Liberia informs about amendments to the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate referring to the ships' cook

Liberia Maritime Authority released a marine advisory note informing about the amendments to the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate (MSMC) for ships, referring to the ships' cook.

This note (26/2023) was published on 13 October 2023 and supersedes Marine Advisory 24/2022.

Background

MLC, 2006 Regulation 3.2 and Standard A3.2 requires that ships with a manning of ten (10) or more crew shall be provided with a ship’s cook trained, qualified and found competent for the position in accordance with requirements set out in the laws and regulations of Administration.

RLM-108 section 10.315(2) and Marine Notice MLC-004 paragraph 5.2 set the training standards for ship’s cooks.

Furthermore, Standard A2.7.3 of MLC, 2006 requires the Administration to take into account all the requirements within Regulation 3.2 and Standard A3.2 concerning food and catering when determining manning levels.

Requirements

With effect from 1 December 2022, the Administration will include the provision for a ships’ cook in the Special Requirements or Conditions section of the new MSMC for ships with a manning of 10 or more crew.

All other MSMC shall include the provision for a ship’s cook in the Special Requirements or Conditions section at the next reissuance of the MSMC but no later than 31 December 2023.

Ships’ cooks shall be trained and certified in accordance with the standards noted under “Background” above and Regulation VI/I of STCW.

The Administration will also issue Special Qualification Certificates where the seafarer serving as ship’s cook meets the requirements.

Clarification

It should be noted that the ship's cook is not included as part of the ship’s complement in the section under STCW Regulation, since the ship’s cook is not required under SOLAS or STCW, but is required under the ILO MLC, 2006.

To apply for reissuance of MSMC, please contact VesselCertificates@liscr.com, and for application of a ship’s cook SQC, please contact Seafarers@liscr.com.

Questions regarding this instruction should be referred to RegsandStandards@liscr.com or you may call +1-703-790-3434.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

Amendments to the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate