Revision of STCW Convention

1. LATIN AMERICAN PANEL
LIMA, PERU
SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2010
REVISION
OF THE STCW
CONVENTION
JOE ANGELO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

2. STCW CONVENTION
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR
STANDARDS OF TRAINING,
CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING
FOR SEAFARERS (STCW)
- International requirements for training and certifying
seafarers and watchkeeping standards
- First developed and adopted in 1978
- Underwent major revision in 1995 (addition of
STCW Code)
- Second major revision initiated in 2006
- Adopted in June 2010 (Manila Amendments)

3. STCW CONVENTION
MAJOR ELEMENTS OF STCW
• Articles – contain Administrative requirements
• Regulations – contain general regulatory
requirements
• STCW Code – contains two elements
- Part A – mandatory detailed requirements
which supplement the Regulations
- Part B – non-mandatory recommendations
which provide guidance on the Regulations
and/or Part A of the Code

4. MAJOR BENEFITS OF REVISION
• Certificates of Competency and endorsements to be
issued only by Administration - thereby reducing the
possibility of fraudulent practices associated with issue
of certificates of competency.
• Common medical standards for seafarers - seafarers
from one country can serve on board ships of another
country without undergoing another medical exam.
• Revalidation requirements rationalized for the benefit
of the seafarer.
• Training in modern technology introduced i.e. ECDIS
for deck officers.
• Engineer training updated to include emerging and
modern engineering concepts.

5. MAJOR BENEFITS OF REVISION
• Training and certification requirements for electro-
technical officer introduced.
• Training and certification requirements for Able
seafarer deck and engine included in the Convention.
Thereby having all training requirements set out in one
international instrument.
• Updated competency standards for personnel serving
on board different types of tankers introduced.
• Training guidance for personnel serving on board ships
operating in polar waters.
• Training guidance for personnel operating Dynamic
Positioning Systems.

6. MAJOR BENEFITS OF REVISION
• New training requirements for marine environment
awareness and training in leadership and teamwork.
• Safety and security training requirements separated
to avoid confusion.
• Training guidance for seafarers relating to action to
be taken when sailing in piracy infested waters.
• Introduction of modern training methodology i.e.
distance learning and web based learning.
• Hours of rest harmonized with the requirements of
ILO Maritime Labor Convention (2006) with a view to
reducing fatigue.
• Requirements introduced to avoid alcohol and
substance abuse.

7. MAIN ISSUES
Chapter I – General Provisions
• Regulation I/2 – Only Administrations to issue
certificates of competency and maintain electronic
database to assist in the verification of authenticity
and validity of certificates of competency
• Regulation I/3 – near coastal voyage requirements
made more clear, including principals governing such
voyages and entering “into an undertaking” with the
Parties concerned (flag and coastal states) specifying
the details of both involved trading areas and other
relevant conditions
• Regulation I/6 – Guidance on e-learning

8. MAIN ISSUES
Chapter I – General Provisions
• Regulation I/9 – Medical standards updated, but
controversial Table on “Assessment of minimum
entry level and in-service physical abilities for
seafarers” was not made mandatory
- 2 year - medical certificate; 1 year – medical
certificate for persons under 18 yrs of age
- Mandatory eye-sight standards
- Standards for the assessment of physical abilities
- Flexibility on the application of standards – issuance
of waivers
- Procedures for appeals

9. MAIN ISSUES
Chapter I – General Provisions
• Regulation I/11 – revalidation requirements
made more rational and includes revalidation
requirements for tanker endorsements
- Revalidation may be established with 3 mos. of
service in the preceding 6 mos.
- Continued professional competence for tankers
through service or by completing approve training
• Regulation I/14 – companies responsible for
refresher training of seafarers on their ships
- Requirement to ensure that seafarers receive
refresher and updating training
- Requirement for effective communication on board

10. MAIN ISSUES
Chapter I – General Provisions
• Regulation I/15 – Transitional arrangements -
five years from date of entry into force
- Entry into force – January 2012
- Will vary depending on the date the person entered
the training institution or started service
- January 1, 2017 – Transitional date for existing
mariners who commenced training/sea service prior
to July 1, 2013.
- January 1, 2017 – Revalidate/renew certificates for
existing mariners

11. DECK DEPARTMENT
Chapter II – Master and deck department
• Replacement of training in Decca and Loran with
generic requirements for electronic position fixing
• Celestial navigation
• Electronic Chart Display and Information System
(ECDIS) training
• Leadership and managerial skills
• Marine environment awareness
• Bridge resource management training
• New regulation II/5 – Able Seafarer (deck)

12. ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Chapter III – Engine department
• Competence tables for engineers updated to meet
emerging and contemporary technologies
• Leadership and managerial skills
• Engine room resource management
• Marine environment awareness
• New regulation III/5 – Able Seafarer (engine)
• Training for electro-technical officers and able
seafarer (electro-technical)
• Use of simulator training to assess boiler
competence for ratings

13. MAIN ISSUES
Chapter IV – Radiocommunications
and radio operators
No major changes

14. SPECIAL TRAINING
Chapter V – Special training requirements
for personnel on certain types of ships
• Competency requirements for personnel serving on
board different types of tankers
• Comprehensive requirements for training for personnel
serving on board different types of passenger ships
• Guidance on training of masters and officers for ships
operating in polar waters
• Guidance regarding training and qualification of masters
and officers in charge of a navigational watch on board
offshore supply vessels
• Guidance on training and experience for personnel
operating Dynamic Positioning systems

15. TANKERS
CHAPTER V - Requirements for tankers
• Mariners shall hold a certificate of proficiency in
accordance with their responsibilities on board the
tankers
• Mariners must meet the appropriate standards of
competence in Section A-V/1
• Requirements based on tanker types
- Oil,
- Chemical, and
- Liquefied gas

16. TANKERS
CHAPTER V - Requirements for tankers
General requirements - Two types of training
• Basic training - Officers and ratings assigned specific
duties and responsibilities related to cargo or cargo
equipment on tankers
• Advanced training - Masters, chief engineer officers,
chief mates, second engineer officers and any person
with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging,
care in transit, handling of cargo, tank cleaning or other
cargo-related operations

17. TANKERS
CHAPTER V - Requirements for tankers
Basic training - Oil and chemical tankers
• At least three months of approved seagoing
service on oil or chemical tankers; or
• An approved basic training for oil or chemical
tanker cargo operations.

18. TANKERS
CHAPTER V - Requirements for tankers
• Advance training – Oil tankers
- At least three months of approved seagoing service
on oil tankers, or
- At least one month of approved onboard training on
oil tankers, in a supernumerary capacity, which
includes at least three loading and three unloading
operations
• Advance training – Chemical tankers
- At least three months of approved seagoing service
on chemical tankers, or
- At least one month of approved onboard training on
chemical tankers, in a supernumerary capacity, which
includes at least three loading and three unloading
operations

19. TANKERS
CHAPTER V - Requirements for tankers
• Basic training – Liquefied gas tankers
- At least three months of approved seagoing service
on liquefied gas tankers; or
- An approved basic training for liquefied gas tanker
cargo operations
• Advance training – Liquefied gas tankers
- At least three months of approved seagoing service
on liquefied gas tankers, or
- At least one month of approved onboard training on
liquefied gas tankers, in a supernumerary capacity,
which includes at least three loading and three
unloading operations

20. TANKERS
CHAPTER V - Requirements for tankers
Standards of competency under Section A-V/1
• Ability to safely perform and monitor all cargo operations
• Familiarity with physical and chemical properties of oil
cargoes
• Take precautions to prevent hazards
• Apply occupational health and safety precautions
• Respond to emergencies
• Take precautions to prevent pollution of the environment
• Monitor and control compliance with legislative
requirements

21. MAIN ISSUES
Chapter VI – Emergency, occupational safety,
security, medical care and survival functions
• Proof of continued professional competence every five
years
- Assessment of competence “ASHORE” for areas that
cannot be trained on board, i.e. Advanced firefighting
rescue boats, etc.
- In service experience, drills and on/board training for
other areas
• Security related training are kept separate from those
related to safety training
• Piracy awareness training included
• Requirements for demonstrating continued competence
in basic safety training including Environmental pollution
and Fatigue awareness

22. MAIN ISSUES
Chapter VII – Alternate certificates
No major changes

23. HOURS OF REST
CHAPTER VIII – Watchkeeping
Section A-VIII-1 Fitness for duty
• Rest periods of not less than 10 hours in any 24
hour period and 77 hours in any seven day period
• No more than two rest periods, one of which must
be at least six hours; and
• Intervals of no more than 14 hours between rest
periods
• Exceptions in cases of emergency and overriding
operational conditions, i.e. safety of ship, giving
assistance to others in distress

24. HOURS OF REST
Administrations may allow exceptions
provided
• Reduction in minimum rest hours to 70 in a seven
day period, but for a maximum of two weeks and a
gap of twice the period of exception before there is
any further exception
• Increase in rest periods from two to three - one of at
least 6 hours and the others no less than one hour
• Interval between rest periods no more than 14 hours
• Only applicable for two days in any seven day period

25. DRUG AND ALCOHOL
CHAPTER VIII – Watchkeeping
Section A-VIII-1 Fitness for duty
• Each Administration shall establish, for the purpose of
preventing alcohol abuse:
- a limit of not greater than 0.05% blood alcohol level
(BAC) or 0.25 mg/liter alcohol in the breath; or
- a quantity of alcohol leading to such alcohol
concentration
for masters, officers and other seafarers while
performing designated safety, security and marine
environmental duties.
• Drug and alcohol abuse prevention should take into
account the guidance contained in the ILO publication
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Programmes in the
Maritime Industry

26. EFFECTIVE DATES
Entry into force JANUARY 1, 2012
Fully implemented JANUARY 1, 2017

27. CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS
• Development of guidelines to implement
international standards of medical fitness for
seafarers
• Attracting new entrants and retaining seafarers for
the maritime profession
• Promotion of the participation of women in the
maritime industry
• Accommodation for trainees
• Verification of certificates of competency and
endorsements
• Standards of training and certification and ships’
manning levels

28. MUCHAS
GRACIAS!