MERCHANT SHIPPING (CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY AS A.B.) RULES

MERCHANT SHIPPING (CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY AS A.B.) RULES

MERCHANT SHIPPING (CERTIFICATES OF
COMPETENCY AS A.B.) RULES

(Cap. 28 1, section 6(2))

PART 1

PRELIMINARY

1. These rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Cer

tificates of Competency as A.B.) Rules and shall come into operation

on a day to be appointed by the Director of Marine by notice in the

Gazette.

2. In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires

'A.B.' means an able bodied seaman;

-approved- means approved by the Director;

'conversion course- means a course which provides training in the
duties of a deck rating for persons who have served as an engine
room rating;

'Examination Centre- means the Examination Centre of the Marine
Department;

.,examiner' means a person appointed to be an examiner under section
6(1) of the Ordinance;

'GRT' in relation to a ship means its gross register tonnage and in
relation to a ship having alternative gross register tonnages means
the lower of those tonnages;

'qualifying sea service' means the sea service specified in rule 7 as
modified by rule 8,

,,responsible authority' in relation to a training school or course. means
the person in charge of that school or course;

-revoked rules- means the Merchant Shipping (Lifeboatmen and A.B.
Certificates of Competency Examinations) Rules..

.,satisfactorily' means to the satisfaction of the responsible authority
or the Director of Marine;

'sea-going ship- means a ship other than one which navigates
exclusively in inland waters or in areas where port regulations
apply;

,steering requirement- means the requirement of rule 3(1)(a)(v) as to
steering experience.





PART 11

QUALIFICATION, ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION

3. (1) A certificate of competency as A.B. shall not be granted to
any person unless he

(a) (i) has attained the age of 18 years;

(ii) has completed the qualifying sea service;

(iii) has passed an examination based on the syllabus
specified in the First Schedule;

(iv) is the holder of a certificate of proficiency in survival
craft issued under the Merchant Shipping (Certificates of
Proficiency in Survival Craft) Rules, a certificate of
competency as lifeboatman issued under the revoked rules or
any other approved certificate of proficiency in survival craft;
and

(v) has, otherwise than for the purpose of receiving
instruction therein, taken turns at the wheel in steering a sea-
going ship, not being a fishing vessel, for a period totalling
not. less than 10 hours; or

(b) (i) has, before 1 September 1978, completed the qualify-

ing sea service in an appropriate capacity; and

(ii) has fulfilled the steering requirement.

(2) A certificate of competency as A.B. shall not be granted under
the provisions of paragraph (1)(b) more than 3 years after the
commencement of these rules.

4. (1) 'Subject to rule 5, a person shall not be eligible to take an
examination for a certificate of competency as A.B. unless he

(a) has attained the age of 18 years; and

(b) either

(i) (A) has completed the qualifying sea service; and

(B) has fulfilled the steering requirement, or

(ii) (A)has served at sea as an engine room rating for at
least 18 months;

(B)has satisfactorily completed an approved
conversion course; and

(C)is the holder of a valid medical fitness certificate
within the meaning of the Merchant Shipping
(Medical Examination) Regulations.

(2) Application to take the examination shall be made to the
Examination Centre.

(3) Every application to be examined shall be made on a form
obtainable from the Examination Centre and shall be accompanied by





(a)a certificate or certificates and such other evidence as may be
necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the examiner that
the applicant has complied with the requirements of paragraph
(1)(b)(i) or (1)(b)(ii); and

(b) the prescribed fee.

(4) Every application when completed shall be lodged with the
examiner, who shall, if satisfied that the applicant is eligible to take the
examination, ensure that the applicant is notified of the arrangements
made for the examination, or, if not so satisfied, inform the applicant in
writing that his application is refused, stating the reasons for refusal.

(5) On the completion of the examination, the examiner shall inform
the applicant of the result, record the result on the form of application
and submit the form to the Director. If the applicant has passed the
examination, the examiner shall issue to the applicant a certificate to that
effect.

(6) A person who has complied with the requirements of rule
3(1)(a)(i), (ii) and (iv) and has fulfilled the steering requirement may
when applying to take an examination under paragraph (3) also apply
for the grant of a certificate of competency as A.B. in which case the
application shall be accompanied by 2 suitable identical passport-size
photographs of the applicant and the prescribed fee.

5. An examination for a certificate of competency as A.B. may, in
the case of a person undergoing a course of pre-sea training at a
nautical training school specified in the Second Schedule, be taken by
that person at that school in stages during the course in accordance
with approved arrangements made by the responsible authority.

6. (1) A person who has complied with the requirements of rule
3(1)(a) or (b) and who has not applied for the grant of a certificate of
competency as A.B. under rule 4(6), may apply to the Director for the
grant of a certificate of competency as A.B.

(2) Every application under this rule shall be made on a form
obtainable at the Examination Centre and shall be accompanied by

(a)2 suitable ui table 'identical passport-size photographs of the
applicant;

(b)a certificate or certificates and such other evidence as may be
necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the Director that
the applicant has complied with the requirements of rule
3(1)(a) or (b); and

(e) the prescribed fee.





(3) Upon receipt of an application under this rule or rule 4(6), the
Director shall, if satisfied that the applicant is entitled to the grant of a
certificate of competency as A.B., cause such a certificate to be issued
to the applicant in the form prescribed in the Third Schedule or, if not so
satisfied, inform the applicant in writing that his application is refused,
stating the reasons for the refusal.

7. (1) For the purposes of rule 3(1)(a)(ii). 3(1)(b)(i) or 4(1)(b)(i)(A),
qualifying sea service shall consist of either

(a)service as a general purpose rating in a sea-going ship having
a general purpose or integrated crew (referred to in these rules
as 'service as a general purpose rating'); or

(b)service as a deck rating in a sea-going ship other than a ship
having a general purpose or integrated crew (referred to in
these rules as 'service as a deck rating'); or

(c)service partly as the one and partly as the other of the above
mentioned ratings (referred to in these rules as 'mixed
service').

(2) Subject to rule 8, the period of qualifying sea service shall be

(a) for the purposes of rule 4(1)(b)(i)(A)
(1) in the case of service as a general purpose rating. 18
months;

(ii) in the case of service as a deck rating. 12 months:

(iii) in the case of mixed service. a period of between 12 and
18 months such that the component periods of service as a
general purpose rating and as a deck rating respectively,
expressed as percentages of the periods prescribed in relation
thereto in sub-sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii). total 100 per cent

(b)for the purpose of rule 3(1)(a)(ii) or 3(1)(b)(i), the period
specified in relation to each type of service in sub-paragraph
(a), plus a further period of 2 years.

(3) In calculating a period of qualifying sea service for the purpose
of paragraph (2)

(a)every day by which a period of service in a ship exceeds the
number of months in that period, and every day of such
service in a period of service of less than one month. shall be
treated as 1/30th of a month of service;

(b)each period of service in a ship shall be calculated separately;
and

(c)the length of every period of service in a ship shall be
calculated from the date of its commencement to the date of
its termination.





(4) Every period of qualifying sea service shall include a
proportion of not less than 50 per cent of service in ships of more than
200 GRT, other than fishing vessels.

8. In the case of a person who holds a certificate given by the
responsible authority showing that he has passed or satisfactorily
completed an approved course of pre-sea training at a nautical training
school specified in the Second Schedule, the total period of qualifying
sea service which would otherwise be required under rule 7(2) shall be
reduced by the period shown in the third column of the Second
Schedule.

PART Ill

GENERAL

9. The fees prescribed in the Fourth Schedule shall be payable in
respect of the matters specified in relation thereto in that Schedule.

10. (1) The examiner shall not permit a candidate to take an
examination under these rules unless he is satisfied that the candidate is
eligible to take the examination and is the person in respect of whom the
application for examination has been made.

(2) If before the commencement, or during the course. of an
examination the examiner becomes aware that a candidate has a
physical or other disability which in his opinion would render the
candidate incapable of performing the duties of an A.B.. the examiner
shall not permit the candidate to take or complete the examination.

(3) Where the examiner does not permit a candidate to take or
complete the examination under paragraph (1) or (2)

(a)he shall state his reasons on the form of application and
submit the form to the Director; and

(b) the fee paid by or on behalf of the candidate shall be refunded
to the person who paid the fee.

11. Any candidate who is aggrieved by any decision of the
examiner may appeal in writing to the Director within 30 days of being
notified of such a decision and the Director may confirm. vary or
reverse any such decision or substitute therefor such other decision as
he may think fit.

12. (1) If a person entitled to a certificate of competency as A.B.
proves to the satisfaction of the Director that the certificate issued to
him has been lost or destroyed, the Director shall. upon payment of the
prescribed fee. if any. issue a copy of the certificate. certified as such.
which shall have the same effect as the certificate originally issued.





(2) An application for a certified copy of a lost certificate of
competency as A.B. should be made at the Examination Centre,
accompanied by the prescribed fee. A declaration as to the
circumstances in which the certificate was lost must be made by the
applicant before an examiner.

(3) If any certificate notified under paragraph (1) as lost is
subsequently found, the person to whom it was issued shall deliver it
forthwith to the Director.

13. A record of all certificates of competency as A.B. issued under
these rules and of the suspension, cancellation or alteration of, and any
other matters affecting, such certificates, shall be kept by the Director.

14. (1) Subject to paragraph (2) the Merchant Shipping
(Lifeboatmen and A.B. Certificates of Competency Examinations) Rules
are revoked, but without prejudice to the validity of any certificate
issued in accordance with them.

(2) If the Director is satisfied that a certificate of competency
issued under the revoked rules has been lost or destroyed, he shall
upon application by the holder and upon payment of the prescribed fee,
issue a copy of the certificate, certified as such, which shall have the
same effect as the certificate of competency originally issued and rule
12(3) of these rules shall apply to the lost certificate as if it were a
certificate issued under these rules.

FIRST SCHEDULE [rule
3.1

SYLLABUS FOR EXAMINATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY As
A.B.

PART 1

Nautical Knowledge

1 The meaning of common nautical terms.

2.The names and functions of various parts of, a ship. for example decks,
compartments, ballast tanks, bilges, air pipes, strum boxes.

3.Knowledge of compass card 0 to 359. Ability to report the approximate
bearing of an object in degrees or points on the bow.

4. Reading, streaming and handing a patent log.

5.Markings on a hand lead line. taking a cast of the hand lead and correctly
reporting the sounding obtained.

6. Marking of the anchor cable.

7. Understanding helm orders.

8. The use of lifesaving and fire fighting appliances.





Practical Work
(To be tested as far as possible by practical demonstration.)

9. Knots, hitches and bends in common use-

Reef knot Bowline and bowline on the bight
Timber hitch Sheet bend, double and single
Clove hitch Sheepshank
Rolling hitch Round turn and two half hitches
Figure of eight Marlinspike hitch
Wall and crown

To whip a rope's end using plain or palm and needle whipping. To put a
seizing on rope and wire. To put a stopper on a rope or wire hawser, and
derrick lift.

10.Splicing plaited and multi-strand manila and synthetic-fibre rope, eye splice,
short splice and back splice. Splicing wire rope, eye splice using a locking tuck.
Care in use of rope and wire.

11. Slinging a stage, rigging a bosun's chair and pilot ladder.

12.Rigging a derrick. Operating a winch; general precautions to be taken before
and during the operation of a winch whether used for working cargo or for
warping.

13.The use and operation of a windlass in anchor work and in warping. Safe
handling of moorings with particular reference to synthetic-fibre ropes and
self-tensioning winches. Precautions to be taken in the stowage of chain cable
and securing the anchors for sea.

14.A knowledge of the gear used in cargo work and an understanding of its uses.
General maintenance with particular reference to wires, blocks and shackles.

15.The safe handling of hatch covers including mechanical hatch covers;
battening down and securing hatches and tank lids.

PART 11

ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION

Each candidate will be required to satisfy the examiner that he has sufficient
knowledge of the English language to understand, or give. any necessary orders
that may be given to or by him in the course of the performance of his duties on a
ship.

SECOND SCHEDULE [rules 5 8.1
NAUTICAL TRAINING SCHOOLS

Period of reduction in
Place Name of Schoolqualifying sea service
Hong Kong Hong Kong Sea School 3 months
Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic 6 months

THIRD SCHEDULE [rule 6.]

MERCHANT SHIPPING (CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY A.B.) RULES

HONG KONG

Hong Kong Certificate of competency Certificate
Crest as A.B.Number:





Discharge
Name in Full Date of Birth Book Number Photograph

English

Place of Birth Space for
Photograph
Chinese

This is to certify that the above-named is duly qualified in accordance with the
Merchant Shipping (Certificates of Competency as A.B.) Rules.

. .........

Director of Marine

.............

Signature ol Holder

...........................................................

Examiner

Office Date Stamp

FOURTH SCHEDULE [rule. 9.1

FEES
S
1. For sitting the examination for a certificate of competency; as A.B. 150.00
2. For issue of a certificate of competency as A.B . 20.00
3. For issue of a certified copy of a certificate of competency as A.B
except where the loss or destruction of the original certificate was
occasioned by the wreck or loss of a ship or by, a fire on board ship.
in which case no fee shall be payable 50.00
4. For issue of a certified copy of a certificate of competency, issued
under the revoked rules. except where the loss or destruction of the
original certificate was occasioned by the wreck or loss of a ship or
by a tire on board ship. in which case no fee shall be payable 50.00
L.N. 289/85. Citation and commencement. Interpretation. (Cap. 281, sub. leg.) Conditions for the grant of a certificate of competency as A.B. First Schedule. (Cap. 281, sub. leg.) Eligibility and application for examination. Examinations at training schools. Second Schedule. Application for certificate of competency as A.B. Third Schedule. Qualifying sea Service. Reduction in qualifying service at sea. Second Schedule. Fees. Fourth Schedule. Verification of qualifications etc. by examiner. Appeals from decisions of examiner. Loss of certificate. Record of certificates. Revocation. (Cap. 281, sub. leg.)

L.N. 289/85. Citation and commencement. Interpretation. (Cap. 281, sub. leg.) Conditions for the grant of a certificate of competency as A.B. First Schedule. (Cap. 281, sub. leg.) Eligibility and application for examination. Examinations at training schools. Second Schedule. Application for certificate of competency as A.B. Third Schedule. Qualifying sea Service. Reduction in qualifying service at sea. Second Schedule. Fees. Fourth Schedule. Verification of qualifications etc. by examiner. Appeals from decisions of examiner. Loss of certificate. Record of certificates. Revocation. (Cap. 281, sub. leg.)

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