'Seafarers the lubricant without which the engine of trade would grind to a halt'
Amendments to the International Convention and Code on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
At the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) diplomatic conference held in Manila, Philippines, in June, amendments to the International Convention and Code on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), were agreed.
The amendments ensure that the necessary global standards will be in place to train and certify seafarers to operate technologically advanced ships for the forseeable future.
The changes, which come into effect on 1 January, 2012, include: revised requirements on hours of work and rest; new requirements relating to training in modern technology, such as electronic charts and information systems; new requirements for marine environment awareness training, and training in leadership and teamwork; new training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers; and new requirements for security training, as well as provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly trained to cope if their ship comes under attack by pirates.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the gathering of merchant navy training ships in the bay of Manila, Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the IMO, emphasised the importance of seafarers being properly trained.
“Hundreds of millions of people all over the world rely on ships to transport the great multitude of goods on which we all depend,” he said, “ and the same can be said of the seafarers, despite the fact that the world economy depends utterly on their services.
“Seafarers are, in effect, the lubricant without which the engine of trade would simply grind to a halt.”
Mitropoulos said the industry cannot ignore the shortage of new recruits and that fewer young people seem to find seafaring an attractive profession.
“Dedicated training ships can, and do, play a positive and beneficial role. They have the ability to take on almost iconic status, and their presence can inspire young people to pursue a career at sea,” he said.
The amendments ensure that the necessary global standards will be in place to train and certify seafarers to operate technologically advanced ships for the forseeable future.
The changes, which come into effect on 1 January, 2012, include: revised requirements on hours of work and rest; new requirements relating to training in modern technology, such as electronic charts and information systems; new requirements for marine environment awareness training, and training in leadership and teamwork; new training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers; and new requirements for security training, as well as provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly trained to cope if their ship comes under attack by pirates.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the gathering of merchant navy training ships in the bay of Manila, Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the IMO, emphasised the importance of seafarers being properly trained.
“Hundreds of millions of people all over the world rely on ships to transport the great multitude of goods on which we all depend,” he said, “ and the same can be said of the seafarers, despite the fact that the world economy depends utterly on their services.
“Seafarers are, in effect, the lubricant without which the engine of trade would simply grind to a halt.”
Mitropoulos said the industry cannot ignore the shortage of new recruits and that fewer young people seem to find seafaring an attractive profession.
“Dedicated training ships can, and do, play a positive and beneficial role. They have the ability to take on almost iconic status, and their presence can inspire young people to pursue a career at sea,” he said.
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