International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995

Entry into force: 29 September 2012

 

STCW-F  Background 

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (STCW-F 1995), entered into force on 29 September 2012. 

The 1995 STCW-F Convention sets the certification and minimum training requirements for crews of seagoing fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and above. The Convention consists of 15 Articles and an annex containing technical regulations.

The STCW-F Convention is the first to establish basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel on an international level. The Convention prescribes minimum standards relating to training, certification and watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, which countries are obliged to meet or exceed.

It has been estimated that annually more than 24.000 lives are lost world-wide during fishing operations which is a most deploring record indeed. The IMO recognises the need for a response to the safety crisis in the fishing industry and has a number of instruments addressing the issue. One of these instruments is the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), which was adopted by IMO in 1995, and is expected to bring considerable benefits and advantages to the fishing industry i.e. improving the quality of education and training provided to personnel employed in fishing vessels; and enhancing the standard of training and safety in the fishing industry and fishing vessel fleets.

The STCW-F Convention is intended to contribute to the reduction of casualties, and will go a long way to improve the present poor safety record of the global fishing industry. The STCW-F Convention applies to personnel serving on board seagoing fishing vessels entitled to fly the flag of a Party. It sets the regulatory framework for the training and certification of personnel employed on board fishing vessels with a view to improving the safety of life and property at sea in the fishing industry. As the first set of international mandatory training standards for crew manning and operating fishing vessels, the maritime community hopes that it has the desired impact and effect. However, it is important to note and bear in mind that the STCW-F Convention does not actually deal with manning issues as such, which is crucial and should make ratification and implementation easier for all concerned.

The STCW-F Convention is comparatively short and consists of 15 Articles and an annex containing technical regulations in four chapters:

Chapter I contains General Provisions;

Chapter II deals with Certification of Skippers, Officers, Engineer Officers and Radio Operators;

Chapter III deals with basic safety training for all fishing vessel personnel; and

Chapter IV deals with watchkeeping

The 1995 STCW-F Convention is currently being comprehensive reviewed by the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping in order to align the standards of the Convention with the current state of the fishing industry, and to make available an effective instrument, which will contribute to addressing the significant challenges of this sector.

* For the status of ratification of STCW-F Convention including global tonnage figures, please refer to the Status of Treaties Module of GISIS:

visit GISIS website(https://gisis.imo.org) > Status of Treaties > Reports > Status of Treaties > By treaty, and select STCW-F 1995. The status of ratification of STCW 1978 Convention is also available by selecting STCW 1978.

Other related documents:

 

Previously, efforts to improve the training, certification and watchkeeping standards of fishing vessel personnel have been adopted as recommendations in Assembly resolutions and the Document for Guidance on Fishermens' Training and Certification produced jointly by IMO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Document for Guidance took account of the conventions and recommendations adopted by ILO and IMO and the wide practical experience of FAO in the field of fishermen’s training and covered training and certification of small-scale and industrial fishermen. In 1995 a joint working group, in co-operation with FAO and ILO, reviewed the Document for Guidance with particular reference to relevant resolutions of the STCW-F Convention.

The outcome was a revised document entitled Document for Guidance on Training and Certification of Fishing Vessel Personnel, which was approved by FAO, ILO and IMO in 2000 and published on behalf of the three organizations by IMO in 2001.

Document for Guidance on Training and Certification of Fishing Vessel Personnel

Previously, efforts to improve the training, certification and watchkeeping standards of fishing vessel personnel have been adopted as recommendations in Assembly resolutions and the Document for Guidance on Fishermens' Training and Certification produced jointly by IMO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Document for Guidance took account of the conventions and recommendations adopted by ILO and IMO and the wide practical experience of FAO in the field of fishermen’s training and covered training and certification of small-scale and industrial fishermen. In 1995 a joint working group, in co-operation with FAO and ILO, reviewed the Document for Guidance with particular reference to relevant resolutions of the STCW-F Convention.

The outcome was a revised document entitled Document for Guidance on Training and Certification of Fishing Vessel Personnel, which was approved by FAO, ILO and IMO in 2000 and published on behalf of the three organizations by IMO in 2001.

Fishing vessel safety code and voluntary guidelines

A resolution adopted by the Committee on Conditions of Work in the Fishing Industry, which was convened by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in December 1962 to study certain aspects of working conditions of crew on fishing vessels, recommended the creation of a practical international code dealing with navigational, operational and occupational aspects of safety of fishing vessels and crew, and urged ILO in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMO) to examine the possibility establishing a suitable body to prepare such a code.

Following the above agreement, it was agreed that the Code shouldbe divided into two parts: Part A for skippers and crews, and Part B for fishing vessel builders and owners. Draft contributions to the Code of Safety for Fishermen and Fishing Vessels were prepared by FAO, ILO and IMO.

Part A of the Code was adopted by the first session of the Joint FAO/ILO/IMO Meeting of Consultants on Safety on Board Fishing Vessels which was held at ILO Headquarters in Geneva in September 1968, provides guidance on the development of national codes and fishermen's education and training manuals and guidance on the safety and health of fishermen. Competent authorities are encouraged to make use of the contents of the Code and the Voluntary Guidelines in the production of safety and health and training materials in an appropriate format to suit the particular needs of the fisheries of the country or region and in local languages.

Later amendments to Part A were approved by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its thirtieth session in the Spring of 1973. At the same session, the Committee approved the final text of Part B which was endorsed by the FAO Council at its 64th session (Autumn 1974) and also endorsed by the Governing Body of the ILO at its 195th session (February 1975). This Part provides guidance on safety and health requirements for the construction and equipment of fishing vessels.