Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Ministry of People’s Power for Transport
National Institute of Aquatic Spaces

In exercise of the power conferred by article 78 numeral 1 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of the Organic Law of Aquatic Spaces, pursuant to the provisions of articles 73 numerals 1, 2, and 18, and article 74 numerals 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, and 29 eiusdem, in accordance with article 251 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of the Law of Marinas and Connected Activities, and as provided for in article 42 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of the Organic Law of Public Administration and article 17 of the Organic Law of Administrative Procedures.

Article 1.

The Special River Master License is hereby implemented, to be granted by the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces to crew members of the Institute’s vessels who provide services within the Apure Aquatic Jurisdiction under the framework of the National WATERWAYS Project for vessels up to 5 GT, for the transport of passengers and general cargo along the route assigned by the Institute, subject to prior compliance by the applicant with the requirements to obtain it as set forth in this Administrative Ruling.

Article 2.

The form approved for the issuance of the Special River Master License must contain the following information:

1. Document Identification: Special River Master License.
2. Visible 3×3 size photograph of the applicant.
3. First Names.
4. Last Names.
5. Identity Card Number (Cédula de Identidad).
6. License No.: (Registration code).
7. Date of Issuance.
8. Expiration Date.
9. Document serial number (which must match the registration number).

The reverse side of the License must contain the signature of the Port Captain of Apure and the text mentioned below:

“This License authorizes the holder to crew vessels of the fleet of the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces of up to 5 GT that provide services in the Apure Aquatic Jurisdiction within the framework of the National WATERWAYS Project, for the transport of passengers and general cargo on the route assigned by the Aquatic Authority; it is understood that if the holder takes actions that jeopardize the safety of navigation or cause damage to persons or third-party property, this license may be annulled or suspended. This License is valid for two (02) years from its issuance.”

OBVERSE
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA MINISTRY OF THE POPULAR POWER FOR TRANSPORT NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AQUATIC SPACES SPECIAL RIVER MASTER LICENSE INEA FIRST NAMES: LAST NAMES: IDENTITY CARD: No. LEPF-ARSM-00000 DATE OF ISSUANCE: EXPIRATION DATE: No. 00000

REVERSE
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA MINISTRY OF THE POPULAR POWER FOR TRANSPORT NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AQUATIC SPACES SPECIAL RIVER MASTER LICENSE This License authorizes the holder to crew vessels of the fleet of the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces of up to 5 GT that provide services in the Apure Aquatic Jurisdiction within the framework of the National WATERWAYS Project, for the transport of passengers and general cargo on the route assigned by the Aquatic Authority; it is understood that if the holder takes actions that jeopardize the safety of navigation or cause damage to persons or third-party property, this license may be annulled or suspended. PORT CAPTAIN APURE PORT CAPTAINCY Delegate according to Administrative Ruling No. XXX dated XX of XX of 20XX No. 00000 This License is valid for two (02) years from issuance.

Article 3.

The code for the registration number to be carried by the Special River Master License shall be structured as follows:

• LEPF-ARSM-0000
  • LEPF: Special River Master License
  • ARSM: Apure Port Captaincy
  • 0000: Serial/Sequential Number

Article 4.

To be granted the Special River Master License, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. To be Venezuelan
2. Minimum age of 18 years.
3. Have completed the practical and/or theoretical knowledge verification examinations.
4. Present a medical examination indicating their general health status, submitting the corresponding verification document.
5. Make the payment of the established fee for the respective document, in accordance with the applicable regulation.

Article 5.

The Apure Port Captaincy shall organize community outreach sessions (“jornadas sociales”) to facilitate the corresponding information and conduct practical and/or theoretical knowledge verification examinations for applicants seeking the Special River Master License, in accordance with the following contents:

1. Planning and directing a river voyage.
   1. Magnetic compass.
   2. Headings/Courses:
      1. Types of heading.
      2. Variation.
      3. Deviation and total correction.
      4. Converting a magnetic heading to a true heading and vice versa.
      5. Converting a compass heading to a true heading.
   3. Dead Reckoning Navigation:
      1. Factors to consider in Dead Reckoning Navigation: dead reckoning triangle, simple case in dead reckoning (departure position True Course-Distance Navigation, arrival position).
      2. True course.
      3. Speed and distance.
   4. Navigation:
      1. Bearings and relative bearings.
      2. Relationships between bearing, course, and relative bearing.
      3. Converting one bearing to another (compass bearing, magnetic bearing, and true bearing).
      4. Alidade.
      5. Azimuth circle / bearing circle.
      6. Gyro repeaters.
      7. Methods for taking bearings and relative bearings.
   5. Sailing Directions:
      1. Definition.
      2. Use.
      3. Alterations, changes, and corrections.
2. Theoretical Fundamentals of the Vessel.
   1. Definition of a vessel.
   2. Classification of vessels: according to construction material, construction system, type of propulsion, and intended use.
   3. Principal dimensions: length, beam, and depth.
   4. Draft. Different types of draft.
   5. Principal structural elements of the vessel: keel, stem, sternpost, frames, beams, girder/stringer, depth, keelsons, outer shell and inner plating, hatches, bulkheads, masts, bows/bow quarters, quarters, bitts, scuppers.
   6. Elements to consider in stability and stowage: parts of the vessel, waterplane and waterline, hull/underwater body and volume of the displacement, underwater body (obra viva) and topsides (obra muerta), freeboard, hull reference lines, forward perpendicular (fp), aft perpendicular (ap), midships perpendicular and master frame, centerline, baseline or molded line, trim, and alteration of stability due to the effect of shifting or transferring weights.
   7. Displacement: types and general concepts.
3. General knowledge regarding the legal framework governing aquatic activities, applicable to minor vessels. Legal notions related to the master’s activity: Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of the Law of Marinas and Connected Activities; Civil Code; Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of the Organic Law of Aquatic Spaces; Organic Law of Labor, Workers, and Queens; Organic Law on Prevention, Conditions, and Work Environment (LOPCYMAT); International Code of Signals; Regulation determining the Jurisdiction of the Port Captaincies of the Republic; Maritime Health Regulation.
4. Importance of observing hygiene rules for the preservation of physical and mental health on board and mastery of techniques to treat injuries that occur most frequently on a vessel.
   1. Rest and healthy recreation.
   2. Precautions with potable water.
   3. General standards regarding food.
   4. First aid kit: general characteristics and application.
   5. Wounds, types: treatment.
   6. Hemorrhage control: techniques.
   7. Burns: types and extent, treatment of minor burns.
   8. Fractures: types, transport of injured persons.
   9. Artificial respiration: techniques.
5. Application of maneuvering standards during navigation and in port to guarantee safety.
   1. Berthing and unberthing maneuvers.
   2. Type of lines and mooring systems.
6. Distress, urgency, and safety messages.
   1. Distress Call.
   2. Transmission lines.
   3. Transmission and reception of messages via radio equipment.
   4. Operating regulations.
   5. Interference.
7. Operating principles, monitoring, and maintenance of outboard-type marine engines; fault detection and measures to prevent breakdowns; preventive and corrective maintenance of engines.
   1. Outboard engines: structural characteristics, ignition and lower unit maintenance, maintenance according to the manual.
8. Safe and effective maintenance and repair procedures.
   1. Repair and damage control methods.
   2. Success factors when conducting a damage control action.
   3. Hull damage control plan.
9. First aid in case of accidents on board the vessel.
   1. Techniques for determining vital signs.
   2. Handling and positioning of the victim.
   3. Resuscitation techniques for cases of asphyxiation and drowning.
   4. Techniques for hemorrhage control.
   5. Care in case of burns and scalds.
   6. Preparation of emergency bandages.
   7. Methods for rescuing and transporting victims.
   8. Composition of the first aid kit.
   9. Immobilization techniques for upper and lower limbs.
   10. Crowd management techniques on passenger ships.
   11. First aid guide in accordance with the basic courses of the International Maritime Organization.

Article 6.

During the Community Outreach Session, the public officials assigned to the Apure Port Captaincy must perform the corresponding verifications of the Venezuelan nationality of the applicants for the Special River Master License by requiring the original identity card to be presented, keeping a copy of it.

Article 7.

The signature of the Special River Master License is delegated to the Port Captain of Apure, who must make reference therein to the data of this Administrative Ruling.

Article 8.

The Apure Port Captaincy must draft the form “Individual qualification record on the practical and/or theoretical knowledge verification examinations applied to the applicant for the Special River Master License,” which must be signed and stamped by the Port Captain of Apure in situ and shall have a validity of two (2) years, which may be renewed for an additional two (2) years subject to compliance with the requirements established for such purpose.

Article 9.

The Apure Port Captaincy must compile a file for each community outreach session conducted, attaching a copy of the identity card of each applicant, the medical certificate, and the individual qualification record on the practical and/or theoretical knowledge verification examinations applied to the applicant for the Special River Master License, generated by the Port Captaincy and signed by the Port Captain.

Article 10.

The Apure Port Captaincy, through the Documentation Coordination, must maintain a physical and digital registry logbook of the Special River Master Licenses issued, which must contain the following information:

1. Document serial number: 00000.
2. First and Last Names of the beneficiary of the Special River Master License.
3. Identity Card Number (Cédula de Identidad).
4. Registration number of the License: LEPF-(abbreviation of the port captaincy)-(4-digit sequential number).
5. Date of Issuance.
6. Expiration Date.
7. Number and date of the Community Outreach Session: 000/00.00.0000.
8. Date of Renewal.
9. Observations.

Article 11.

The Port Captaincy must send the digital registry of the issued Special River Master Licenses to the Seafarers Management within the first five (5) days of each month.

Article 12.

The Special River Master License qualifies the holder to crew vessels assigned to the WATERWAYS Project within the Aquatic Jurisdiction of the Apure state.

Article 13.

The Special River Master License qualifies the holder to crew vessels assigned to the WATERWAYS Project within the Aquatic Jurisdiction of the Apure state.

Article 14.

With the Special River Master License, its holder may only perform on board the route duly approved by the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces for the transport of persons and general cargo.

Article 15.

The Special River Master License shall be suspended or annulled when the holder takes actions that jeopardize the safety of navigation, the environment, or human life, or that run contrary to the legal provisions governing the matter.

Article 16.

The General Management of Marina remains charged with ensuring compliance with the provisions of this Administrative Ruling.

Article 17.

This Administrative Ruling shall enter into force upon its notification.