Security Levels

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

General Introduction & Resolution
PART A: TOC | Intro | Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8
PART B: TOC | Intro | Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8

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.)

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