STCW review moves ahead
S
ubstantial progress was made on the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and STCW Code, when the Sub-Committee on Standards of Trainingand Watchkeeping met for its 39th session. Under the proposed work plan, the next Sub-Committee session (STW 40), to be held during the first half of 2009, would
make further progress on the draft text of amendments and submit the proposed amendments to MSC 86 (meeting in the first half of 2009). MSC 86 could then
authorize STW 41 to finalize such amendments for circulation before a Diplomatic Conference in 2010.
During the current session, a working group prepared preliminary draft texts of
chapter V (Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships) of the STCW Convention and STCW Code, relating to standards for personnel
serving on oil tankers; chemical tankers; gas tankers; passenger ships, including roro passenger ships; and ships of electric power plant above 1000 Volts. Preliminary
draft revised texts of chapters IV (Radiocommunications and Radio Personnel), VI (Emergency, occupational safety, security, medical care and survival functions), VII (Alternative
certification) and VIII (Watchkeeping) were also prepared.
Preliminary consideration was given to proposals related to chapters I (General provisions), II (Master and deck department) and III (Engine department).
Review of principles for establishing safe manning levels
The Sub-Committee prepared a preliminary draft revised text of resolution A.890(21), as amended, on Principles of safe manning, and reestablished a correspondence group to
progress the matter further intersessionally.
The correspondence group was tasked with developing a draft framework for determining minimum safe manning that considers effectiveness and efficiency
relating to the performance of tasks, based on scientific knowledge and expertise in areas such as man/machine interface, ship construction, training,
vessel operations and fatigue research. The draft framework should take into account the following needs identified by the working group which met during the
current session:
•
uniform implementation of the guidelines on principles of safe manning•
assistance in focusing efforts to comply with the guidelines•
providing a systematic approach•
assistance in assessing compliance•
assistance in verification•
capable of being audited•
providing transparency•
providing a more objective assessment of minimum safe manning•
comparable practice for establishing minimum safe manning•
internationally applicable criteria, and•
providing a means of effective implementation of statutory requirements.
STCW applies to FPSOs and FSUs
The Sub-Committee agreed that the requirements of the STCW Convention applied to self-propelled and detachable floating production, storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs) and floating storage units (FSUs), when they were underway, and invited MSC 85 (November-December 2008) to take this into account when deciding on the safety criteria for FPSOs and FSUs.
Model training courses
The Sub-Committee reviewed the draft model course on Familiarization Training for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker operations and agreed it should be restructured, in light of the review of chapter V of the STCW Convention and STCW Code. It will be considered for validation at the next session.