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International Maritime
Academy (LIMA)
 MGMT 2
Integrated
Management System
International Convention
on Standards of Training,
Certification and
Watchkeeping (STCW)
Introduction
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.
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.
The 1995 amendments, adopted by a Conference, represented a major revision of
the Convention, 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 while Part B is
recommended.
Dividing the regulations up in this way makes administration easier and it also
makes the task of revising and updating them simpler: 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.
 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 (the so called "white list") of "confirmed Parties"
in compliance with the STCW Convention.
It applies to seafarers, ship-owners, training establishments and national
maritime administrations. The convention helps and enforces a series of
standards for the safe keeping of shipping environment and keeping the
oceans clean.
It also sets qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel
on seagoing merchant ships.
The STCW Convention does not apply to seafarers serving on warships,
naval auxiliaries or any other government owned or operated ship engaged
in non-commercial service; fishing vessels (there is a separate convention
covering personnel on fishing vessels); pleasure yachts not engaged in trade
and wooden ships of primitive build.
The STCW Convention consists of three sections.
1. The articles: outline the legal responsibilities a party have to meet.
2. The annex: gives technical details on how the legal responsibilities
referred to in the articles should be met.
3. The STCW Code: specifies in more depth the technical details contained
in the annex. It contains part A (mandatory standards of training,
certification and watch-keeping) and part B (recommended guidelines - not
mandatory - on training, certification and watch-keeping)
A copy of the STCW Convention is normally kept on board all sea-going
merchant ships.
STCW CONVENTION
REGULATIONS (ANNEX)
CHAPTER I. General Provisions
CHAPTER II. Master And Deck Department
CHAPTER III. Engine Department
CHAPTER IV. Radiocommunication And Radio
Operators
CHAPTER V. Special Training Requirements For
Personnel On Certain Types Of Ships
CHAPTER VI. Emergency, Occupational Safety,
Security, Medical Care And Survival Functions
CHAPTER VII. Alternative Certification (added
1995)
CHAPTER VIII. Watchkeeping (added 1995)
The STCW Code
• The regulations contained in the Convention are supported by sections in the STCW Code.
Generally speaking, the 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. Chapter II of the Code, for
example, deals with standards regarding the master and deck department.

• 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.
STCW Code
PART A – Mandatory Standards Regarding Provisions of the Annex to The STCW Convention

Introduction
CHAPTER I. Standards Regarding General Provisions
CHAPTER II. Standards Regarding The Master And Deck Department
CHAPTER III. Standards Regarding Engine Department
CHAPTER IV. Standard Regarding Radio Operators
CHAPTER V. Standards Regarding Special Training Requirements For Personnel On Certain Types Of Ships
CHAPTER VI. Standards Regarding Emergency, Occupational Safety, Security, Medical Care And Survival Functions
CHAPTER VII. Standards Regarding Alternative Certification
CHAPTER VIII. Standards Regarding Watchkeeping
Certificates & Endorsements
STCW Code
PART B – Recommended Guidance Regarding Provisions Of The STCW Convention

Introduction
CHAPTER I. Guidance Regarding General Provisions
CHAPTER II. Guidance Regarding The Master And The Deck Department
CHAPTER III. Guidance Regarding The Engine Department
CHAPTER IV. Guidance Regarding Radiocommunication And Radio Operators
CHAPTER V. Guidance Regarding Special Training Requirements For Personnel On Certain
Types Of Ships
CHAPTER VI. Guidance Regarding Emergency, Occupational Safety, Security, Medical Care
And Survival Functions
CHAPTER VII. Guidance Regarding Alternative Certification
CHAPTER VIII. Guidance Regarding Watchkeeping
Amendments
Following some important amendments over the years, notably in 1995, it came
into full effect in 2002. In June 2010, at the Diplomatic Conference in Manila,
Philippines, the latest revision of the STCW was debated and formalized into a
document that set the international standards for seafaring best practice now and
in the future.
1991
amendments relating to the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS)
and conduct of trials, were adopted by resolution MSC.21(59) and entered into
force on 1 December 1992.
1994
amendments on special training requirements for personnel on tankers were
adopted by resolution MSC.33(63) and entered into force on 1 January 1996.
1995
amendments were adopted by resolution 1 of a Conference of Parties to the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers, which was convened by the International Maritime Organization and met at
the Headquarters of the Organization from 26 June to 7 July 1995 (1995 STCW
Conference). The 1995 STCW Conference adopted the Seafarers’ Training, Certification
and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code.

The STCW Code contains, in:

part A, mandatory provisions to which specific reference is made in the annex to the
STCW Convention and which give, in detail, the minimum standards required to be
maintained by Parties in order to give full and complete effect to the provisions of the
STCW Convention; and, in
part B, recommended guidance to assist Parties to the STCW Convention and those
involved in implementing, applying or enforcing its measures to give the STCW
Convention full and complete effect in a uniform manner.
1997
amendments, to the Convention and to part A of the Code, relating to
training of personnel on passenger and ro-ro passenger ships, were adopted
by resolutions MSC.66(68) and MSC.67(68) and entered into force on 1
January 2003.
1998
amendments, to part A of the Code, relating to enhanced competence in
cargo handling and stowage, particularly in respect of bulk cargoes, were
adopted by resolution MSC.78(70) and entered into force on 1 January
2003.
May 2004

amendments, to part A of the Code, adjusting certificates and endorsements,

were adopted by resolution MSC.156(78). The December 2004 amendments, to
part A of the Code, taking into account on-load and off-load devices in the
competence relating to survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue
boats, were adopted by resolution MSC.180(79). Both amendments entered into
force on 1 July 2006.

2006

amendments, to part A of the Code, introducing, inter alia, new measures

pertaining to ship security officers, were adopted by resolution MSC.209(81) and
entered into force on 1 January 2008.
 SCTW 2010 AMENDMENTS

• Also known as the Manila amendments to the STCW

Convention and Code
• 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
• Adopted: June 25, 2010
• Entered to force: January 1, 2012
2010
amendments (the Manila Amendments) to the Convention and Code were adopted by resolutions 1 and 2, respectively, by a
Conference of Parties to the STCW Convention, held in Manila, Philippines, from 21 to 25 June 2010 (2010 STCW Conference). The
2010 Manila amendments was intended to include all agreed changes since 1995, address new technology, inconsistencies,
interpretations and outdated provisions. There was also an overall commitment to harmonies the amended STCW Convention where
practical, with the provisions of the 2006 ILO Maritime Labour Convention. The 2010 amendments continued to emphasize
competence rather than sea service or period of trainingThe amendments mainly introduced:

1. Improved measures to prevent fraudulent practices associated with certificates of competency and strengthen the evaluation
process (monitoring of Parties' compliance with the Convention).

2. Strengthened provisions on medical standards.

3. Revised requirements on hours of work and rest and new requirements for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.

4. New certification requirements for able seafarers, deck and engine.

5. New requirements relating to training in modern technology such as electronic charts and information systems (ECDIS).
6. New requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in leadership and teamwork.

7. New training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers and electro-technical ratings.

8. Updating of competence requirements for personnel serving on board all types of tankers, including new
requirements for personnel serving on liquefied gas tankers.

9. New requirements for security training for all seafarers, as well as provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly
trained regarding piracy and armed robbery.

10. Refresher training module every five years for basic training on personal survival techniques and fire prevention and
firefighting; advanced firefighting; and proficiency in survival craft, rescue boats and fast rescue boats.

11. Introduction of modern training methodology including distance learning and e-learning.

12. New training guidance for personnel serving on board ships operating in polar waters. Part A currently contains
mandatory provisions in this regard.

13. New training guidance for personnel operating Dynamic Positioning Systems.
2014
amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.373(93) and MSC.374(93). The amendments
updated chapter I (General provisions) to the STCW Convention and chapter I (Standards
regarding general provisions) to the STCW Code, part A, entered into force on 1 January 2016.
2015
amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.396(95) and MSC.397(95). The amendments
updated chapter I (General provisions), regulations I/1 and I/2, chapter V (Special training
requirements for personnel on certain types of ships) and introduced new section V/3 on training
requirements for personnel on ships subject to the IGF Code, in the STCW Code, and entered
into force on 1 January 2017.
2016
amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.416(97) and MSC.417(97). The amendments
updated chapters I (General provisions) and V (Special training requirements for personnel on
certain types of ships) of the Convention and Code, including regulations V/2 (training
requirements for personnel on passenger ships) and V/4 (training requirements for masters and
deck officers on ships operating in polar waters); and sections A-V/2 and A-V/4, and entered into
force on 1 July 2018.
 References

 [Link]
pub_stcw-code-2010
 [Link]
_english
 [Link]
ges/STCW-
[Link]#:~:text=The%201978%20STCW%2
0Convention%20entered,%2C%202015%2C%202016
%20and%202018.
END OF DISCUSSION