Equivalent manning arrangement
The equivalent arrangement laid down in STCW.2 Circ. 43 offers shipowners the possibility to deviate from the requirement of having a chief engineer on board (STCW Section A-I/1 1.2). The equivalent arrangement allows for an even more flexible manning configuration. Research has shown that the safety level under such circumstances remains the same.
A number of seafaring vessels flying the Flag of the Netherlands are manned in accordance with this equivalent arrangement.
The work at hand on these vessels for a chief engineer is not sufficient to constitute a full working day. In addition, the far-reaching automation and the simplification of the technical systems on board allow shipowners to entrust the handling of the technical system to a maritime officer at operational level provided that the conditions laid down in the equivalent arrangement are met. Shipowners can now employ a watchkeeping engineer officer at operational level (STCW Section A-I/1.3), who can be deployed as both an engineer and a watchkeeping officer. This means that the safe handling of the technical systems is sufficiently safeguarded, while the workload on deck and on the bridge can be more evenly distributed.
Overview of vessels
A number of seafaring vessels flying the Flag of the Netherlands are manned in accordance with this equivalent arrangement.
The work at hand on these vessels for a chief engineer is not sufficient to constitute a full working day. In addition, the far-reaching automation and the simplification of the technical systems on board allow shipowners to entrust the handling of the technical system to a maritime officer at operational level provided that the conditions laid down in the equivalent arrangement are met. Shipowners can now employ a watchkeeping engineer officer at operational level (STCW Section A-I/1.3), who can be deployed as both an engineer and a watchkeeping officer. This means that the safe handling of the technical systems is sufficiently safeguarded, while the workload on deck and on the bridge can be more evenly distributed.