STCW - Purpose and its Amendments

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978, was adopted by the International Conference on Training and Certification of Seafarers on 7 July 1978.

The Convention prescribes the minimum standards relating to training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers which countries are obliged to meet or exceed.

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.

Thus the aim of the STCW convention is to ensure that seafarers are trained and certified under its regime and can meet the challenges that the shipping industry will be facing in the future. All seafarers will become familiar with the structure and practical applications of the convention.

STCW Amendments:

The 1978 STCW Convention entered into force on 28 April 1984. Since then, amendments thereto have been adopted in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.

STCW 1991 Amendment:

STCW 1991 amendment is related to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and the conduct of trials, which were adopted by Resolution MSC.21(59) and entered into force on 1 December 1992.

STCW 1994 Amendment:

STCW 1994 Amendment on Special training requirements for personnel on tankers was adopted by resolution MSC.33(63) and entered into force on 1 January 1996.

STCW 1995 Amendments:

STCW 1995 amendment was adopted by resolution 1 of a Conference Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, which was convened by the IMO and met at the Headquarters of the Organization from 26 June to 7 July 1995. 

The 1995 STCW Conference adopted the Seafarers Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code.

The STCW Code contains, in :    

1. 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 
2. 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.

STCW 1997 Amendments:

STCW 1997 amendment, to the Convention and to part A of the Code, relating to the training of personnel on passenger and ro-ro passenger ships, were adopted by resolutions MSC.66(68) and entered into force on 1 January 2003.

STCW 1998 Amendments:

STCW 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.

STCW 2004 Amendments:

STCW May 2004 amendments, to part A of the code, adjusting certificates and endorsements, were adopted by resolution MSC.156(78). 

STCW December 2004 amendments, to part A of the code, taking into account on-load and off-load devices in competence relating to survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats, were adopted by resolution MSC.180(79). 

Both the May and December amendments entered into force on 1 July 2006.

STCW 2006 Amendments:

The STCW 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. 

STCW 2010 Amendments: (Click here to know more)

The STCW 2010 Amendments, to 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. Thus STCW 2010 Amendments also known as Manila amendments, came into force on 1 January 2012

The technical amendments were made to update the regulation of the annex, as well as to Part A (mandatory) and Part B (guidance) of the STCW Code.

The Manila amendments were essential to ensure that standards of training for merchant seafarers advanced to meet the evolving technological and operational requirements on board ships.

STCW 2014 Amendments:

The STCW 2014 Amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.373(93) and MSC.374(93). The amendments updated Chapter 1 (General Provisions) to the STCW Convention and Chapter 1 (Standards regarding general provisions) to the STCW Code, Part A, which entered into force on 1 January 2016.

STCW 2015 Amendments:

The STCW 2015 Amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.396(95) and MSC.397(95). The amendments updated Chapter 1 (General Provisions), regulations l/1 and l/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, which entered into force on 1 January 2017.

STCW 2016 Amendments:

The STCW 2016 Amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.416(97) and MSC.417(97). The amendments updated Chapter 1 (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, which entered into force on 1 July 2018.

STCW 2018 Amendments:

The STCW 2018 Amendments were adopted by resolution MSC.455 (100) on 6 December 2018. The amendment to Part B of the STCW Code which updated Chapter V (Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships). 

Reference:

IMO Publications & Documents - International Conventions - STCW - International convention on Standards of training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.