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Preparatory Course for Oral Examination leading to Nautical Grade Certificate of Competency under the STCW Convention-reg.
**Summary of DGS Circular 7 of 2026: Preparatory Course for Oral Examination**
Applicable to:
Indian seafarers appearing for oral examinations for Second Mate (FG/NWKO NCV), Chief Mate (FG/NCV), and Master (FG/NCV)
Effective Date:
Commencement from March 2026
Superseded Circulars:
None explicitly stated
Key Changes and Requirements
1. Structured Oral Examination Preparatory Programme
The DGS introduces a voluntary, mentor-led preparatory programme in collaboration with the Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) to enhance candidate preparedness for oral examinations.
- Duration: Two weeks, five days a week, five to six hours per day
- Content: Mock oral examinations, structured feedback, and targeted mentoring
- Batch size: Maximum of forty candidates
- Syllabus: Annexed to the circular (Annexure II, III, and IV for respective certificates)
- Course Schedule: Available on CMMI's website
II/4 Participation may be made mandatory for candidates showing poor performance
Important Note
Participation in the programme does not guarantee examination success and will not influence examiner independence.
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