Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), 2nd session, 2-6 February 2015
STCW revisions to accommodate Polar Code developed
Requirements for the training and certification of personnel serving on board ships operating in Polar waters were agreed by the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), when it met for its second session.
The draft amendments provide training and certification requirements for officers and crew serving on board ships operating in polar waters in chapter V of the STCW Convention and Code to reflect the training requirements in the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), The STCW amendments will be forwarded to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval and subsequent adoption.
The Polar Code was adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee at its 94th session (MSC 94) in November 2014. The Polar Code and related SOLAS (and MARPOL) amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2017.
Model courses validated
The Sub-Committee validated three updated and revised model courses on: Advanced Training for Oil Tanker Cargo Operations; Advanced Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations and Maritime English.
The Sub-Committee also endorsed an MSC-MEPC circular on Guidelines for the development, review and validation of model courses for approval by the Committees, which aim to update and standardize the process by which model courses are developed, reviewed and validated.
ECDIS good practice guidance endorsed
The Sub-Committee endorsed the provisions related to ECDIS training and the use of simulators in the draft MSC circular on ECDIS - Guidance for good practice, for approval by the MSC.
The Guidance, which incorporates and updates previously issued circulars relating to ECDIS, including advice on addressing operating anomalies, maintenance and training, had previously been endorsed by the Sub-Committee on Navigations, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR).
Passenger ship specific training amendments endorsed in principle
The Sub-Committee agreed, in principle, to draft amendments to regulation V/2 and section A-V/2 of the STCW Convention and Code, related to Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and qualifications of masters, officers, ratings and other personnel on passenger ships.
The amendments, would require personnel serving on board passenger ships to have completed passenger ship emergency familiarization appropriate to their capacity, duties and responsibilities
They would also require Masters, officers, ratings and other personnel designated on the muster lists to assist passengers in emergency situations on board passenger ships to undergo passenger ship crowd management training
New sections in the STCW code Section A-V/2 Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and qualification of masters, officers, ratings and other personnel on passenger ships would cover “Passenger ship emergency familiarization” and “Safety training for personnel providing direct service to passengers in passenger spaces”.
The Sub-Committee agreed to further review the draft amendments which are expected to be finalized at the next session.
The review of the passenger ship training requirements is part of the long-term action plan on passenger ship safety agreed following the Costa Concordia incident in January 2012.
Revision of fatigue guidance initiated
The review of the IMO guidelines on fatigue was initiated, with the Sub-Committee agreeing the work should be completed over the next two sessions. It was agreed that the review should take a holistic approach, taking into account a risk based approach; the impact of fatigue at all levels (i.e. all stakeholders); and that the outcome should provide practical tools for fatigue management.
IMO adopted Assembly resolution A.772(18) on fatigue factors in manning and safety, in 1993. This was followed with the development of comprehensive guidance on fatigue mitigation and management, including guidelines on fatigue in nine modules, which was issued in 2001. The MSC in 2014 agreed on the need to review and update the guidelines.
Guidelines for port State control officers on the ISM Code endorsed
The Sub-Committee endorsed draft Guidelines for port State control officers on the ISM Code, for submission to the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) for review and then to MSC 96 and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) for approval.
Guidelines in relation to the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form endorsed
The Sub-Committee endorsed training related provisions in the draft MSC Circular on Guidelines on consolidated IMO provisions for the safe carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form by sea and invited the MSC to forward them to the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) for review and finalization, with a view to subsequent approval by the Committee.
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