By now you will have heard of the new requirements for Ships Cook qualification under the Maritime Labour Convention. Firstly, the new requirements relate to UK flagged commercial (charter) yachts: crew cooking on private yachts are not affected by these rules. Secondly crew cooking on yachts with less than 10 crew are also not affected at all. For those vessels to which the rules do apply, the MCA has granted a grace period for compliance which will finish on 5th February 2015. After this date a yacht will be considered non-compliant if it falls under the new rules and does not carry a qualified cook. The MCA has fully recognised that many chefs working in superyachts are more than competent by the very nature of what we do as an industry. It is for this reason that they have introduced the ‘Ships Cook Assessment’, a 2.5 day practical and theoretical test designed to ‘spot check’ the competencies required of a qualified ships cook and to allow a quick and simple route to compliance. If you are working under a non-UK flags (including the Caymans, Isle of Man etc.) it is likely that it will accept the UK Ships Cook certificate but you should check with your flag authority how they interpret the new rules. To be eligible to gain a Ship Cook CoC by the assessment route you need : To be at least 18 years old To complete STCW 5 element crew basic training To hold an ENG1 medical fitness certificate (or recognised equivalent) To hold a recognised Food Safety Certificate. PLEASE SEE FOOTNOTE BELOW To have the following qualifications or experience (sea service testimonials are needed in all cases): UK Level 2 cookery qualification (e.g. City and Guilds) and 1 months sea service as a cook OR One years cooking experience in a shoreside kitchen plus 1 months sea service as a cook OR One years sea service as a ships cook (on a private or smaller yacht) Fishing Cook certificate and at least 1 months sea service. bluewateryachting/news/ships-cook-qualification-the-truth-660
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 07:16:25 +0000