STCW (Standard of training, Certification, and watch keeping), 2010 was amended in Manila, Philippines.

Some important points regarding this amendment
1. It was amended in 2010.

2. It took place at Manila, Philippines.

3. It will totally enforce until 1st January 2017.

4. It starts activated from 1st January 2012.

Many aspects are covered.

1. Rest Hours (Also discussed in MLC 2006 Maritime Labor Convention)

2. COC (Certificate of Competency) for Eletro-technical officer (ETO) or (Batti sahib in Urdu/Hindi)

3. High voltage course for ships which is operated above 1000 Voltage. (It is adopted because this voltage is lethal and requires extra parameter / precaution to cover).

4. New fresh courses (validity period is 5 years for most of the courses)

5. ISPS (International Ship Port Security) security training for all seafarer.

6. Alcohol limit in blood and breath.

7. COC for able seaman (deck & engine both)

8. New and additional medical standard

9. ECDIS (electronic chart and display information system) course mandatory for deck officers

10. Update of competence requirement for personnel serving on gas tankers.

11. New training guidance for DP vessels (Dynamic Positioning)

12. Enhance training of maritime personnel by using latest technique i.e. via distance and web-based learning



STCW Convention chapters

Chapter I: General provisions
Chapter II: Master and deck department
Chapter III: Engine department
Chapter IV: Radio communication and radio personnel
Chapter V: Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships
Chapter VI: Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and survival functions
Chapter VII: Alternative certification
Chapter VIII: Watchkeeping



If I missed any point in above article. Feel free to comment. Thankyou

New SOLAS, MARPOL ammendments

A number of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)  and the 1988 Load Lines Protocol  entered into force or took effect from 1 January 2014. 

 

The amendments cover passenger ship safety (in relation to safe return to port after a flooding casualty); the testing of free-fall lifeboats; minimum safe manning levels;  prohibition of blending onboard; the revised MARPOL Annex III; the United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area; and the Winter Seasonal Zone off the southern tip of Africa.

 

2012 May SOLAS amendments
The SOLAS amendments which entered into force on 1 January 2014 include the following:

 

- amendment to SOLAS regulation II-1/8-1, to introduce a mandatory requirement for new passenger ships for either onboard stability computers or shore-based support, for the purpose of providing operational information to the Master for safe return to port after a flooding casualty;

 

- amendment to SOLAS regulation III/20.11.2 regarding the testing of free-fall lifeboats, to require that the operational testing of free-fall lifeboat release systems shall be performed either by free-fall launch with only the operating crew on board or by a simulated launching;

 

- amendment to SOLAS chapter V to add a new regulation V/14 on ships' manning, to require Administrations, for every ship, to establish appropriate minimum safe manning levels following a transparent procedure, taking into account the guidance adopted by IMO (Assembly resolution A.1047(27) on Principles of minimum safe manning); and issue an appropriate minimum safe manning document or equivalent as evidence of the minimum safe manning considered necessary;

 

- amendment to SOLAS chapter VI to add a new regulation VI/5-2, to prohibit the blending of bulk liquid cargoes during the sea voyage and to prohibit production processes on board ships;

 

- amendment to SOLAS chapter VII to replace regulation 4 on documents, covering transport information relating to the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form and the container/vehicle packing certificate; and

 

- amendment to SOLAS regulation XI-1/2 on enhanced surveys, to make mandatory the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011 (2011 ESP Code, resolution A.1049(27)).

 

2010 October MARPOL amendments
The amendments which entered into force on 1 January 2014 include a revised MARPOL Annex III Regulations for the prevention of pollution by harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form, to include changes to the Annex to coincide with the next update of the mandatory International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, specifying that goods should be shipped in accordance with relevant provisions.

 

United States Caribbean ECA now effective 
The United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area (SOx, NOx and PM) came into effect, under MARPOL Annex VI, on 1 January 2014, bringing in stricter controls on emissions of sulphur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter for ships trading in certain waters adjacent to the coasts of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.

 

The ECA was designated under MARPOL amendments adopted in July 2011. There are now four three designated ECAs in effect globally: the United States Caribbean Sea ECA and the North American ECA; and the sulphur oxide ECAs in the Baltic Sea area and the North Sea area. 
(See: MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14) 

 

Coordinates for the Caribbean Sea ECA can be found in Resolution MEPC.202(62).

Winter Seasonal Zone moved south under amendments to LL Protocol
Amendments to regulation 47 of the 1988 Protocol to the International Convention on Load Lines (LL), 1966 to shift the Winter Seasonal Zone off the southern tip of Africa further southward by 50 miles, came into effect on 1 January 2014. 

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IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

Web site: www.imo.org