TECHNICAL REGULATORY NEWS No.

04/2023 – STATUTORY

IMO SUB-COMMITTEE ON HUMAN ELEMENT,

TRAINING AND WATCHKEEPING (HTW 9)
Relevant for shipowners, managers, seafarers, maritime training institutes and flag states. February 2023

The 9th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 9) was held
from 6 to 10 February 2023. HTW 9 finalized its comprehensive review of the 1995 STCW-F Convention to
improve the training provisions for fishing vessel personnel. A comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW
Convention and Code was initiated, and several model courses were validated.

The following model courses are now validated and will be published
soon:
• NEW: Passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity training
• NEW Engine-room resource management
• 1.20 on Fire prevention and fire fighting
• 1.22 on Bridge Resource Management (replaces the former Ship
Simulator and Bridge Teamwork)
• 1.23 on Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast
rescue boats
• 1.24 on Proficiency in fast rescue boats
• 2.03 on Advanced training in firefighting
• 3.25 on Security awareness training for all port facility personnel
• 3.26 on Security training for seafarers with designated security
duties
• 3.27 on Security awareness training for all seafarers
Meeting highlights
• Validation of model courses
For the next two years, the following courses are planned for review
• Finalized the review of the STCW-F Convention and Code
and validation:
• Initiated a comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and
• 1.32 Operational use of integrated bridge systems including
Code
integrated navigational systems (2024)
• Prepared draft amendments to the STCW Code on competency to
• 1.35 Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker cargo and ballast
prevent and respond to bullying and harassment, including sexual
handling simulator (2024)
assault and sexual harassment (SASH)
• 3.20 Company security officer (2025)
• 3.21 Port facility security officer (2025)
The role of the human element
• 3.23 Actions to be taken to prevent acts of piracy and armed
The Maritime Safety Committee has invited all relevant IMO bodies to
robbery (2025)
assess their respective involvement in the human element within their
• 1.25 General Operator’s Certificate (GOC) (2025)
remit and report back to the committee with a view to devising an
• 1.26 Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC) for the GMDSS (2025)
outline for a holistic approach on the human element, taking into
account resource and budgetary implications within the IMO. In this
Carriage for use of HFO as fuel by ships in Arctic waters
regard, HTW 9 invited member states and other interested parties to
HTW 9 reviewed relevant parts of the draft guidelines on mitigation
submit papers to HTW 10 in February 2024.
measures to reduce risks of the use and the carriage for use of heavy
fuel oil (HFO) as fuel by ships in Arctic waters. Proposed amendments
Model training courses
to Section 7 regarding familiarization, training and drills will be sent to
IMO model courses intend to assist instructors in developing training
IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 10)
programmes for seafarers as per the International Convention of
in April 2023 for further consideration.
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
(STCW), 1978. The model courses are subject to regular review to
Comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code
ensure that they are consistent with the current IMO instruments and
The Maritime Safety Committee has decided to initiate a
reflect best practices and modern technologies.
comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code to
address any inconsistencies and to improve the provisions based on
HTW 9 validated a large number of model courses, as there was a
experiences and new technologies.
backlog due to time constraints in the remote sessions of the last two
years.
HTW 9 established the aims and principles to guide the review of the
STCW Convention, and a Correspondence Group was established to

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identify the specific areas to be reviewed and provide a roadmap for
Contact
the further work. The Correspondence Group will report at HTW 10 in
February 2024. For customers:
DATE – Direct Access to Technical Experts via My Services on Veracity.
An important topic discussed in this session was psychological safety, Otherwise:
where the aim is to create a safe working environment for all Use our office locator to find the nearest DNV office.
seafarers. The topic covers diverse areas: from bullying and sexual
assault and sexual harassment (SASH) to aspects such as behaviour in
emergencies, personal health, mental and physical strength, influence
of incidents on personal safety, support for colleagues, trust,
acceptance and support, as well as communication, recognition,
diversity, inclusion and, last but not least, fatigue.

The topic was identified as an important issue for adaptation of the

STCW Convention and Code and will be discussed in the next sessions
through concrete proposals to be included in the seafarers’ training
tables.

Training, certification and watchkeeping on fishing vessels

HTW 9 finalized its comprehensive review of the 1995 STCW-F
Convention and the draft of the new STCW-F Code, which will be
submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for approval.

Consequential modifications emanating from the modernization of

the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) were
considered, and it was agreed to retain the term “GMDSS” in the 1995
STCW-F Convention and the draft of the new STCW-F Code. However,
member states and international organizations were invited to submit
related proposals to MSC 107 in June 2023, and the secretariat was
invited to provide advice on the legal aspects of using the term
“GMDSS” in the context of the 1995 STCW-F Convention.

Progress was made on the draft guidelines on the medical

examination of fishing vessel personnel, which will be finalized by the
Joint ILO/IMO Working Group on the Medical Examination of Fishing
Vessel Personnel.

Electronic certificates and documents for seafarers

Seafarers’ certificates and documents are, to an increasing extent,
available electronically. The draft guideline on the use of electronic
certificates was considered, and it was agreed to not make any
amendments to the draft prepared at HTW 8.

The draft guidelines will be submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for
approval in conjunction with the adoption of the related amendments
to the STCW Convention and Code.

Recommendation
As HTW is a Sub-Committee, all decisions concerning rules,
regulations and dates are subject to further consideration and
approval by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and the Marine
Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), as relevant. DNV
recommends that our customers monitor the outcome of MSC 107 in
June 2023.

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