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The Secretary of Transportation delegated this function to the Maritime Administration; the Maritime Administrator charged the U.S. Merchant marine Academy (USMMA) with its execution. The goal of this voluntary certification program is to promote high quality, uniform training of maritime security professionals. In order to be eligible, training providers - profit or non-profit - must be organized and authorized to conduct business under the federal laws of the United States, or under the laws of any state of the United States, and they must conduct the training in the United States or aboard a United States flag vessel. Training providers interested in this program should plan to submit their course proposals expeditiously. There will be no cost to training providers for course approval in the initial stage of this program. However, the program is subject to limited funding, and fees may be required when funding is exhausted. Details are as follows: Requests for course approval shall be submitted in accordance with MARAD’s “Guidelines for Maritime Security Training Course Providers” and its “Appendix A - Elements of Request for Maritime Security Training Course Approval” contained in the electronic file below. The request for approval and supporting material will be submitted electronically via the MARAD Virtual Office of Acquisitions (VOA) website at https://voa.marad.dot.gov/programs/mtsa/jump.asp, for processing. If there are technical issues or questions concerned with uploading course submissions, training providers may contact the MARAD Help Desk at voasupport.marad@dot.gov. Maritime Security Awareness (MSA) courses that are conducted via electronic learning methods of instruction (“E-Learning”) may be submitted for approval. E-Learning guidance is provided in the “Guidelines” below. All other courses must be instructor led to be submitted for approval. Vessel Security Officer Model courses The MARAD VSO model course was reviewed and amended to include the competences listed in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, those subjects listed in MTSA Sec. 109 (b)(2), 33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter H, and in the SAFE Port Act of 2006 Sec. 113 (b)(4)(A)-(J). This course meets the mandatory training requirements in 33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter H. MARAD developed a VSO refresher model course to facilitate the transition to the USCG mandatory training requirements in 33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter H and to meet the transitional requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended. This refresher course also includes the latest requirements of the SAFE Port Act of 2006 and the TWIC program, and other recent developments. Applications will be automatically receipted and numbered in order of receipt. The titles of the courses are as follows:
At the present time, all submitted courses will be evaluated based on the applicable model courses as per the "Guidelines" below. The competence tables referenced below are provided for informational purposes only, and they may be helpful to training providers. Where VSO, CSO, and FSO courses are concerned, International Maritime Organization (IMO) model courses for Ship Security Officer (Model Course 3.19), Company Security Officer (Model Course 3.20), and Port Facility Security Officer (Model Course 3.21), respectively, will be used for evaluation. These model courses were developed by USMMA staff in collaboration with counterparts in India, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, and are available for purchase in the U.S. through IMO designated distributors listed on the IMO website at http://www.imo.org/. A competence table for CSO, published by the IMO in a non-mandatory circular on May 25, 2005, is available electronically in the resource material below. A competence table for FSO (referred to by the IMO as Port Facility Security Officer) is currently being developed by the IMO as a non-mandatory circular similar to CSO. It will be posted electronically below when it becomes available. A competence table for VSO (referred to by the IMO as Ship Security Officer), which is expected to be incorporated into the STCW Convention and become internationally mandatory in 2009, will also be posted electronically below when it is finalized. Where VPSSD, FPSSD, MSA and MSLEP courses are concerned, MTSA model courses 04-01, 04-02, 04-03 and 05-01, developed by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), will be used for evaluation purposes. These model courses, and relevant competence tables also developed by USMMA, are available in the electronic resource files below. While the MSLEP model course was developed in response to the Congressional mandate contained in Section 109 of the MTSA, this class of personnel is not referenced in 33 CFR Subchapter H and there is currently no requirement for any military, first responder or law enforcement personnel to complete this training. The MSLEP model course is provided as a training tool, principally designed for personnel without prior maritime background. The MARAD coordinator will conduct a preliminary review of the application package to determine if the package contains the necessary documents to process the request for course approval. After MARAD processing, the proposals will be forwarded to DNV. DNV will determine the adequacy of the submitted course(s) against the guidelines. The need for on-site verification of training providers that do not currently offer USCG approved maritime training courses will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The original approval of these training courses will be valid for two years unless sooner surrendered, suspended or withdrawn. Renewals will be valid for five years. A current list of certificated courses is maintained electronically below. The MARAD Coordinator is Sheila Brown, (202) 366-5178, Sheila.Brown@dot.gov Maritime Security Training Course Approval Resources Guidelines:
"Guidelines for Maritime Security Training Course Providers" and its Model Courses:
Competence Tables:
MARAD Report to Congress: List of Certificated Courses: |
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