02054.SEL -January 9, 2002
This letter is specifically addressed to owners, operators and manning agents dealing with vessels that must comply with STCW 95 requirements. This letter is not addressed to owners, operators or manning agents dealing with unmanned vessels/barges, non-self propelled vessels including non-self propelled MODUs, or fishing vessels.

As you may be aware, the STCW Convention, as amended in 1995, does not mandate that a flag state recognize by endorsement the certificate of competency issued to a rating by his national administration. Yet many owners have requested that we issue a Certificate of Endorsement when issuing a rating an ID book. (Note: officers must have their documents recognized by flag state endorsement.)

Due to ID Book production problems that we have recently corrected, some Certificates of Endorsement issued to ratings forming part of a watch may not have contained specifically identified Alimitations@ assigned to the capacity of the ratings, as required in the format stipulated in STCW Code A, Section A-I/2. Although none of the ratings affected were Alimited@ in their capacity by their national administration -- this is reflected in the ID section of the ID Book -- to avoid confusion, we are offering you the opportunity to have the ID Books and Certificates of Endorsement re-issued in the appropriate format at no additional cost. Should you wish to take us up on this offer, just post the ID Book with the incorrect endorsement to this office and we will expedite the re-issuance of the Certificate of Endorsement.

Should Port State Control inspectors question the ratings= endorsements, or the fact that there are no Alimitations@ specified for the capacity of the rating, please advise them the ratings were not assigned any limitations by their national administration, as reflected in the ID section of the ID Book; provide them with a copy of this letter; and direct them to contact this office at 212-425-9600, fax 212-425-9652, or e-mail , if they need further clarification.

For your information copies of the uncorrected and corrected versions of the ID Books and Certificates of Endorsement are shown overleaf.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Donald J. Sheetz
Executive Vice President