(1) A certificate of competency or of service
in a capacity for which the Convention requires a certificate and
which before entry into force of the Convention for a Party is issued
in accordance with the laws of that Party or the Radio Regulations
shall be recognized as valid for service after entry into force of
the Convention for that Party.
(2) After the entry into force of the Convention
for a Party, its Administration may continue to issue certificates
of competency in accordance with its previous practices for a period
not exceeding five years. Such certificates shall be recognized as
valid for the purpose of the Convention. During this transitional
period such certificates shall be issued only to seafarers who had
commenced their sea service before entry into force of the Convention
for that Party within the specific ship department to which those
certificates relate. The Administration shall ensure that all other
candidates for certification shall be examined and certificated in
accordance with the Convention.
(3) A Party may, within two years after entry
into force of the Convention for that Party, issue a certificate of
service to seafarers who hold neither an appropriate certificate under
the Convention nor a certificate of competency issued under its laws
before entry into force of the Convention for that Party but who have:
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(a) served in the capacity for which they seek
a certificate of service for not less than three years at sea within
the last seven years preceding entry into force of the Convention
for that Party;
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(b) produced evidence that they have performed
that service satisfactorily;
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(c) satisfied the Administration as to medical
fitness, including eyesight and hearing, taking into account their
age at the time of application.
For the purpose of the Convention, a certificate of service
issued under this paragraph shall be regarded as the equivalent of
a certificate issued under the Convention.