Decision No. 28/2004/QĐ-BTS on Issuing the Regulation on Training Seafaring Skills for Fishermen

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the issuance of the Regulation on Training Seafaring Skills for Fishermen on Fishing Vessels

_________________________

MINISTER OF AQUATIC RESOURCES 

Pursuant to Decree No. 43/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 2, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Fisheries;

Pursuant to Decision No. 08/2003/QĐ-BTS dated August 5, 2003 of the Minister of Fisheries stipulating the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of Departments, Inspection, and Office, and Decision No. 09/2003/QĐ-BTS dated August 5, 2003 of the Minister of Fisheries stipulating the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the Directorate of Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection;

Pursuant to Circular No. 01/2004/TT-BTS dated January 15, 2004 of the Ministry of Fisheries regarding guidance on implementing Clause 1, Article 1 of Decree No. 80/2002/NĐ-CP dated October 15, 2002 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 72/1998/NĐ-CP dated September 15, 1998 of the Government on ensuring safety for people and fishing vessels when operating at sea;

Pursuant to Clause 4, Article 31 of Law No. 23/2004/QH11 dated June 15, 2004 of the National Assembly on inland waterway transport;

The phrase "or examination" is abolished pursuant to Clause 6, Article 8 of Circular No. 15/2025/TT-BVHTTDL dated November 25, 2025, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism amending and supplementing certain articles of Circulars prescribing job codes, qualification standards, and salary grades for civil servants in the heritage culture, library, grassroots cultural activities, sports, fine arts, art performance, film, and cultural propaganda sectors, which takes effect from January 15, 2026.

DECIDES:

Article 1The accompanying this Decision is the Regulation on Training Seafaring Skills for Fishermen on Fishing Vessels.

Article 2: This Decision shall take effect 15 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and shall replace Decision No. 245/QĐ-ÐK dated November 12, 1996 of the Director of the Directorate of Fisheries Resource Protection on temporarily establishing regulations for organizing seafaring skills training courses for fishermen and issuing fisherman's logbooks.

Article 3. The Heads of the Ministry’s Office, Department Directors, Directors of the Directorate, Heads of the Inspectorate of the Ministry, Heads of subordinate units under the Ministry, Rectors of Fisheries University, and Directors of Fisheries Departments and Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development with fisheries management responsibilities shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

Training Seafaring Skills for Fishermen on Fishing Vessels

(Issued together with Decision No. 28/2004/QĐ-BTS dated December 17, 2004 of the Minister of Fisheries)

Article 1. General Provisions

1. The Regulation on Training Seafaring Skills for Fishermen on Fishing Vessels shall apply to the establishment of training classes for fishermen (those assigned to work on fishing vessels with specified positions) who have not yet received seafaring skills training.

2. The Minister of Fisheries assigns the following four institutions to undertake the task of training and issuing Certificates of Completion of Seafaring Skills Training for fishermen:

a- Fisheries University - Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa

b- Fisheries Technical Secondary School I - Hai Phong

c- Fisheries Technical and Vocational Secondary School II - Ho Chi Minh City.

d- Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection Service Center under the Directorate of Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection.

3. The Certificate of Completion of Seafaring Skills Training for Fishermen on Fishing Vessels is a certificate confirming that the worker has the necessary knowledge and skills to work on Vietnamese fishing vessels and is one of the conditions for workers to complete their application for a Fisherman's Logbook.

Article 2. Objectives, Standards, and Application Procedures for Students

1. Objectives and Standards:

a. Must be a Vietnamese citizen not currently serving a sentence, working on fishing vessels or having a desire to work on fishing vessels but have not received formal education in Fisheries Harvesting, Marine Engineering, or been trained and certified as a Fishing Vessel Captain or Engineer at Fisheries Universities, Secondary Fisheries Schools, or Technical Fisheries Workers.

b. Age: At least 18 years old.

c. In good health and able to swim.

d. Have a minimum educational level (culture) of grade 5/12 or higher.

2. Student Application Documents Include:

a.1 An individual application form with a recommendation from the vessel owner and confirmed by local authorities (commune, ward) or relevant agencies.

b. A notarized copy of birth certificate and a health certificate issued by a district-level or higher health authority.

c. A confirmation of educational level (culture) from a district-level education office (if no graduation certificate exists) or a notarized copy of the graduation certificate.

d. Two color photographs measuring 3 x 4 cm in the format of an identity card.

Article 3Curriculum Framework

 Article 4Examination Organization and Format

1. Examination Board

a. The examination board is established by the head of the training institution.

b. The examination board consists of 5 to 7 members including:

Head or Deputy Head of the training institution: Chairman of the Board.

Director or Deputy Director of the Fisheries Department or Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with fisheries management or a representative authorized by the Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection Division: Vice-Chairman of the Board.

Head or Deputy Head of the training department of the institution: Secretary.

Head or Deputy Head of the Fisheries Harvesting Department: Member.

Head or Deputy Head of the Marine Engineering Department: Member.

Teachers of Fisheries Harvesting and Marine Engineering: Members.

c. Responsibilities of the Examination Board:

Directing the examination period according to the current examination regulations.

Reviewing the list of candidates, approving the exam questions and answers. Exam questions are prepared by teachers. Questions and answers are kept confidential.

Conducting grading.

Handling violations of examination rules.

Evaluating examination results, compiling a list of students eligible for graduation, and submitting it to the head of the training institution for approval.

2. Examination Format: Written or oral examinations may be used.

a. Written Examination: Content includes comprehensive knowledge from the training program, with a duration of 90 to 120 minutes.

b. Oral Examination: The number of questions must exceed the number of candidates, covering the training program content, with preparation time of 15 minutes and response time not exceeding 30 minutes.

Article 5. Graduation Assessment and Issuance of the Certificate of Completion of Seafaring Skills Training Course (hereinafter referred to as the Certificate)

1. Students will be issued the Certificate if they meet the following conditions:

a. Fully participate in all training program contents.

b. Do not violate study or examination rules.

c. Achieve a passing score of 5 or higher (out of 10 points).

d. Pay tuition fees in full as stipulated in the admission announcement.

2. Authority to Issue the Certificate and Time Limit for Issuance:

a. The head of the training institution signs the Decision to recognize graduation upon the proposal of the Examination Board.

b. The head of the training institution signs the Certificate.

c. The training institution organizes the issuance of Certificates to each trainee within one month from the date of announcing the results of the graduation examination for the training course.

Article 6 Regulations on the model of certificates, issuance of certificate blanks, and validity of issuing certificates.

1. The model of the certificate is based on Decision No. 1012/1998/QÐ-BLÐTBXH dated October 9, 1998, issued by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs regarding the issuance of Vocational Certificates and Trade Certificates.

To be consistent with the specific characteristics of the Fisheries sector, the model of the Certificate of Completion of Seafaring Vocational Training for Fishermen has the following features:

a. The certificate measures 10 cm x 14 cm, consisting of four pages. Page 1 is the front cover, pages 2 and 3 are the inner pages, and page 4 is the back cover;

b. The cover of the certificate is laminated in dark blue color, with the words "Ministry of Fisheries" at the top and the phrase "Certificate of Completion of Seafaring Vocational Training Course" in the middle printed in yellow;

c. The inner pages of the certificate have wave patterns in light blue; page 2: all text is in black; page 3: the phrase "Certificate of Completion" is in bright red, while the rest of the text is in black, and there is a sunken steering wheel image in the center of page 3 (the model of the certificate is attached as an appendix to this Regulation);

2. The Cadre Organization Department assists the Minister of Fisheries in uniformly managing, issuing certificate blanks. The certificate blanks are stamped with the raised seal of the Ministry of Fisheries before being issued.

3. Training institutions receive certificate blanks from the Cadre Organization Department of the Ministry of Fisheries and annually report on the results of using the certificate blanks and plan for receiving certificate blanks for the next year.

4. The management and issuance of certificates shall be carried out in accordance with the current State regulations on the management, issuance, and use of diplomas and certificates.

5. The Certificate of Completion of Seafaring Vocational Training issued to fishermen prior to the effective date of this Regulation remains valid for circulation.

Article 7. Source of funding for class opening:

1. Trainees or units sending people to study contribute training fees (called tuition fees).

Based on the framework for collecting tuition fees for non-formal education methods guided by Circular Joint No. 46/2001/TTLT/BTC-BGD&ĐT dated June 20, 2001, issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Training guiding the management of tuition fee collection and expenditure for non-formal education activities in public schools and training institutions, the heads of training institutions specify specific collection rates that are appropriate to the content, program, and duration of training to ensure the maintenance and development of training activities, achieving reasonable revenue to offset expenses without having a commercial nature.

2. Support from organizations, individuals, projects, and enterprises

Article 8. Based on assigned tasks, the head of the training institution develops an annual class opening plan to be reviewed by the Ministry of Fisheries in November of the previous year and organizes the signing of training contracts with local Fisheries Departments, Agriculture and Rural Development Departments, and local Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection Agencies authorized by the Departments to open training classes according to current regulations and reports the results to the Ministry. Local Fisheries Departments, Agriculture and Rural Development Departments, and local Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection Agencies must conduct surveys on training needs to coordinate with training institutions to open classes suitable to the production conditions of fishermen.

Article 9. During implementation, if issues arise that are not suitable, training institutions and localities should propose them for the Ministry's consideration and timely adjustment and supplementation.

Appendix - Model of Certificate

(Annexed to Decision No. 1147/2004/QÐ-BTS dated December 13, 2004, of the Ministry of Fisheries)