MASTERS AND MATES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1930, Page 2

MASTERS AND MATES

EXAMINATION REGULATIONS

lAIPORTANT REVISIONS

WELLINGTON, December 10

Important revisions of the rules for the examination of masters and mates in the foreign-going and home-trading vessels have been approved by the Alinister for Marine, and they will be gazetted next week. The revisions have been made as a result of the action of the Imperial Board of Trade and the alterations will come into effect on January Ist. The Board of Trade recently set up a Departmental Committee to report on the rules for these examinations, and notable alterations have been made as a result of this enquiry, and the changes approved, by the Alinister have in certain instances been made to apply particularly to New Zealand. The age limits for all grades of certificates have been raised as recommended. Sea service for foreign-going first mates and masters has also been revised.

In accordance with the committee’s proposals, the practice of issuing separate certificates for steam and sail has been abolished. In future one certificate only will be issued for mechanically propelled vessels with a provision for sailing ship endorsement whe.ro the rnndidate is qualified to sit for and posses the prescribed examination. The provisions relating to watch-keeping service have been revived and a new provision has been added allowing certain time served in the Royal Air Force to count toward the qualifying sea service for masters’ and mates’ certificates. In addition tlie marking system has been revised and a number of minor alterations have been made. FORETGN-GOING CERTIFICATES. In order to obtain Imperial vadidity, New Zealand foreign-going certificates are required to he obtained on examinations and qualifications of the standard of those of the Board of Trade, and this factor lias been responsible for the recent revision of the rules. In accordance with the provisions of the new rules a candidate for a foreign-going second mate’s ticket must not be Jess than 20 years of age, and be must have served four years in foreign-going ships or the prescribed equivalent of six years in home-trad-ing vessels.

A candidate for a. foreign-going mate’s certificate must be not less than 21 years of age, and' lie must have served five and a half years in foreigngoing ships, or eight years three months in home-trading vessels. To sit for a foreign-going master’s certificate, a. candidate must be not less than 23 years of a,go and he must have served seven years in foreigntrading ships.

HOME-TRADING TICKETS

A candidate for a home-trading second mate’s certificate must have reached the age of 19 years and have served three years at sea, or one year at sea and two years in extended river limits.

Candidates for home-trading masters’ certificates must have reached the age of 23 years and they must have served five years at sea,• or three, years at sea and two years in extended river limits.

To sit for a master’s certificate for a cargo vessel under 25 tons register a. candidate must not be less than 23 years of age and lie must have served four years at sea, or two years at sea and two in extended river limits. OTHER CERTIFICATES.

The same conditions apply to candidates for masters’ certificates for fishing boats. To sit for a master’s certificate for a river boat a candidate must have reached tlie age of 23, and the slime age stipulation is made for those who wish to sit for 1 a master’s certificate for sailing vessels plying- on rivers and harbours.

The written examination for a yacht master’s certificate, will bs the same as that, for a, foreign-going master’s certificate, except in respect of navigation, chart work, ship’s business, and engineering knowledge. A candidate for a certificate for yachts sailing in New Zealand waters must have reached the age of 19 years. This examination will he purely voluntary and the certificate will not entitle the holder to command any vessel except a pleasure, yacht.