Chapter01











1        
introduction

1.1    
About STCW

International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as
amended, sets qualification standards for masters, officers, and watch going
personnel on seagoing merchant ships. STCW was adopted in 1978 by conference at
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, and entered into force
in 1984. The Convention was significantly amended in 1995. The 133 current
state-parties to the Convention represent approximately 98 percent of the
worldłs merchant vessel tonnage.

 

1.1.1  Limitations
discovered

Between 1984
and 1992, significant limitations to the 1978 Convention became apparent. Many
people felt that the Convention included vague requirements that were left to
the discretion of parties to the Convention. Others felt that there were
growing problems with: (a) a lack of clear standards of competence, (b) no IMO
oversight of compliance, (c) limited port state control, and (d) inadequacies
that did not address modern shipboard functions. Meanwhile, the U.S. deferred
ratification efforts and worked for almost a decade to effect necessary changes
to our licensing regulations.

 

1.1.2      
Amendments adopted in 1995

On July 7, 1995, a conference of parties to
the Convention, meeting at IMO headquarters in London, adopted the package of
amendments to STCW. The amendments entered force on February 1, 1997.

 

 

1.1.3      
Effective dates

The provisions of the Convention not tied to
individual mariner certification became effective when the IFR (Interim Final
Rule) was published. However, provision was made for certain new requirements
to be introduced over a longer period. Full implementation is required by
February 1, 2002. For issuance of licenses and documents, the effective dates
of the new requirements will be according to transitional guidance published by
the STW Subcommittee. Mariners already holding licenses have the option to
renew those licenses in accordance with the old rules of the 1978 Convention
during the period ending on February 1, 2002. Mariners entering training
programs after August 1, 1998 are required to meet the competency standards of
the new 1995 Amendments. For persons seeking original licenses, the Coast Guard
anticipates that most new training requirements will be incorporated into
courses approved by the Coast Guard, or by equivalent courses. To ensure that
the competency objectives of the 1995 amendments are met, parties must
implement quality assurance programs, with IMO reviewing each partiesł national
program. Again, this represents a fundamental change in thinking for the
international community. It will be mandatory that the "pulse" of the
new system be checked on a recurring basis to ensure its "good
health."

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1.4      
Familiarization training:

Both the STCW Convention and the U.S.
implementing regulations use the term familiarization
training or similar terminology five different ways:

 

a.      Companies
are required to ensure that seafarers who are newly assigned to a ship are familiarized with their specific
duties and with all ship arrangements, installations, equipment, procedures and
ship characteristics that are relevant to their routine or emergency duties.
Written instructions are to be issued by the company to each ship to ensure
this ship-specific familiarization takes
place.



b.      All
persons who are employed or engaged on a seagoing ship other than passengers
are required to receive approved
familiarization training in personal survival techniques or receive
sufficient information and instruction to be able to take care of themselves
and take proper action when an emergency condition develops. This includes
locating and donning a lifejacket, knowing what to do if a person falls
overboard, and closing watertight doors.

 

 

c.      
Officers
and ratings who are assigned specific duties and responsibilities related to
cargo or cargo equipment on tankers must complete an approved tanker
familiarization course if they have not had a minimum period of seagoing
service on tankers.



d.      Masters,
officers and other personnel who are assigned specific duties and
responsibilities on board ro-ro passenger ships must complete familiarization training which covers
subjects such as operational limitations of ro-ro ships, procedures for opening
and closing hull openings, stability, and emergency procedures.

 



e.      Masters,
officers and other personnel who are assigned specific duties and
responsibilities on board passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships must
complete familiarization training
which covers operational limitations of passenger ships.

 

 

1.2  The course

 

ð   
The International Convention on Standards
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 78/95), which
contains mandatory minimum requirements for training and qualifications of masters, officers and ratings of
chemical tankers.

 

ð   
This training is divided into two parts:

 

ð   
Level 1: Chemical tanker familiarization
- a basic safety training course for officers and ratings who are to have
specific duties and responsibilities relating to cargo and cargo equipment

Level 1
training can also be covered through an appropriate period of supervised
shipboard service where an approved shipboard training programme is conducted
by qualified personnel

 

 

ð   
Level 2: Advanced training programme on
liquefied gas tanker operations. An
advanced training programme for masters, officers and others who are to have immediate
responsibilities for cargo handling and cargo equipment.

In addition to level 2 training, such personnel must have completed
level 1 and have relevant experience on liquefied gas tankers before signing on
to these positions on board

 



ð   


This course covers the requirements for level 1 and level 2 training required
by STCW 95 Chapter V Regulation V/1 - 1.2, 2.2 and Section A-V/1 regulations
15 - 21
 
For more course information
click the "Correspondance course" button on the menu of this CBT.