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The following Rules are
established by the Board of Directors of the National Fire Protection
Association for the certification and/or recertification of Marine
Chemists.
For the
purpose of these Rules, the following definitions shall apply:
Applicant
- a person applying for certification or recertification as a Marine
Chemist
Association
- the National Fire Protection Association
Board
- the Marine Chemist Qualification Board appointed by the Board
of Directors of the National Fire Protection Association
Marine
Chemist - the holder of a valid Certificate issued by
the National Fire Protection Association in accordance with the
"Rules for the Certification and Recertification of Marine Chemists"
establishing the holder as a person qualified to determine whether
construction, alteration, repair, lay-up, or shipbreaking of vessels,
which may involve hazards covered by the Standard, can be undertaken
with safety
Standard
- the Standard for the Control of Gas Hazards on Vessels, NFPA 306,
in its most recent issue, as published by the National Fire Protection
Association
Trainee
- a person who has been registered to begin training under Section
VI. A of these Rules
I.
CERTIFICATE:
- There shall be a Certificate issued to successful applicants
as evidence that the holder has met the qualifications for certification
or recertification as a Marine Chemist.
- Those Certificated Marine Chemists who have evidenced additional
experience, training, and knowledge in flammable cryogenic liquids
as required by Section V of these Rules shall be authorized to
issue certificates under the requirements of Chapter 6 of the
Standard. Their Certificates shall be endorsed accordingly.
II.
QUALIFICATIONS - General
- Applicants shall be of good character, and physically able to
perform the duties of a Marine Chemist.
- Applicants for Certification shall be citizens of the United
States. Under special or unusual circumstances, and after consultation
with the President of the NFPA, the Board may consider foreign
nationals for Certification.
- Applicants shall furnish the Board with such evidence of their
training as the Board considers necessary or advisable, as set
forth in published Rules therefore.
- Each applicant and trainee shall affirm in writing an intention
and ability to practice actively as a Marine Chemist.
- Each applicant shall use only the Standard Marine Chemist certificate
form as approved and presented in the Standard when acting as
a Marine Chemist applying the Standard.
- Each Marine Chemist shall perform all work in accordance with
the requirements of the Standard and its official interpretations
when acting as a Marine Chemist.
- Each applicant shall indicate an understanding of and intention
to comply with these Rules by signing a copy of these Rules as
presented at the time of Certification and Recertification, or
at such times as these Rules change.
III.
QUALIFICATIONS - Professional
The Board
considers the professional requirements listed below essential for
favorable consideration of any application. The Board may consider
other professional achievements as equivalent to any or all of the
below listed items based on information available at the time of
its deliberations.
- Each applicant shall have at least a Bachelor's Degree from
an accredited college or university. Work shall include the following
college level courses intended for science majors:
- Two semesters or three quarters of general inorganic chemistry
with labs
- Two semesters or three quarters of organic chemistry with
labs
- One course in an analytical method with lab
- One course in industrial hygiene sampling and analysis
- The education, training, knowledge, and experience of any Marine
Chemist applicant shall include, but not be limited to, the following
subjects:
- Basic Marine and Shipyard Safety
- Fire Prevention and Emergency Rescue Procedures
- Combustion and Explosion Technology
- Entry into Confined Spaces
- Principles of Gas Freeing and Shipboard Test Procedures
- Tank Cleaning Procedures
- Petroleum Chemistry & Testing of Petroleum Products
- The Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene
- Properties of Flammable and Combustible Materials
- Properties of Toxic Gases, Vapors, and Fumes
- Properties of Hazardous Cargoes and Materials
- Properties of Fumigants and Fumigant Testing
- Properties of Tank Coatings and Preservatives
- Testing for Toxic Gases, Vapors, Fumes, and Residues
- Properties of Liquefied Natural and Petroleum Gases
- Test Instruments and Calibration thereof
- Procedures for personally determining conditions prior to
issuance of a certificate for subsequent work
- Certificate writing including minimum content
- The Applicant shall satisfactorily complete the then current
approved Marine Chemist training curriculum in order to substantiate
compliance with III. B. above.
- Each applicant shall complete to the Board's satisfaction an
examination on the Standard and applicable United States Coast
Guard (USCG) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) regulations, as amended to the date of application, and
on any other technically related or appropriate standards, rules,
or regulations considered necessary by the Board.
IV.
QUALIFICATIONS - Practical
In addition
to the professional qualifications set forth in the preceding section:
- Each applicant shall have completed at least six (6) months
of supervised training in all tests and inspections required prior
to the issuance of a Marine Chemist's Certificate as required
by the Standard. At least three (3) Marine Chemists shall directly
supervise this training. The three (3) training supervisors shall
not be from the same company or organization. Each shall supervise
at least forty (40) hours of the applicant's shipboard training
required by Section IV.B. hereof. All trainers shall have been
certified as a Marine Chemist for at least two (2) years.
- Each applicant shall have not less than three hundred (300)
hours of supervised training aboard a variety of types of both
ocean-going and inland vessels as covered by the Standard. The
maximum credit for training in any one type of vessel is ninety
(90) hours. In order for credit to be given, however, training
in any one type of vessel shall exceed a minimum of thirty (30)
hours.
- In addition to the above, each applicant shall have completed
at least three years experience, as follows:
- One year or more full-time employment in the analysis of physical
samples similar to those routinely analyzed by Marine Chemists.
This employment is to be in a laboratory or other similar work
environment acceptable to the Board.
- The remaining time, but not less than one year, must be in
full time employment in marine construction or repair, or in
another marine industrial environment, acceptable to the Board.
- Each applicant shall have a working knowledge of the construction
of all common types of vessels including hull and superstructure
compartmentation systems, machinery spaces, cargo handling systems,
and piping systems.
- The Board considers the above practical requirements essential
for favorable consideration of any application. The Board may
consider other professional achievements as equivalent to any
or all of the above listed items based on information available
at the time of its deliberations.
V.
QUALIFICATIONS - Endorsements
- Flammable Cryogenic Liquid Carriers Endorsement:
Each Marine Chemist who submits satisfactory evidence of compliance
with the following required experience, training, and knowledge
shall receive a Flammable Cryogenic Liquid (FCL) Carriers endorsement
on the Marine Chemist's Certificate attesting to the fact of authorization
to issue certificates under the requirement of Chapter 8 of the
Standard.
- Each Marine Chemist so applying shall show evidence of:
- Possession of a valid Marine Chemist's Certificate issued under
Part VI. B. of these Rules.
- Thorough familiarity with construction
features of all types of Flammable Cryogenic Liquid Carrier cargo containment and handling equipment.
- Knowledge of the location
of gas detectors and temperature sensors aboard the vessels and
familiarity with their operation.
- Familiarity with hold space
inerting and cargo tank cool down procedure.
- Familiarity with
hold space gas freeing and cargo tank warm-up procedure.
- The Marine Chemist shall have conducted at least one gas testing survey aboard an FCL carrier or an approved liquefied natural gas (LNG) simulator under the direct supervision of a certificated Marine Chemist having the special endorsement for gas testing aboard such carriers.
- The Marine Chemist shall submit to an oral, written or combination
examination covering structural design of FCL carriers, nomenclature
pertinent to such carriers and their cargoes, Chapter 8 of the
Standard, pertinent requirements of 46 CFR part 154 (USCG regulations
for vessels carrying bulk liquefied gases) and such other subjects
as may be included by the Marine Chemist Qualification Board.
VI.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES - Registration, Initial Certification
and Recertification
- Registration as a Marine Chemist Trainee
- A candidate shall register with the Marine Field Service Specialist
of the Association.
- Registration shall be completed on the specified form supplied
by the Marine Field Service Specialist outlining the candidate's
initial qualifications and the persons they will train under.
- A fee of $200 shall accompany the registration form.
- Each Trainee shall affirm in writing the intention to actively
pursue certification and upon certification, to practice actively
as a Marine Chemist.
- Each Trainee shall annually provide the Board with an update
of the status of his or her training on a form provided by the
Marine Field Service Specialist.
- A Trainee who fails to provide the annual report for two consecutive
years or, who, upon filing such report, fails - in the determination
of the Board - to demonstrate adequate activity towards certification
for two years, may - after due notice and opportunity to be
heard in writing - be removed as a Trainee by the Board. Such
removal shall be without prejudice to a new application filed
pursuant to these rules.
- Each Trainee shall complete all requirements for initial certification,
except for the personal interview required by Section VI. B.
2., within six years of the Board's acceptance of the application
for registration. Failure to meet the six year requirement shall
cause the registration to be terminated. After termination for
this reason, the Trainee may be reinstated at the discretion
of the Board. At the time of reinstatement, the Board shall
determine the previous training it will accept, if any, and
specify the Trainee's remaining requirements for certification.
- Initial Certification
- Each Applicant for initial certification shall apply to the
Board by way of the Marine Field Service Specialist by submission
of the following:
- Official application form, legible and properly completed,
accompanied by the required processing fee for certification.
- Not less than three references to whom inquiry may be made
concerning the character and ability of the Applicant.
- The
names of all Marine Chemists involved in the applicant's training.
- A list of all vessels tested during the training period,
including the date, name, time aboard, cargo, type, and purpose
of each test; work to be performed; serial number of Marine
Chemist Certificate(s) if issued; and the name and number of
the supervising Marine Chemist.
- A personal thesis outlining
the Applicant's knowledge of those items as assigned.
- A medical
doctor's statement on a form provided by the Board attesting
to the Applicant's physical and mental ability to perform the
duties of a Marine Chemist.
- Such additional evidence of the
foregoing as may be required by the Board.
- An agreement to
submit a monthly report of Marine Chemist's activities and collect
and submit the surcharge fees to the Marine Gas Hazards Control
Program.
- An Applicant shall have a personal interview with the Board.
At such interview, the Applicant and any persons brought by
the Applicant to the interview who can attest by personal experience
to the Applicant's qualifications and practical experience,
shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. The application
of any Applicant who fails after reasonable notice to appear
at a scheduled interview shall be deemed withdrawn by the Applicant
subject to renewed processing at the convenience of the Board.
- Recertification
The following procedures shall be followed for recertification:
- Recertification shall only be considered by the Board for
Marine Chemists who have actively engaged in Marine Chemist
professional activities during their current five-year certification
period. Minimum requirements for recertification shall be the
issuance of ten certificates per year during the most recent
certification period. Copies of the ten most recently issued
certificates shall be submitted for recertification.
- Applicants for recertification shall submit to the Board the
following:
- A letter of request for recertification accompanied by the
required fee.
- A resume of the Marine Chemist's activities
during the current certification period.
- A medical doctor's
statement on a form provided by the Board, attesting to the
Applicant's physical and mental ability to perform the duties
of a Marine Chemist.
- Copies of ten sequential, recently issued
certificates.
- A list of the instruments and calibration equipment
currently being used by the applicant.
- Evidence of completion
to the Board's satisfaction an examination on the Standard and
applicable United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, as amended
to the date of application, and on any other technically related
subjects or appropriate standards, rules, or regulations considered
necessary by the Board.
- Evidence of attendance at a minimum
of three technical seminars sponsored by the Marine Chemist
Association for the Marine Chemist's professional enhancement
during the current certification period. One shall be an Annual
Seminar and one shall be a Sectional Seminar. The remaining
Annual or Sectional Seminar shall be at the discretion of the
Marine Chemist.
- Reports of any accidents involving the Applicant's
Marine Chemist activities during the current certification period.
- Any other information on professional activities during the
current certification period considered necessary by the Board.
- Such additional evidence concerning a Marine Chemist's ability
to apply the procedures and judgment required of Marine Chemist
that the Board may deem necessary including, at the Board's
discretion, an interview with the applicant.
- Evidence that
surcharge fee payments to the Marine Gas Hazards Control Program
are current.
- Notwithstanding the provisions of Section VI. C. 1. above,
in instances where an Applicant has been inactive as a Marine
Chemist, or has failed to complete the aforementioned examination
in a manner satisfactory to the Board, the Board may require
a personal interview and oral examination, a period of retraining,
reexamination, or any combination thereof. Provisions of this
section shall not be available to any applicant for two consecutive
periods of recertification.
Source: National Fire Protection Association
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