Adoption: 7 July 1978
Entry into force: 28 April 1984;
Major revisions in 1995 and 2010 ( Latest amendments are
commonly called Manila amendments )
Captain Sukhjit Singh
International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers, 1978
Adoption: 7 July 1978
Entry into force: 28 April 1984
Major revisions in 1995 and 2010
The 1978 STCW Convention was the first to
establish basic requirements on training,
certification and watchkeeping for seafarers on an
international level.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Previously the standards of training,
certification and watchkeeping of officers and
ratings were established by individual
governments, usually without reference to
practices in other countries. As a result
standards and procedures varied widely, even
though shipping is the most international of all
industries.
The Convention prescribes minimum
standards relating to training, certification and
watchkeeping for seafarers which countries are
obliged to meet or exceed.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
STCW Convention chapters
Chapter I: General provisions
Chapter II: Master and deck department
Chapter III: Engine department
Chapter IV: Radiocommunication and radio personnel
Chapter V: Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships
Chapter VI: Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and survival functions
Chapter VII: Alternative certification
Chapter VIII: Watchkeeping
The STCW Code
The regulations contained in the Convention are supported by sections in the STCW Code.
Convention contains basic requirements which are then enlarged upon and explained in the
Code.
Part A of the Code is mandatory. The minimum standards of competence required for
seagoing personnel are given in detail in a series of tables.
Part B of the Code contains recommended guidance which is intended to help Parties
implement the Convention. The measures suggested are not mandatory and the examples
given are only intended to illustrate how certain Convention requirements may be complied
with. However, the recommendations in general represent an approach that has been
harmonized by discussions within IMO and consultation with other international
organizations.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
STCW Convention chapters
Chapter I: General provisions
Chapter II: Master and deck department
Chapter III: Engine department
Chapter IV: Radiocommunication and radio personnel
Chapter V: Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships
Chapter VI: Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and survival functions
Chapter VII: Alternative certification
Chapter VIII: Watchkeeping
The STCW Code
The regulations contained in the Convention are supported by sections in the STCW Code.
Convention contains basic requirements which are then enlarged upon and explained in the
Code.
Part A of the Code is mandatory. The minimum standards of competence required for
seagoing personnel are given in detail in a series of tables.
Part B of the Code contains recommended guidance which is intended to help Parties
implement the Convention. The measures suggested are not mandatory and the examples
given are only intended to illustrate how certain Convention requirements may be complied
with. However, the recommendations in general represent an approach that has been
harmonized by discussions within IMO and consultation with other international
organizations.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
In response to a recognized need to bring the Convention up to date and to respond
to critics who pointed out the many vague phrases, such as "to the satisfaction of the
Administration", which resulted in different interpretations being made.
The 1995 amendments entered into force on 1 February 1997. One of the major
features of the revision was the division of the technical annex into regulations,
divided into Chapters as before, and a new STCW Code, to which many
technical regulations were transferred.
Part A of the Code is mandatory. Part B of the Code contains recommended
guidance. Code was kept in Dividing the regulations up in this way makes
administration easier and it also makes the task of revising and updating them
more simple: for procedural and legal reasons there is no need to call a full
conference to make changes to Codes.
Another major change was the requirement for Parties to the Convention are
required to provide detailed information to IMO concerning administrative
measures taken to ensure compliance with the Convention. This represented the
first time that IMO had been called upon to act in relation to compliance and
implementation - generally, implementation is down to the flag States, while
port State control also acts to ensure compliance.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Under Chapter I, regulation I/7 of the revised Convention,
Parties are required to provide detailed information to IMO
concerning administrative measures taken to ensure
compliance with the Convention, education and training
courses, certification procedures and other factors relevant to
implementation. The information is reviewed by panels of
competent persons, nominated by Parties to the STCW
Convention, who report on their findings to the IMO
Secretary-General, who, in turn, reports to the Maritime Safety
Committee (MSC) on the Parties which fully comply. The MSC
then produces a list of "confirmed Parties" in compliance with
the STCW Convention.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
What is the "White List"?
The White List identifies the countries that have demonstrated a plan of full compliance
with the STCW Convention and Code as revised in 1995. The White List was developed by
an unbiased panel of "competent persons" at the IMO. The criteria used to develop the list
included what system of certification (licensing) each administration would have, the
process of revalidation for certificates, training centre oversight, port state control, and flag
state control.
What happens if a country is not on the "White List"?
Since there is a white list, it would stand to reason that any country not on the white list
could be considered "black listed". This is not the case. There is no actual black list
although very often that is how non-compliant countries are described.
Port State Control and Flag State Control both play a role in handling a non-white
listed country. For instance, if a vessel is flagged by a non-white list country, when it
desires to enter a white list port, it can be denied entry, detained or inspected
vigorously.
On the other hand, if a mariner has a Certificate of Competency (license) from a non-
white list country, they will most likely be denied a Certificate of Equivalency, they
will be rejected as a viable manning solution for white list flagged vessels, and their
sea time and training may either be highly scrutinized or not accepted at all towards a
COC from a white list country.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
The Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and Code were adopted on 25 June 2010, marking a major
revision of the STCW Convention and Code. The 2010 amendments are set to enter into force on 1 January
2012 under the tacit acceptance procedure and are aimed at bringing the Convention and Code up to date
with developments since they were initially adopted and to enable them to address issues that are
anticipated to emerge in the foreseeable future.
Amongst the amendments adopted, there are a number of important changes to each chapter of the
Convention and Code, including:
Improved measures to prevent fraudulent practices associated with certificates of competency and
strengthen the evaluation process (monitoring of Parties' compliance with the Convention);
Revised requirements on hours of work and rest and new requirements for the prevention of drug and
alcohol abuse, as well as updated standards relating to medical fitness standards for seafarers;
New certification requirements for able seafarers;
New requirements relating to training in modern technology such as electronic charts and information
systems (ECDIS);
New requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in leadership and
teamwork;
New training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers;
Updating of competence requirements for personnel serving on board all types of tankers, including
new requirements for personnel serving on liquefied gas tankers;
New requirements for security training, as well as provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly
trained to cope if their ship comes under attack by pirates;
Introduction of modern training methodology including distance learning and web-based learning;
New training guidance for personnel serving on board ships operating in polar waters; and
New training guidance for personnel operating Dynamic Positioning Systems.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
STCW and my role as a MANAGER
➢ Selection
➢ Manning
➢ Training
➢ Cost
➢ Reliefs
➢ Charter requirements
➢ Fleet management
➢ Certification
Captain Sukhjit Singh