Commanding Officer United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center

4200 Wilson Blvd. Suite 630 Arlington, VA 22203-1804 Staff Symbol: NMC-4B Phone: (202) 493-1000 Fax: (202) 493-1062

1. PURPOSE. This policy letter provides guidance about the STCW requirements that candidates for the certifications specified in references (a) through (c) be trained and assessed in the operation of Radar.
   
2. ACTION. Commanding officers of units with marine safety responsibilities should bring this policy letter to the attention of the maritime industry with interests in marine personnel issues and to institutions that offer U. S. Coast Guard approved training. This policy letter will be distributed by electronic means only. It is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.uscg.mil/STCW/m-policy.htm.
   
3. BACKGROUND. The 1995 amendments to the STCW require candidates for a certificate for Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, Chief Mate, or Master to be trained and assessed in the use of Radar.
   
4. DISCUSSION.

1. Only currently approved Radar Observer (Unlimited) courses complying with the requirements of reference (d) will be considered for STCW acceptance. In order to be accepted as meeting STCW requirements, the course must include the practical demonstrations of competence that are specified in enclosure (1), or their equivalent.
2. In order to be accepted as meeting STCW requirements, a course must use equipment and simulators that comply with Section A-I/12 of the STCW Code and that are capable of fully supporting the assessments identified in enclosure (1).
3. Schools with currently approved Radar Observer courses who wish to have their courses accepted as meeting the STCW requirements should submit a written request to the National Maritime Center that includes a description of how the STCW competencies will be assessed.
4. The Coast Guard will also recognize courses given prior to the date of this policy letter that met the requirements set forth above. Schools that offered such courses should also request acceptance of the courses from the National Maritime Center. The Coast Guard will recognize Radar Observer (Unlimited) courses for five years from the date of training.