Explanation of the expiry of CoC voyages near the international coast
The Dutch certificates of competency for 1st officer, master, and engineer <500 GT with a limitation to voyages near the international coast (codes 108/138/208/239) will no longer be issued as of 01-07-2025 under the new Manning Act.
Seafarers who have an “international coast” limitation on their CoC will not be able to obtain this limitation again after 01-07-2025. The maximum applicable endorsement will be the EEZ variant. For Belgium and Germany, agreements are in place that allow navigation in the relevant waters. In all other cases, navigation is at one’s own risk, and ship managers are advised to verify with the local authorities whether sailing with such a CoC is permitted in the waters concerned.
In principle, acceptance of the CoC limitation “Voyages near the Dutch coast within the NL EEZ” will not differ from the previously applied CoC limitation “Voyages near the international coast.” The substantive requirements are exactly the same and are in accordance with the STCW Convention. These substantive requirements are of such a high and robust standard that they are likely to be accepted by other countries.
Although the wording on the CoC has changed, there has in fact been no change regarding its use. The wording “international voyages” on the CoC was linked to a reference to Regulation II/3 and Chapter I, Regulation I/3, which were also stated on the CoC. See an example below.
This concerns a limitation to “Ships engaged on Near Coastal Voyages.” Paragraphs 2 and 5 of Regulation I/3 of the STCW Convention describe that countries must conclude an “undertaking” with each other regarding navigation in a Near Coastal area. The limitation “Voyages near the international coast” was not in accordance with the STCW Convention, partly because it could give the impression that international voyages (for example, coastal hopping) were permitted with such a CoC.
For this reason, the limitation “Voyages near the international coast” has been replaced by the limitation “Voyages near the national coast within the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone (hereinafter: EEZ).” This latter limitation provides the widest possible navigation area within the concept of near-coastal voyages. This does not mean that holders of such a certificate would not be permitted to sail in foreign waters within a limited navigation area. This is indeed possible, subject to conditions.
What if your sailing area does include the international coast?
In principle, acceptance of the CoC limitation “Voyages near the Dutch coast within the NL EEZ” will not differ from the previously applied CoC limitation “Voyages near the international coast.” The substantive requirements are exactly the same and are in accordance with the STCW Convention. These substantive requirements are of such a high and robust standard that they are likely to be accepted by other countries.
As stated above, the STCW Convention does require a specific undertaking regarding the requirements and conditions for navigation in each other’s coastal waters. In practice, however, such specific agreements are rarely concluded. The Netherlands has such an agreement only with the neighbouring countries Belgium and Germany.
In all other cases, it is recommended that, before navigating in foreign waters within a limited navigation area, seafarers or ship managers verify the requirements imposed by the local maritime authority. This can be done by contacting the maritime authority of the country concerned. The background to this is that other coastal states (Convention parties) determine themselves the requirements applicable in their coastal waters. In most cases, these will be in accordance with the STCW Convention, meaning the requirements are equivalent. In practice, it also appears that many countries do accept navigation with such certificates of competency, even in the absence of a formal undertaking.
For the sake of clarity: the idea that certificates with the limitation “voyages near the international coast” granted the right to sail internationally is incorrect. These certificates could be used in foreign waters within a limited navigation area. This was the old situation, and it remains the same under the new situation.
Additional Requirement
An additional requirement is that the supplementary endorsement Ship Management (N or W) is mandatory for the certificate of competency for the Dutch coast and EEZ.
With regard to certificates of competency already issued, transitional provisions apply: existing rights are retained in the sense that their validity continues. New issuance will no longer take place after the entry into force of the new Act on 1 July 2025. Seafarers who already hold a certificate of competency for the Dutch coast and EEZ at that time are not required to obtain the supplementary endorsement N or W retroactively.