The 1978 STCW Convention
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) was adopted on 7 July 1978 and entered into force on 28 April 1984. Amended in 1995 and again in 2010, this convention aims to improve the safety of human life at sea and the protection of the marine environment by defining standards of competence (relating to the training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers) applicable to seafarers worldwide.
The 1995 Amendments, adopted by a conference, entered into force on 1 February 1997. This complete revision of the Convention included the division of the Technical Annex into Regulations, by chapter as before, and a new STCW Code comprising two parts. Part A was mandatory, and Part B contained recommendations. In addition, Parties to the Convention were required to provide the IMO with detailed information on the administrative measures taken to ensure compliance with the Convention.
The 2010 Manila Amendments to the Convention and the STCW Code, adopted on 25 June 2010, marked a complete revision of the Convention and the STCW Code. Entering into force on 1 January 2012, they aim to update the Convention and Code to take account of developments since their original adoption and to give them the capacity to address issues that are likely to arise in the foreseeable future.
The STCW Convention is divided into 8 chapters as follows:
Chapter I: General Provisions
Chapter II: Master and Deck
Chapter III: Engine Service
Chapter IV: Radiocommunications and Radiocommunication Personnel
Chapter V: Special training required for personnel on certain types of ships
Chapter VI: Duties relating to emergency situations, accident prevention, medical care and survival
Chapter VII: Other certificates
Chapter VIII: Watchkeeping
For professionals in the fishing industry, the IMO has drawn up a separate convention, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F 1995). This Convention, which came into force on 29 September 2012, defines standards for the certification of personnel on fishing vessels of more than 24 metres in length and with a propulsive power of more than 750 kW.
