Training Advice Note June 2012

UKLAP Reference Material, Ship Approvals, Apprenticeship Funding and

Trainee Numbers
UKLAP Reference Material
In October 2011, we issued Training Provider Advice Note (TPAN 08/1011)
regarding DSOs which stated:
UKLAP reference material and a complete set of MCA M:Notices must be
available to the cadets on board ship and these may be stored electronically.
Accepted UKLAP reference material includes Shipmaster Business Companion
(and annual supplements) by Malcolm Maclachan and, Business and Law SelfExaminer for Deck Officers by Malcolm Maclachan.
We were subsequently advised by the author that The Shipmaster Business
Companion needs updating and is likely to be re-written within the next 18
months. If you have not yet obtained a copy of the book you may wish to wait
until the new version is published. The final decision is up to you.
Additionally, Business and Law Self-Examiner for Deck Officers has been
replaced by The Shipmasters Self-Examiner, a copy of which must be held on
board for cadets.
We have now identified A Masters Guide to the UK Flag which is considered to
be an acceptable alternative to both The Shipmaster Business Companion and
The Shipmasters Self-Examiner. It can be downloaded free of charge from the
MCAs website: www.dft.gov.uk/mca under: Home> Working at Sea> Training and
Certification> Certificate of Equivalent Competency

Ship Approvals
MGN 431 paragraph 10.3 states that any ship approval granted will be for a
maximum of three years. To ensure the safety of cadets on board it is our
intention to apply this time limit to all vessels that have previously been given
approval for an indefinite period. We are currently in the process of clarifying with
Training Providers which vessels are still being used for cadet training. We will
then check PSC for all such vessels before issuing any further approval. Where
excessive rates of PSC deficiencies exist approval may either be withdrawn [and
trainees removed at the next available port] or reduced to less than three years.
Apprenticeship Funding for Trainee Watch Ratings
Where apprenticeship funding is / has been paid for a trainee Watch Rating who
is following an MNTB approved course then SMarT funding must not be claimed.

TPAN 13/0612

Furthermore, SMarT will only be payable if the trainee has signed up for either
the Navigational (STCW Reg II/4) or Engine Room (STCW Reg III/4) Watch
Rating course at the start of their training. We will be introducing a new Proforma for Watch Ratings Training with the revised MGN.
Please note SMarT will not be payable where the trainee signs up for the full
four-stage MNTB approved Able Seafarer course at the start of their training as
this will be payable by apprenticeship funding.

Trainee Numbers update for 2012/13

The latest forecast for new trainee starters is 835 for this current financial year
(2012/13). The figures include new starters for August 2012, September 2012
and January 2013.

TPAN 13/0612