The International Convention on
Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 sets
qualification standards for masters,
officers and watch personnel on seagoing
merchant ships. STCW was adopted in 1978
by conference at the International
Maritime Organization in London, and
entered into force in 1984. The
Convention was significantly amended in
1995.
The 1978 STCW Convention was the first
to establish basic requirements on
training, certification and watchkeeping
for seafarers on an international level.
Previously the standards of training,
certification and watchkeeping of
officers and ratings were established by
individual governments, usually without
reference to practices in other
countries. As a result, standards and
procedures varied widely, even though
shipping is extremely international by
nature.
The Convention prescribes minimum
standards relating to training,
certification and watchkeeping for
seafarers which countries are obliged to
meet or exceed.
The Convention did not deal with manning
levels: IMO provisions in this area are
covered by regulation 14 of Chapter V of
the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, whose
requirements are backed up by resolution
A.890(21) Principles of safe manning,
adopted by the IMO Assembly in 1999,
which replaced an earlier resolution
A.481(XII) adopted in 1981.
One especially important feature of the
Convention is that it applies to ships
of non-party States when visiting ports
of States which are Parties to the
Convention. Article X requires Parties
to apply the control measures to ships
of all flags to the extent necessary to
ensure that no more favourable treatment
is given to ships entitled to fly the
flag of a State which is not a Party
than is given to ships entitled to fly
the flag of a State that is a Party.
The difficulties which could arise for
ships of States which are not Parties to
the Convention is one reason why the
Convention has received such wide
acceptance. By 2014, the STCW Convention
had 158 Parties, representing 98.8 per
cent of world shipping tonnage.
1995 revision 
On 7 July 1995 the IMO adopted a
comprehensive revision of STCW. It also
included a proposal to develop a new
STCW Code, which would contain the
technical details associated with
provisions of the Convention. The
amendments entered force on 1 February
1997. Full implementation was required
by 1 February 2002. Mariners already
holding licenses had the option to renew
those licenses in accordance with the
old rules of the 1978 Convention during
the period ending on 1 February 2002.
Mariners entering training programs
after 1 August 1998 are required to meet
the competency standards of the new 1995
Amendments.
The most significant amendments
concerned:
a) enhancement of port state control;
b) communication of information to IMO
to allow for mutual oversight and
consistency in application of standards,
c) quality standards systems, oversight
of training, assessment, and
certification procedures,
The Amendments require that seafarers be
provided with "familiarization training"
and "basic safety training" which
includes fire prevention & fire
fighting, elementary first aid, personal
survival techniques, and personal safety
and social responsibility. This training
is intended to ensure that seafarers are
aware of the hazards of working on a
vessel and can respond appropriately in
an emergency.
d) placement of responsibility on
parties, including those issuing
licenses, and flag states employing
foreign nationals, to ensure seafarers
meet objective standards of competence,
and
e) rest period requirements for
watchkeeping personnel.
Manila Amendments 
The IMO Convention on Standards of
Training Certification and Watchkeeping
of Seafarers adopted a new set of
amendments in Manila in 2010 called "The
Manila Amendments". These amendments
were necessary to keep training
standards in line with new technological
and operational requirements that
require new shipboard competencies. The
Manila Amendments were effective as of 1
January 2012. There is a transition
period until 2017 when all seafarers
must be certified and trained according
to the new standards. Implementation is
progressive, every year a modified set
of requirements comes into force. The
most significant amendments are:
New rest hours for seafarers
New grades of certificates of competence
for Able seaman in both deck and engine
New and updated training, refreshing
requirements
Mandatory security training
Additional medical standards
Specific Alcohol limits in blood or
breath.
STCW-F Convention 
On 7 July 1995, the International
Convention on Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for
Fishing Vessel Personnel was adopted as
a separate treaty as part of the
comprehensive revisions to STCW. It
applies the principles of STCW to
fishing vessels from ratifying states
that are 24 metres in length and above.
STCW-F came into force on 29 September
2012.
Notes 
References 
IMO information regarding STCW
US Coast Guard information regarding
STCW
