Adoption: 7
July 1978
Entry into force: 28 April 1984
The 1995 amendments,
which completely revised the Convention, entered into force on 1 February 1997.
However, until 1 February 2002, Parties may continue to issue, recognize and
endorse certificates which applied before 1 February 1997 in respect of
seafarers who began training or seagoing service before 1 August 1998. This
means that the original 1978 text will continue to apply to many of the world's
ships and seafarers until the year 2002.
The 1978 STCW
Convention – Introduction
The 1978
Convention – Chapter I: General provisions
The 1978 Convention – Chapter II:
Master-deck department
The 1978
Convention – Chapter III: Engine department
The 1978
Convention – Chapter IV: Radio department
The 1978
Convention – Chapter V: Special requirements for tankers
The 1978
Convention – Chapter VI: Proficiency in survival craftResolutions adopted by the
1978 ConferenceAmendment Procedure
The 1991
amendments – GMDSS
The 1994
amendments – tanker crews
The 1995
amendments – major revision
Ensuring
compliance with the Convention
Port State
control
1995 amendments – chapters II, III, IV
1995
amendments - Chapter V: Special training requirements for personnel on certain
types of ships
1995
amendments - Chapter VI: Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and
survival functions
1995
amendments - Chapter VII: Alternative certification
1995
amendments - Chapter VIII: Watchkeeping
The STCW
Code
The 1997
Amendments – training for crew on passenger ships
The 1998
Amendments – training for crew on bulk carriers
The White
List
The 1978 STCW Convention – Introduction
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 Convention did not deal with manning
levels: IMO provisions in this area are covered by regulation 13 of Chapter V of
the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, whose
requirements are backed up by resolution A.890(21) Principles of safe manning,
adopted by the IMO Assembly in 1999, which replaced an earlier resolution
A.481(XII) adopted in 1981.
The Articles of the Convention include
requirements relating to issues surrounding certification and port State
control.
One especially important feature of the Convention is that it
applies to ships of non-party States when visiting ports of States which are
Parties to the Convention. Article X requires Parties to apply the control
measures to ships of all flags to the extent necessary to ensure that no more
favourable treatment is given to ships entitled to fly the flag of a State which
is not a Party than is given to ships entitled to fly the flag of a State that
is a Party.
The difficulties which could arise for ships of States which
are not Parties to the Convention is one reason why the Convention has received
such wide acceptance. By December 2000, the STCW Convention had 135 Parties,
representing 97.53 percent of world shipping tonnage.
The 1978 Convention – Chapter I
The
technical provisions of the 1978 Convention are contained in an Annex, divided
into six Chapters:
The 1978 Convention - Chapter I:General
provisions
Includes a list of definitions of terms used in
the annex. Regulation I/2 deals with the content of the certificate and
endorsement form. All certificates must include a translation into English, if
that is not the official language of the issuing country.
The 1978
Convention - Chapter II: Master-deck department
The Chapter
establishes basic principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch,
covering such matters as watch arrangements, fitness for duty, navigation,
navigational equipment, navigational duties and responsibilities, the duties of
the look-out, navigation with a pilot on board and protection of the marine
environment.
The regulations include mandatory minimum requirements for
certificating masters and chief mates; for certification of officers in charge
of a navigational watch; and for certification of deck ratings forming part of a
navigational watch. The regulations also include basic principles to be observed
in keeping watch in port and mandatory minimum requirements for a watch in port
on ships carrying hazardous cargo.
The 1978 Convention - Chapter III: Engine department
Includes basic principles to be observed in keeping an
engineering watch; mandatory minimum requirements for certification of chief
engineer officers and second engineer officers; mandatory minimum requirements
for certification of engineer officers in charge of a watch in a traditionally
manned engine room or designated duty officers in a periodically unmanned engine
room; requirements to ensure the continued proficiency and updating of knowledge
for engineer officers; mandatory minimum requirements for ratings forming part
of an engine room watch.
The 1978 Convention - Chapter IV: Radio
department
Notes that mandatory provisions relating to
radio watchkeeping are set forth in the ITU Radio Regulations and safety radio
watchkeeping and maintenance provisions are included in the same regulations and
in SOLAS. The Chapter in STCW includes mandatory minimum requirements for
certification of radio officers; provisions designed to ensure the continued
proficiency and updating of knowledge of radio officers; and minimum
requirements for certification of radiotelephone operators.
The 1978
Convention - Chapter V: Special requirements for tankers
The Chapter was designed to ensure that officers and ratings who
are to have specific duties related to the cargo and cargo equipment of tankers
shall have completed an appropriate shore-based fire-fighting course; and have
completed either an appropriate period of shipboard service or an approved
familiarization course. Requirements are more stringent for masters and senior
officers. Attention is paid not only to safety aspects but also to pollution
prevention. The Chapter contains three regulations dealing with oil tankers,
chemical tankers and liquefied gas tankers, respectively.
The 1978
Convention - Chapter VI: Proficiency in survival craft
The
Chapter establishes requirements governing the issuing of certificates of
proficiency in survival craft. An appendix lists the minimum knowledge required
for the issue of certificates of proficiency.
Resolutions adopted by the 1978 Conference
The 1978 Conference which adopted the STCW Convention also
adopted a number of resolutions designed to back up the Convention itself. The
resolutions, which are recommendatory rather than mandatory, incorporate more
details than some of the Convention regulations.
Resolution 1 - Basic
principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch. An annex contains
a recommendation on operational guidance for officers in charge of a
navigational watch.
Resolution 2 - Operational guidance for engineer
officers in charge of an engineering watch. An annex to the resolution deals
with engineering watch underway and at an unsheltered
anchorage.
Resolution 3 - Principles and operational guidance for deck
officers in charge of a watch in port. Detailed recommendations are
contained in an annex.
Resolution 4 - Principles and operational
guidance for engineer officers in charge of an engineering watch in port.
Recommendations are in an annex.
Resolution 5 - Basic guidelines and
operational guidance relating to safety radio watchkeeping and maintenance for
radio officers. A comprehensive annex is divided into basic guidelines and
safety radio watchkeeping and maintenance.
Resolution 6 - Basic
guidelines and operational guidance relating to safety radio watchkeeping for
radio telephone operators.
Resolution 7 - Radio operators.
Four recommendations are annexed to this resolution dealing with (i) minimum
requirements for certification of radio officers; (ii) minimum requirements to
ensure the continued proficiency and updating of knowledge for radio operators;
(iii) basic guidelines and operational guidance relating to safety radio
watchkeeping and maintenance for radio operators; and (iv) training for radio
operators.
Resolution 8 - Additional training for ratings forming part
of a navigational watch. Recommends that such ratings be trained in use and
operation of appropriate bridge equipment and basic requirements for the
prevention of pollution.
Resolution 9 - Minimum requirements for a
rating nominated as the assistant to the engineer officer in charge of the
watch. Recognizes that suitable training arrangements are not widely
available. Detailed requirements are contained in an annex.
Resolution
10 - Training and qualifications of officers and ratings of oil tankers.
Refers to resolution 8 adopted by the International Conference on Tanker Safety
and Pollution Prevention, 1978 (TSPP), which deals with the improvement of
standards of crews on tankers. Recommendation in annex.
Resolution 11
- Training and qualifications of officers and ratings of chemical
tankers.
Resolution 12 - Training and qualifications of masters,
officers and ratings of liquefied gas tankers.
Resolution 13 -
Training and qualifications of officers and ratings of ships carrying dangerous
and hazardous cargo other than in bulk.
Resolution 14 - Training
for radio officers. Detailed recommendations in annex.
Resolution
15 - Training for radiotelephone operators
Resolution 16 -
Technical assistance for the training and qualifications of masters and other
responsible personnel of oil, chemical and liquefied gas tankers. Refers to
requirements in several Convention regulations and recognizes that training
facilities may be limited in some countries. Urges Governments which can provide
assistance to do so.· Back to top
Resolution 17 - Additional training
for masters and chief mates of large ships and of ships with unusual manoeuvring
characteristics. Is designed to assist those moving to ships of this type
from smaller vessels, where characteristics may be quite
different.
Resolution 18 - Radar simulator training. Recommends
that such training be given to all masters and deck
officers.
Resolution 19 - Training of seafarers in personal survival
techniques. A recommendation is annexed.
Resolution 20 - Training
in the use of collision avoidance aids.
Resolution 21 -
International Certificate of Competency. Invites IMO to develop a standard
form and title for this certificate.
Resolution 22 - Human
relationships. Emphasizes the importance to safety of good human
relationships between seafarers on board.
Resolution 23 - Promotion of
technical co-operation. Records appreciation of IMO's work in assisting
developing countries to establish maritime training facilities in conformity
with global standards of training and invites the organization to intensify its
efforts with a view to promoting universal acceptance and implementation of the
STCW Convention.
Amendment Procedure
Amendments to the
1978 STCW Convention's technical Annex may be adopted by a Conference of STCW
Parties or by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee, expanded to include all
Contracting Parties, some of whom may not be members of the
Organization.
Amendments to the STCW Annex will normally enter into force
one and a half years after being communicated to all Parties unless, in the
meantime, they are rejected by one-third of the Parties or by Parties whose
combined fleets represent 50 per cent of world tonnage.
The 1991
amendments
Adoption: 22 May 1991
Entry into
force: 1 December 1992
The amendments were mostly concerned with
additional requirements made necessary by the implementation of the Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
The 1994 amendments
Adoption: 25 May 1994
Entry into force: 1 January
1996
The amendments replaced Chapter V on special training for crews on
tankers.
The 1995 amendments
Adoption: 7 July
1995
Entry into force: 1 February 1997
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.
Others complained that the
Convention was never uniformly applied and did not impose any strict obligations
on Parties regarding implementation. The 1995 amendments entered into force on 1
February 1997. However, until 1 February 2002, Parties may continue to issue,
recognize and endorse certificates which applied before that date in respect of
seafarers who began training or seagoing service before 1 August
1998.
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 have been 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 more simple: for procedural and legal reasons
there is no need to call a full conference to make changes to Codes.
Some
of the most important amendments adopted by the Conference concern Chapter I
- General Provisions. They include thee following:
Ensuring
compliance with the Convention
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.
By 1 August 1998 -
the deadline for submission of information established in section A-I/7 of the
STCW Code - 82 out of the 133 STCW Parties had communicated information on
compliance with the requirements of the revised Convention. The 82 Parties which
met the deadline represent well over 90% of the world's ships and
seafarers.
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 Parties
in compliance with the 1995 amendments.
The first list of countries was
approved by the MSC at its 73rd session held from 27 November to 6 December 2000
– it included 71 countries and one Associate Member of IMO.
Port State control
The revised
Chapter I includes enhanced procedures concerning the exercise of port State to
allow intervention in the case of deficiencies deemed to pose a danger to
persons, property or the environment (regulation I/4). This can take place if
certificates are not in order or if the ship is involved in a collision or
grounding, if there is an illegal discharge of substances (causing pollution) or
if the ship is manoeuvred in an erratic or unsafe manner, etc.
Other
regulations in chapter I include:
Measures are introduced for
watchkeeping personnel to prevent fatigue.
Parties are required to
establish procedures for investigating acts by persons to whom they have issued
certificates that endanger safety or the environment. Penalties and other
disciplinary measures must be prescribed and enforced where the Convention is
not complied with.
Technical innovations, such as the use of simulators
for training and assessment purposes have been recognized. Simulators are
mandatory for training in the use of radar and automatic radar plotting aids
(regulation I/12 and section A-I/12 of the STCW Code).
Parties are
required to ensure that training, certification and other procedures are
continuously monitored by means of a quality standards system (regulation
I/8).
Every master, officer and radio operator are required at intervals
not exceeding five years to meet the fitness standards and the levels of
professional competence contained in Section A-I/11 of the STCW Code. In order
to assess the need for revalidation of certificates after 1 February 2002,
Parties must compare the standards of competence previously required with those
specified in the appropriate certificate in part A of the STCW Code. If
necessary, the holders of certificates may be required to undergo training or
refresher courses (regulation I/11).
Chapter II: Master and deck department
The Chapter was revised and updated.
Chapter III:
Engine department
The Chapter was revised and updated.
Chapter
IV: Radiocommunication and radio personnel
The Chapter was revised and
updated.
Chapter V: Special training requirements for personnel on
certain types of ships
Special requirements were
introduced concerning the training and qualifications of personnel on board
ro-ro passenger ships. Previously the only special requirements in the
Convention concerned crews on tankers. This change was made in response to
proposals made by the Panel of Experts set up to look into ro-ro safety
following the capsize and sinking of the ferry Estonia in September 1994.
Crews on ro-ro ferries have to receive training in technical aspects and also in
crowd and crisis management and human behaviour.
Chapter VI:
Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and survival functions
The Chapter incorporates the previous Chapter VI: Proficiency in
survival craft and includes mandatory minimum requirements for familiarization,
basic safety training and instruction for all seafarers; mandatory minimum
requirements for the issue of certificates of proficiency in survival craft,
rescue boats and fast rescue boats; mandatory minimum requirements for training
in advanced firefighting; and mandatory minimum requirements relating to medical
first aid and medical care.
Chapter VII: Alternative certification
Regulations regarding alternative certification (also
known as the functional approach) are included in a new Chapter VII. This
involves enabling crews to gain training and certification in various
departments of seafaring rather than being confined to one branch (such as deck
or engine room) for their entire career.Although it is a relatively new concept,
the 1995 Conference was anxious not to prevent its development. At the same
time, the new Chapter is intended to ensure that safety and the environment are
not threatened in any way. The use of equivalent educational and training
arrangements is permitted under article IX.
Chapter VIII: Watchkeeping
Measures were
introduced for watchkeeping personnel to prevent fatigue. Administrations are
required to establish and enforce rest periods for watchkeeping personnel and to
ensure that watch systems are so arranged that the efficiency of watchkeeping
personnel is not impaired by fatigue.
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.
The 1997 Amendments
Adoption: June
1997
Entry into force: 1 January 1999
The amendments concern
training for personnel on passenger ships. The amendments include an additional
Regulation V/3 in Chapter V on Mandatory minimum requirements for the
training and qualifications of masters, officers, ratings and other personnel on
passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships. Related additions are also
made to the STCW Code, covering Crowd management training; Familiarization
training; Safety training for personnel providing direct service to passengers
in passenger spaces; Passenger safety; and Crisis management and human behaviour
training.
The 1998 Amendments
Adoption: 9
December 1998
Entry into force: 1 January 2003 (under tacit
acceptance)
Amendments to the STCW Code are aimed at improving minimum
standards of competence of crews, in particular relating to cargo securing,
loading and unloading on bulk carriers, since these procedures have the
potential to put undue stresses on the ship's structure. The amendments concern
sections A-II/1 and A-II/2 under "Cargo handling and stowage at the operational
and management levels".
The White List
The first so-called “White List” of
countries deemed to be giving “full and complete effect” to the revised STCW
Convention (STCW 95) was published by IMO following the 73rd session of the
Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), meeting from 27 November to 6
December 2000.
It is expected that ships flying flags of countries that
are not on the White List will be increasingly targeted by Port State Control
inspectors. A Flag state Party that is on the White List may, as a matter of
policy, elect not to accept seafarers with certificates issued by non White List
countries for service on its ships. If it does accept such seafarers, they will
be required by 1 February 2002 also to have an endorsement, issued by the flag
state, to show that their certificate is recognized by the flag state.
By
1 February 2002, masters and officers should hold STCW 95 certificates or
endorsements issued by the flag State. Certificates issued and endorsed under
the provisions of the 1978 STCW Convention will be valid until their expiry
date.
The list will be kept under review and may be added to as other
countries meet the criteria for inclusion.