The 6th session of IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 6), held from 29 April to 3 May, marked progress with the review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995, which entered into force in 2012.
Progress was made with the review of all chapters and the preparation of an associated new STCW-F Code,
…IMO informed.
A work plan agreed by the Sub-Committee envisages finalization of the revised Convention and new STCW-F Code in the second half of 2021.
Approval by the MSC is expected in mid-2022 and adoption of the revised STCW-F Convention and Code in late 2022.
The Convention is a key pillar among the international instruments on fishing vessel safety. Fishing is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. It is estimated that thousands of fishers lose their lives every year.
As such, IMO has been working to address fishing vessel safety for many decades. In collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), IMO has developed and revised a series of non-mandatory instruments which address the design, construction and equipment of fishing vessels, including:
- Code of Safety for Fishermen and Fishing Vessels, 2005;
- Revised Voluntary Guidelines for the design, construction and equipment of small fishing vessels, 2005;
- Safety recommendations for decked fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length and undecked fishing vessels; and
- Implementation Guidelines on Part B of the Code, the Voluntary Guidelines and the Safety Recommendations (Implementation Guidelines).
During the HTW 6 meeting of next week, the Sub-Committee also agreed to establish a joint International Labour Organization (ILO) /IMO Working Group to develop guidelines on the medical examination of fishing vessels’ personnel.
