The Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
(STCW) 1995 requires that mariners who are part of a
Navigational Watch be trained and assessed in their
competencies to perform their duties and that they hold an
STCW form endorsed as a Rating Forming Part of a
Navigational Watch (RFPNW). Until the mariner is in
possession of the STCW endorsement, he or she may not be
assigned navigational watchstanding duties except in an
observer or supervised training status (i.e., an extra
member of the watch). One exception to this rule is if the
mariner completes a special training program, then he/she
may be used as a lookout without additional supervision, but
would still require supervision at the helm.
For the mariners, this means
additional training and time accounting requirements. The
regulation applies to mariners serving on seagoing vessels
of 200 or more gross registered tons (GRT - domestic
tonnage), 500 International Tonnage Convention gross tons
(ITC GT). It has been determined that the responsibilities
of an able bodied seaman (AB) are such that the STCW's
standards apply to them. In addition, ordinary seamen who
stand navigational watches as part of a navigational watch,
such as a lookout, must also meet the STCW's standards for
certification.
Able
bodied seamen who started their sea service prior to 1
August 1998 may be issued the STCW RFPNW endorsement upon
request to the USCG. No additional training or assessment
is required if the mariner is issued the AB endorsement
before 1 February 2002.
Young
Memorial's Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch
course consists of 16 hours class time. After successful
completion of the class the student receives a record
training book to take to work with them. The student then
completes 60 12 hour days at sea and completes the record
training book in full. The student returns to Young Memorial
with the completed book and a letter of sea time for 60 days
to receive their Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch
certificate. This certificate should be sent to the Coast
Guard REC for their endorsement.
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