ISF AND ICS WELCOME STCW CONVENTION CHANGES
ISF and ICS are the principal international employers’ organisation and trade association for ship operators. Their membership comprises national shipowners’ associations from 34 countries representing all sectors and trades and over 75% of the world merchant fleet.
Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) were today adopted by governments at an IMO Diplomatic Conference in Manila, Philippines. The International Shipping Federation (ISF) and its member national associations – many of whom were also represented at the Conference – have led maritime employers throughout the comprehensive review process. ISF’s sister organisation, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), provided technical and operational advice.
“We are confident that the wide ranging package of changes agreed will further enhance maritime training and the seafaring profession, and contribute to making it even safer.” said ISF/ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe.
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ISF and ICS made several detailed proposals during the review; much of this input has been incorporated in the revised STCW Convention including leadership and teamwork training requirements for officers, the development of new competence standards for the grade of Able Seafarer, and suggestions for the improvement of awareness of safety procedures amongst tanker personnel. ISF has also supported the requirement for training record books for deck, engine and electro-technical ratings to ensure that they will also benefit from properly structured on board training. At the Conference itself, ISF helped ensure that minimum standards of medical fitness for seafarers were adopted that will be appropriate in the modern profession.
The most contentious issue to be resolved in Manila concerned the harmonization of IMO minimum rest hour requirements with the ILO Maritime Labour Convention. As a direct result of proposals submitted to the Conference by ISF, both daily and weekly exceptions to the minimum rest hour periods – with appropriate safeguards – have been maintained, while strong requirements for the recording, monitoring and enforcement of the minimum rest hour provisions have also been added.
“We are very pleased that governments have responded to employers’ arguments about the need for flexibility to ensure safe and efficient operations during short term peak workloads” said Peter Hinchliffe. “With the strengthened mandatory recording requirement we now expect increased focus from Port State Control on minimum rest hour compliance, particularly with the ILO Maritime Labour Convention also coming into force soon.”
The Manila amendments are adopted during the IMO ‘Year of the Seafarer’. ISF and ICS welcome the Conference Resolution which henceforth establishes the 25 June, every year, as the ‘Day of the Seafarer’ (25 June being the day when the revised STCW Convention was adopted).
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Peter Hinchliffe added:
“ISF and ICS have been heavily involved with the STCW revision. ISF in particular now has an ambitious programme to develop guidance materials, and to update its widely used training record books, to help ensure full implementation and compliance by the industry with these important new amendments.”
Notes
The Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and Code will enter into force on the 1 January 2012, with full compliance required by 1 January 2017.
ISF has produced a special brochure to mark the IMO ‘Year of the Seafarer’ – see www.marisec.org