Artikel II/5

1. Every able seafarer deck serving on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more shall be duly certificated.
2. Every candidate for certification shall:
.1 be not less than 18 years of age;
.2 meet the requirements for certification as a rating forming part of a navigational watch;
.3 while qualified to serve as a rating forming part of a navigational watch, have approved seagoing service in the deck department of: .3.1 not less than 18 months, or
.3.2 not less than 12 months and have completed approved training; and
.3.1 not less than 18 months, or
.3.2 not less than 12 months and have completed approved training; and
.4 meet the standard of competence specified in section A-II/5 of the STCW Code.
3. Every Party shall compare the standards of competence which it required of Able Seamen for certificates issued before 1 January 2012 with those specified for the certificate in section A-II/5 of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need, if any, for requiring these personnel to update their qualifications.
4. Until 1 January 2012, a Party which is also a Party to the International Labour Organization Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No. 74) may continue to issue, recognize and endorse certificates in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid convention.
5. Until 1 January 2017, a Party which is also a Party to the International Labour Organization Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No. 74) may continue to renew and revalidate certificates and endorsements in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid convention.
6. Seafarers may be considered by the Party to have met the requirements of this regulation if they have served in a relevant capacity in the deck department for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60 months preceding the entry into force of this regulation for that Party.