall hold a GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)

Other Seafarers

St. Kitts & Nevis does not issue Certificates of Competency or require Endorsements for the following seafarers: 

These seafarers do need a Continuous Discharge Certificate and Identity Document (CDC).