MASTERS AND MATES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20108, 11 December 1930, Page 18

MASTERS AND MATES.

EXAMINATION REGULATIONS. IMPORTANT REVISIONS. .PUESS ASSOCIATION IELEGBAM.) 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 Minister for Marine, and they will be gazetted next week. The revisions have been made as a result of the action by tho Imperial Board of Trade and the alterations will come into efiect on Jajiuary Ist. Tho Board of Trade recently 6et up a Departmental Committee to report on the rules lor these examinations, and notabl'J alterations have been made as a result of this enquiry, and the changes approved by the Minister havo in certain instances been made to apply particularly to New Zealand. The ago 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 where the candidate is qualified to sit for and passes the prescribed examination. The provisions relating to watch-keeping {service have been revised 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 the marking Fvstem has been revised and a number of minor alterations have been made. foreign-going Certificates. In order to obtain Imperial validity, New Zealand foreign-going certificates are required to be obtained on examinations and qualifications of the. standard of those of the Board of Trade, ond this factor has been responsible for the recent revision of the rules. In accordance with the provisions of . I neW rules a candidate for a fni-eitm-going second mate's ticket must not be less than 20 years of age, md he must have served lour years in fnrei<*n-going ships or the prescribed equivalent of six years in home-trad-ing v ® s ®®Jj j( j ate f or a foreign-going certificate must be not less than 21 years of age. and he must have served five and a half vears m foreignSa ships, or eight years thret, Eths in home-trading vessels. °r« sit for a foreign-going master's ,tifl<.ato a candidate must be not less than 23 years of age and lie must

have served seven years in foreigngoing or ten and a half years in homotrading ships. Home-trading Tickets. A candidate for a home-trading second mate's certificate must have leached the age of 19 years and have served three years at sea, or one year at sea and two years in extended .river limits. To sit for a home-trading mate's ticket candidates must have reached the age of 20 years and (.have served four years at sea, or two years 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 he must iiave 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 havo reached the age of 23, and the Bams ago stipulation is made for those who wish to sit for a master's certificate for sailing vessels plying on rivers and harbours. The written examination for a yacht master's certificate will be the same as that for a foreign-going master's certificate, except in respect of navigation, cnarfc work, ship's business, and engineering knowledge. A candidate f®r a certificate for yachts sailirtg in New Zealand waters must liave reached the age of 19 years. This examination will be purely voluntary and the certificate will not entitle tne holder .to command any vessel except a pleasure yacht.