Artikel I/2

1. Certificates of competency shall be issued only by the Administration, following verification of the authenticity and validity of any necessary documentary evidence.
2. Certificates issued in accordance with the provisions of regulations V/1-1 and V/1-2 to masters and officers shall only be issued by an Administration.
3. Certificates shall be in the official language or languages of the issuing country. If the language used is not English, the text shall include a translation into that language.
4. In respect of radio operators, Parties may:
.1 include the additional knowledge required by the relevant regulations in the examination for the issue of a certificate complying with the Radio Regulations; or
.2 issue a separate certificate indicating that the holder has the additional knowledge required by the relevant regulations.
5. The endorsement required by article VI of the Convention to attest the issue of a certificate shall only be issued if all the requirements of the Convention have been complied with.
6. At the discretion of a Party, endorsements may be incorporated in the format of the certificates being issued as provided for in section A-I/2 of the STCW Code. If so incorporated, the form used shall be that set forth in section A-I/2, paragraph 1. If issued otherwise, the form of endorsements used shall be that set forth in paragraph 2 of that section.
7. An Administration which recognizes under regulation I/10:
.1 a certificate of competency; or
.2 a certificate of proficiency issued to masters and officers in accordance with the provisions of regulations V/1-1 and V/1-2 shall endorse such certificate to attest its recognition only after ensuring the authenticity and validity of the certificate.
The endorsement shall only be issued if all requirements of the Convention have been complied with. The form of the endorsement used shall be that set forth in paragraph 3 of section A-I/2 of the STCW Code.
8. The endorsements referred to in paragraphs 5, 6 and 7:
.1 may be issued as separate documents;
.2 shall be issued by the Administration only;
.3 shall each be assigned a unique number, except that endorsements attesting the issue of a certificate may be assigned the same number as the certificate concerned, provided that number is unique; and
.4 shall expire as soon as the certificate endorsed expires or is withdrawn, suspended or cancelled by the Party which issued it and, in any case, not more than five years after their date of issue.
9. The capacity in which the holder of a certificate is authorized to serve shall be identified in the form of endorsement in terms identical to those used in the applicable safe manning requirements of the Administration.
10. Administrations may use a format different from the format given in section A-I/2 of the STCW Code, provided that, as a minimum, the required information is provided in Roman characters and Arabic figures, taking into account the variations permitted under section A-I/2.
11. Subject to the provisions of regulation I/10, paragraph 5, any certificate required by the Convention must be kept available in its original form on board the ship on which the holder is serving. If an electronic form is used, the minimum required data must be accessible as defined by the Administration in accordance with the STCW Code, which is necessary to initiate a verification procedure.
12. Each Party shall ensure that certificates are issued only to candidates who comply with the requirements of this regulation.
13. Candidates for certification shall provide satisfactory proof:
.1 of their identity;
.2 that their age is not less than that prescribed in the regulation relevant to the certificate applied for;
.3 that they meet the standards of medical fitness specified in section A-I/9 of the STCW Code;
.4 of having completed the seagoing service and any related compulsory training required by these regulations for the certificate applied for; and
.5 that they meet the standards of competence prescribed by these regulations for the capacities, functions and levels that are to be identified in the endorsement to the certificate.
14. Each Party undertakes to maintain a register or registers of all certificates and endorsements for masters, officers, and, as applicable, ratings which are issued, have expired or have been revalidated, suspended, cancelled or reported lost or destroyed and of dispensations issued.
15. Each Party undertakes to make available information on the status of such certificates of competency, endorsements and dispensations to other Parties and companies which request verification of the authenticity and validity of certificates produced to them by seafarers seeking recognition of their certificates under regulation I/10 or employment on board ship.
16. As of 1 January 2017, the information on the status of information required to be available in accordance with paragraph 15 of this regulation shall be made available, in the English language, through electronic means.