MASTERS AND MATES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 140, 11 December 1930, Page 17

MASTERS AND MATES

EXAMINATION EULES

ALTERATIONS MADE

The rules governing tlic examination of masters and mates on foreign-going and home-trading vessels were recently. revised by a committee of the Imperial Board of Trade, and the alteration* have been approved by the Minister of Marine, (the. Hon. J. B. Donald). They will come into operation in New Zealand on Ist January. The age limits for all graaes of ter» tificates have been raised as recommended by the committee. The'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 a candidate is qualified to sit for aud passes the prescribed examination. The" provisions relating to watchkeeping service have been revised, and a new provision has been added allowing certain time served in the Eoyal Air Force to count toward the qualifying sea service for masters' and mates' certificates. In addition the marking system has been revised, and a number of minor alterations has be'eir made. 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, and this factor has been responsible for the present revision, of the rules.- . ■ ■ . ■■ In accordance with the provisions of the new rules, a candidate for a foreigngoing second mate's ticket must not be less»than twenty years of age, and ho must have served four years ia foreigngoing ships or the prescribed equivalent of six years ia home-trading vessels. A candidate for a foreign-going mate's certificate imust be not less than, twenty-one years of age, and ho must have served five and a half year.s on foreign-going ships or ■ eight years and three months in home-trading vessels. To sit for a foreign-going master's certificate a candidate, must ba not less than twenty-three years of age, and he must have served seven years in foreign-going or ten and * half years on. home-trading ships. A candidate for a home-trading second matp's certificate must have reached the age of nineteen years,1 and ho must have served three yeai-s at sea or one year at sea and two years in extended river limits. To sit for a hometrading mate's ticket a, candidate must have reached the age of twenty years, and have served four years at sea or two years at sea and two years in extended river limits. Candidates for home-tradiug masters' certificates must have reached the age of tweuty-three years, and 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 twenty-five tons register, a candidate must not be less than twenty-three years of age,.and'he must have served four years at sea or two years at sea and two in extended river limits. The same conditions apply to candidates for masters' certificates for fishing boats. To sit for a mastec's certificate for a river boat a candidate must have reached the age of twenty-three, and the same age stipulation is made for those who .wish. to sit for masters' certificates for sailing vessels plying in rivers and harbours. . . ■ ' The^ ■written examination for a yacht master's .certificate will be the saina as that for a foreign-going mastrr's certificate, except ia respect of navigation1, chart "work, ship's business, and engineering knowledge. A candidaita for a certificate for yachts sailing iv JNiew Zealand waters must have reached the age of nineteen years. This examination will be purely voluntary, and the certificate will not entitle the holder to command any vessel except a pleasure yacht.