The IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), that took place 10 to 14 February 2025, concluded phase 1 of the comprehensive review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention) and the accompanying STCW Code, among other important topics.
The STCW framework establishes international requirements and standards for training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers. To remind, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 105), in April 2022, had instructed the HTW Sub-Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code in order to adapt it to new trends, developments and challenges in the maritime sector.
This process consists of two steps:
- Phase 1 to review the Convention and Code to identify gaps (focusing on 22 specific areas, including implementation, emerging technologies on ships, e-certification, mental health and gender sensitization, among others);
- Phase 2 will be a revision stage to develop amendments to address those gaps.
In completing phase 1, the Sub-Committee agreed on a list of identified gaps in the STCW Convention and Code to be addressed in Phase 2 of the comprehensive review.
Workplan for phase 2:
The Sub-Committee also agreed on a draft work plan for phase 2, and an updated road map. The workplan outlines a 10-step approach whereby the Sub-Committee will work through several chapters/sections of the STCW Convention and Code during each session, drafting new provisions and amendments to existing provisions as necessary to address identified gaps. The finalization of this work will be subject to the progress made based on the work plan and the magnitude and relevance of the amendments under consideration.
The Sub-Committee will submit the workplan and updated roadmap to the upcoming session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) with a view to approval in June of this year.
The Sub-Committee established an intersessional correspondence group to continue the work, and invited proposals for amendments to chapters 2 and 3 of the STCW Convention to be submitted to HTW 12, in accordance with the stepped approach of the work plan.
Enhancing the STCW oversight and verification process
As part of the comprehensive review, the Sub-Committee recognized that the current oversight system to ensure compliance with STCW Convention and Code was not sustainable in the long-term and required improvements.
The Sub-Committee agreed that the STCW oversight system should be integrated with the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), including audit cycles, engagement of experts and administration. It invited the Maritime Safety Committee to endorse this course of action and invited the III Sub-Committee to note the possible integration of both schemes.
In line with these agreements, interested Member States and international organizations were invited to actively participate in the ninth session of the Joint Working Group on the Member State Audit Scheme (JWGMSA 9), to be held from Wednesday, 19 to Friday, 21 March 2025.
