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Module 6. Initial Activity

The document discusses the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. It provides: 1) A brief history of STCW, including its adoption in 1978 and subsequent amendments in 1995 and 2010 to update training standards and address new technologies and security threats. 2) An explanation that STCW was created by the IMO to standardize seafarer training certification globally in order to improve safety and coordination between nations. 3) A summary of the key goals of the 1995 and 2010 amendments, which focused on administrative improvements, updating standards for new technologies, and adding security training.

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38 views

Module 6. Initial Activity

The document discusses the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. It provides: 1) A brief history of STCW, including its adoption in 1978 and subsequent amendments in 1995 and 2010 to update training standards and address new technologies and security threats. 2) An explanation that STCW was created by the IMO to standardize seafarer training certification globally in order to improve safety and coordination between nations. 3) A summary of the key goals of the 1995 and 2010 amendments, which focused on administrative improvements, updating standards for new technologies, and adding security training.

Uploaded by

Jervis Hautea G-Gateway
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Philippine Merchant Marine Academy

Graduate School, Manila

GMPR
Engr. Ryan Allison Ferrer

NAME(S) OF STUDENT(S)
Jervis Hautea

11 Mar 2023
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
Graduate School, Manila

Module 6: Initial Activity.

Answer the following questions. 

1. What is STCW?

Answer: STCW Convention stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and


Watchkeeping. The reason for them is, among other things, to keep you, a seafarer,
safe while at sea.

The standards were first adopted in 1978; to come into force they had to be ratified
by 25 nations, with the condition that these nations had at least 25% of the gross
world tonnage of ships 100 gross tons or more. The standards came into effect in
April 1984 when the condition was met. Amendments were made in 1995 that came
into force in February 1997. Further amendments were adopted in 2010 and came
into force in January 2012. As of 2018, 164 nations, representing 99.2 percent of
world shipping tonnage, have ratified the STCW.

The standards are enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which
was created in 1948 and came into force in 1958. In addition to enforcing the STCW,
the IMO has created and/or oversees numerous international agreements
concerning the seas, including the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea (SOLAS), the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), and the
Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts (SUA) Against the Safety of
Maritime Navigation.

Prior to 1978, standards for training of seafarers, certification standards,


watchkeeping standards, and other standards for seafarers were put in place by the
various states that had merchant fleets. Consequently, standards differed
significantly even though the merchant fleets operated in the same waters and ports.
Further, ships are often crewed by seafarers who are not nationals of the country in
which the ships are registered, and of course, the seafarers are commonly not
nationals of the numerous countries in which port calls are made by any one ship. As
a result, there were occasional issues with ships being delayed in ports and disputes
between nations regarding enforcement of standards, not to mention safety issues.
By 1978, with shipping tonnage growing, it was time to deal with these issues.

MARITIME SAFETY Page


Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
Graduate School, Manila

The 1995 amendments were mostly administrative in nature, especially with respect
to nations better communicating with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
to allow it to better oversee and enforce the standards.

The 2010 amendments were aimed primarily at keeping seafarers current with new
technology and also added security training in light of increased problems with the
hijacking of ships by pirates. The list of changes included:

 Measures designed to reduce fraud regarding certifications and greater


monitoring of compliance with the convention;

 New standards with respect to work and rest hours, medical fitness
requirements, and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse;

 New training and certification requirements for able seafarers and electro-
technical officers, and for all crew in marine environment awareness,
leadership and teamwork, and security including what to do during a pirate
attack;

 New recommended training for crew operating Dynamic Positioning Systems,


for the crew onboard vessels steaming in polar waters, and related to new
technologies such as electronic charts and information systems (ECDIS);

 Updated competence requirement for all crew serving on all types of tankers.

Thus, safety as sea through better oversight by the IMO was the main goal of the
1995 amendments, safety by way of improved standards and training for the crew
were the main goals of the 2010 amendments.

2. Why is there a need for a standard training, certification and watchkeeping for
seafarers?
Answer:  A standard training like this ensures that every crew member
aboard has the required level of training which will make him an asset in
time of need, rather than a liability. Another reason that makes STCW
training certification a complete mandatory factor is that it is a standard
procedure followed in the same way all over the world. This means all the
crew members would be aware of the same standard procedure of safety

MARITIME SAFETY Page


Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
Graduate School, Manila

techniques making survival procedures more coordinated and chances of


survival better.

The main aim of STCW training certification is to set an internationally


accepted standard set of safety measures which can be implemented by
seafarers all over the world and will make them capable of handling any
situation, no matter what part of the world they are in. This aim makes this
training suitable enough to be deemed highly important aspect of every
seafarer’s knowledge.
The reason why seafarers cannot sail without STCW 95 training is the most
obvious one- for their own safety. Considering the minimal level of risks
involved in a maritime career, it is important that every seafarer is trained
properly in each possible aspect of maritime training that could help him
face the troubles out on seas. It was with this consideration that STCW
training certification was introduced and has been made mandatory since
then.

References:

https://www.maritimeskillsacademy.com/stcw-convention-explained/

MARITIME SAFETY Page

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