Week No.

9&10
The major revisions and updates of the STCW 1978 in 1984, 1995, 2010 and 2017
1. What is STCW?
It stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. It is an
international code of standards for personnel working in the maritime industry.
Over a 125 countries has signed this convention including the United States and
those working on ships around the world are trained to meet these standards. The
standard is focused on knowledge, understanding and proficiency.

2. The important changes to each chapter of STCW Convention and Code include STCW
2010 – Manila Amendments. Explain No. 5?
Rest hour onboard has been increased from 70 hours to 77 hours per week for decent
working of seafarer onboard.
It means that rest hour of seafarers onboard incresed to 10 hours to 11 hours per
day.

3. The important changes to each chapter of STCW Convention and Code include STCW
2010 – Manila Amendments. Explain No. 10?
New methods of training in modern technology like electronic chart display and
information system (ECDIS).
It means they add a new method of training for ECDIS to improve the performance of
the ship crew who uses this modern navigational equipment.

4. The important changes to each chapter of STCW Convention and Code include STCW
2010 – Manila Amendments. Explain No. 1?
Revalidation for higher and managerial level officer for certificate of competency
(COC) issued by any governing authority.
It means there is a revalidation of certificate of competency (COC) for chief mates
and masters can be issued by any governing authority.

5. The important changes to each chapter of STCW Convention and Code include STCW
2010 – Manila Amendments. Explain No. 8?
Updated drugs and alcohol policy and stringent medical examination.
It means they add policies about drugs and alcohol so that the captain will ensure
that all crew members are aware of the regulations mentioned in the “Drug and
Alcohol Policy” so these strict restrictions on the amount and time of alcohol
consumed on ships are being followed.

6. Summarize the chapter II of 1978 Convention and was adopted in 1995 which among
those number of important changes of the Convention.

Chapter II of 1978 Convention

This chapter establishes basic principles to be observed in keeping a navigational
watch, covering such matters as watch arrangements, fitness for duty, navigation,
navigational equipment, navigational duties and responsibilities, the duties of the
look-out, navigation with a pilot on board and protection of the marine
environment.

Chapter II of 1995 Convention-Improtant Changes

New certification requirements for able seafarers;
New requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in
leadership and teamwork;
New celestial navigation, automatic radar plotting aids and radar requirements
New vessel-traffic-services training

7. Who is the IMO Secretary-General STCW 2010 amended?

The IMO Secretary-General STCW 2010 was Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos.