Manning: Procedure for Obtaining Officer Endorsements

The Isle of Man does not issue Certificates of Competency but the Isle of Man Ship Registry does recognise certificates issued by a range of other countries. The recognition is indicated by the issue of an endorsement in accordance with STCW95 Regulation I/10. All Watchkeeping Officers except those holding Certificates of Competency issued in the United Kingdom, are required to have a valid endorsement.

The maximum period for which an officer may sail on an Isle of Man ship before the endorsement is received is 30 days. This is less than the three months allowed by the Convention but the Isle of Man Ship Registry is able to process applications quickly and endorsements will be available well within the one month period.

Officers are required to have their original Certificate of Competency available on board at all times as well as their Isle of Man endorsement.

Application for an endorsement

Applications are only accepted from the owners or managers of the ship and should be forwarded through their Isle of Man manager. Applications from individual seafarers are not accepted.

Endorsements are issued with a limitation to the ships of the owner or manager making the application and are not valid on Isle of Man ships generally. However, an officer who transfers to another company can be quickly issued with another endorsement valid for that company’s ships on application from the new company and on receipt of the original endorsement.

An application should be made on the standard application form and accompanied by:

• A clear photocopy of the officer’s Certificate of Competency
• A clear photocopy of the STCW endorsement to the Certificate of Competency
• A valid medical certificate
• A clear photocopy of the officer’s GMDSS certificate where appropriate and where the competence in GMDSS is not included in the Certificate of Competency
• Clear copies of the officer’s certificates relating to dangerous goods – Oil, Gas, Chemicals as appropriate
• Two passport sized colour photographs
• A document with the officer’s signature on it that can be incorporated in the final endorsement document

Each application is acknowledged by return with a stamped receipt which is evidence that the application has been made in accordance with Regulation I/10.

The Isle of Man Ship Registry checks on the validity of documents submitted and if the officer is deemed suitable an endorsement document is usually issued within a few days of receipt of the application.

The fee for the issue of an endorsement is £160.