1. Comprehensive Review of the STCW Convention
Mayte Medina
Chief, Maritime Personnel Qualifications Division
Office of Operating and Environmental Standards
United States Coast Guard
September, 2009

2. Talking Points Issues associated with the Comprehensive Review
Why? What? and How? - The process
Status
Amendments
The future of the review
Concerns

3. Comprehensive Review ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE REVIEW
STCW 38 – January 2007
Identified 8 overarching parameters
Identified list of issues for consideration
STW 39 and intersessional working group – 2008
Country submissions on issues
STW 40 and intersessional working group
Major decisions on issues
Amendments to and finalization of the preliminary text
STW
Final text to the June Diplomatic Conference

4. Comprehensive Review AMENDMENTS CHAPTER II
Include emphasis on navigational technological advances
Celestial navigation
ECDIS training – Tables A-II/1, A-II/2 and A-II/3
Visual signaling – Reduced requirements - single letters/SOS
Marine environment awareness – Operational level
Bridge resource management training - Operational level
Leadership and managerial skills – management level
New regulation II/5 – Able Seafarer deck

5. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER III AMENDMENTS Competence-based training
Removal of the 30 mos. of training
Watchkeeping provisions
Harmonization of sea service requirements
Harmonization of near coastal provisions
Retained existing kW propulsion power threshold
Engine room resource management

6. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER III (cont.) AMENDMENTS
Marine environment awareness – Operational level
Leadership and managerial skills – management level
New regulation III/5 – Able Seafarer engine
Use of simulator training to assess boiler competence for ratings
Training for electro-technical officers and ratings
Two levels – one at the support level and one at the operational level

7. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER V AMENDMENTS Requirements for tankers
3 sets of requirements – oil, chemical and liquefied gas
Basic training
Tanker Fire-fighting course
Advanced training
Consolidation of requirements for passenger ships

8. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER V (cont.) AMENDMENTS
Training guidance for offshore supply vessels
Training guidance for dynamic positioning system
Training guidance for ships operating in ice-covered waters

9. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER VI AMENDMENTS
Proof of continued professional competence every five years
Assessment of competence “ASHORE” for areas that cannot be trained on board
Regulation VI/1 - Basic safety training
Regulation VI/2 –Survival craft, rescue boats, and fast rescue boats
Regulation VI/3 – Advanced fire-fighting
In service experience, drills and on/board training for other areas

10. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER VI AMENDMENTS
Basic safety training – social responsibility to include:
Environmental pollution awareness training
Fatigue awareness
Security training – Non-VSO personnel on board ships
Personnel without security duties
Personnel with security duties
Training to include general anti-piracy related information

11. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER VII AMENDMENTS
Able seafarer deck and engine

12. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER VIII AMENDMENTS Fitness for duty
Harmonization of STCW Convention with the ILO Maritime Labor Convention 2006
Hours of rest requirements
Records of hours of rest
Alcohol limits
Watchkeeping arrangements and principles
Mandatory use of BRM and ERM principles
Use of ECDIS

13. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER I AMENDMENTS
Regulation I/3 – Near Coastal Voyages
Mandatory agreements
Regulation I/6 – Training and Assessment
Guidance on distance learning and e-learning
Provided by a maritime Education and Training establishment
Allows shipping companies and/or other companies to provide training.

14. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER I (cont.) AMENDMENTS
Regulation I/9 – Medical standards (currently under discussion)
2 year - medical certificate; 1 year – medical certificate for persons under 18 yrs of age
Mandatory eye-sight standards
Standards for the assessment of physical abilities
Flexibility on the application of standards – issuance of waivers
Means for the recognition of medical practitioners
Qualifications of medical practitioners
Requirements for guidance for medical practitioners
Procedures for appeals

15. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER I (cont.) AMENDMENTS
Regulation I/14 – Responsibilities of Companies
Requirement to ensure that seafarers receive refresher and updating training
Requirement for effective communication on board

16. Comprehensive Review CHAPTER I (cont.) AMENDMENTS
Regulation I/15 – Transitional provisions
Tentative entry into force – January 2012
Will vary depending on the date the person entered the training institution or started service
1 January 2017 – Transitional date for existing mariners who commenced training/sea service prior to 1 July 2013.
1 January 2017 – Revalidate/renew certificates for existing mariners

17. Comprehensive Review FUTURE OF THE REVIEW STCW Conference – June 2010
Tentative entry into force – January 2012
Depends on the transitional provisions agreed at the Conference
Grandfather provisions – compare previous requirements with new requirements

18. Comprehensive Review US IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation through a rulemaking
Grandfather mariners
Some existing regulations already meet the 2010 amendments
Bridge resource management
Some tanker requirements

19. Contact Information
Mayte Medina
Chief, Maritime Personnel Qualifications Division
Office of Operating and Environmental Standards
US Coast Guard
(202)
Zoe Goss
Maritime Personnel Qualifications Division
(202)