National Maritime Center (NMC)
Mariner Licensing and Documentation (MLD)
ANNEX 2
SEAFARERS' TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING (STCW) CODE
PART B
RECOMMENDED GUIDANCE REGARDING PROVISIONS OFTHE STCW CONVENTION AND ITS ANNEX
Introduction
- 1 This part of the STCW Code contains recommended guidance intended
to assist Parties to the STCW Convention and those involved in
implementing, applying or enforcing its measures, to give the Convention
full and complete effect in a uniform manner.
- 2 The measures suggested are not mandatory and the examples given are
only intended to illustrate how certain Convention requirements may be
complied with. However, the recommendations in general represent an
approach to the matters concerned which has been harmonized through
discussion within IMO involving, where appropriate, consultation with
the International Labour Organization, the International
Telecommunication Union and the World Health Organization.
- 3 Observance of the recommendations contained in this part will
assist the Organization in achieving its goal of maintaining the highest
practicable standards of competence in respect of crews of all
nationalities and ships of all flags.
- 4 Guidance is provided in this part in respect of certain articles of
the Convention, in addition to guidance on certain regulations in its
Annex. The numbering of the sections of this part therefore corresponds
with that of the articles and the regulations of the Convention. As in
part A, the text of each section may be divided into numbered parts and
paragraphs, but such numbering is unique to that text alone.
GUIDANCE REGARDING PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLES
Section B-I (back to top)
Guidance regarding general obligations under the Convention
(No provisions)
Section B-II (back to top)
Guidance regarding definitions and clarifications
- 1 The definitions contained in article II of the Convention, and the
definitions and clarifications contained in regulation I/1 of its Annex,
apply equally to the terms used in parts A and B of this Code.
Supplementary definitions which apply only to the provisions of this
Code are contained in section A-I/1.
- 2 The definition of "certificate" appearing in article II (c)
provides for three possibilities:
- .1 the Administration may issue the certificate;
- .2 the Administration may have the certificate issued under its
authority; or
- .3 the Administration may recognize a certificate issued by another
Party as provided for in regulation I/10.
Section B-III (back to top)
Guidance regarding the application of the Convention
- 1 While the definition of "fishing vessel" contained in article II,
paragraph (h) excludes vessels used for catching fish, whales, seals,
walrus or other living resources of the sea from application of the
Convention, vessels not engaged in the catching activity cannot enjoy
such exclusion.
- 2 The Convention excludes all wooden ships of primitive build,
including junks.
Section B-IV (back to top)
Guidance regarding the communication of information
In paragraph (1)(b) of article IV, the words "where appropriate" are
intended to include:
- .1 the recognition of a certificate issued by another Party; or
- .2 the issue of the Administration's own certificate, where
applicable, on the basis of recognition of a certificate issued by
another Party.
Section B-V (back to top)
Guidance regarding other treaties and interpretation
The word "arrangements" in paragraph (1) of article V is intended to
include provisions previously established between States for the
reciprocal recognition of certificates.
Section B-VI (back to top)
Guidance regarding certificates
See the guidance given in sections B-II and B-I/2.
A policy statement and an outline of the procedures to be followed
should be published for the information of companies operating ships
under the flag of the Administration.
Section B-VII (back to top)
Guidance regarding transitional provisions
Certificates issued for service in one capacity which are currently
recognized by a Party as an adequate qualification for service in
another capacity, e.g. chief mate certificates recognized for service as
master, should continue to be accepted as valid for such service under
article VII. This acceptance also applies to such certificates issued
under the provisions of paragraph 2 of article VII.
Section B-VIII (back to top)
Guidance regarding dispensations
A policy statement and an outline of the procedures to be followed
should be published for the information of companies operating ships
under the flag of the Administration. Guidance should be provided to
those officials authorized by the Administration to issue dispensations.
Information on action taken should be summarized in the initial report
communicated to the Secretary-General in accordance with the
requirements of section A-I/7.
Section B-IX (back to top)
Guidance regarding equivalents
- 1 Naval certificates may continue to be accepted and certificates of
service may continue to be issued to naval officers as equivalents under
article IX, provided that the requirements of the Convention are met.
Section B-X (back to top)
Guidance regarding control
(No provisions - see section B-I/4)
Section B-XI (back to top)
Guidance regarding the promotion of technical co-operation
- 1 Governments should provide, or arrange to provide, in collaboration
with IMO, assistance to States which have difficulty in meeting the
requirements of the Convention and which request such assistance.
- 2 The importance of adequate training for masters and other personnel
serving on board oil, chemical and liquefied gas tankers and ro-ro
passenger ships is stressed, and it is recognized that in some cases
there may be limited facilities for obtaining the required experience
and providing specialized training programmes, particularly in
developing countries.
Examination database
- 3 Parties with maritime training academies or examination centres
serving several countries and wishing to establish a database of
examination questions and answers are encouraged to do so, on the basis
of bilateral co-operation with a country or countries which already have
such a database.
Availability of maritime training simulators
- 5 The IMO Secretariat maintains a list of maritime training
simulators, as a source of information for Parties and others, on the
availability of different types of simulators for training seafarers, in
particular where such training facilities may not be available to them
nationally.
- 6 Parties are urged* to provide information on their national
maritime training simulators to the IMO Secretariat and to update the
information whenever any change or addition is made to their maritime
training simulator facilities.
Information on technical co-operation
- 7 Information on technical advisory services, access to international
training institutions affiliated with IMO, and information on
fellowships and other technical co-operation which may be provided by or
through IMO may be obtained by contacting the Secretary-General at 4
Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.
(No guidance provided regarding articles XII to XVII.)
(back to top)
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