This document discusses certification and qualification under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
The STCW Convention aims to establish uniform global standards for maritime training, certification, and watchkeeping. It defines "certificate" as documentation showing attendance or passing an exam, while "qualification" refers to actual ability to perform job duties to the required standard.
While the STCW Convention and its amendments have brought greater standardization, there remains a gap between certification (having knowledge) and qualification (competence/ability). Some countries have taken additional steps like value-added training to help bridge this gap and truly ensure seafarers' competency. The