STCW Convention

{{Short description|Convention to set standards for seafarers}}

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{{Infobox Treaty

| name = STCW

| long_name = International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers

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| date_signed = 7 July 1978{{Cite web|url=https://www.edumaritime.net/stcw|title=STCW Convention|website=edumaritime.net}}

| location_signed = London, UK

| date_sealed =

| date_effective = 28 April 1984

| condition_effective = 25 ratifications, the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping of ships of 100 gross tonnage or more

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| signatories =

| parties = 164

| depositor = Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization

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| languages = English, French, Russian and Spanish

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International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) sets minimum qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships and large yachts.{{Cite web|url=https://ypicrew.com/yacht-work-advice/job-qualifications/|title=What Qualifications do you Need to Work on a Yacht? |publisher=YPI CREW |language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-18}} STCW was adopted in 1978 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conference in London, and entered into force in 1984. The convention was significantly amended in 1995 and 2010, and entered into force on 1 January 2012.

The 1978 STCW Convention Caruso was the first to establish minimum basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers on an international level. Previously the minimum 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, minimum 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.edumaritime.net/stcw-courses |title=STCW Training and Certification – A Complete List of STCW Courses |website=edumaritime.net}}

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 (SOLAS), 1974, whose requirements are backed up by resolution A.890(21) Principles of safe manning,{{Cite web |url=http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Assembly/Documents/A.890(21).pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 March 2020 |archive-date=2 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302012239/http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Assembly/Documents/A.890(21).pdf |url-status=dead }} adopted by the IMO Assembly in 1999, which replaced an earlier resolution A.481(XII){{Cite web |url=http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Assembly/Documents/A.481(12).pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 March 2020 |archive-date=2 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302012237/http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Assembly/Documents/A.481(12).pdf |url-status=dead }} adopted in 1981 and has since been itself replaced by resolution A.1047(27) Principles of Minimum Safe Manning,{{Cite web |url=http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Assembly/Documents/A.1047(27).pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 March 2020 |archive-date=2 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302012238/http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Assembly/Documents/A.1047(27).pdf |url-status=dead }} adopted by the IMO Assembly in 2011.

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 2018, the STCW Convention had 164 parties, representing 99.2 per cent of world shipping tonnage.