Seafarers

According to the STCW Convention, officers must hold a valid certificate of competence to ensure they meet the minimum requirements of competence, seagoing service time, medical fitness and age. Also, ancillary certificates are required such as radar or ARPA, GMDSS, and those referring to safety duties onboard specific types of ships.

Working on ships is a challenging profession that needs energy at all times. That is why fatigue is seen as a significant contributory factor to many incidents in shipping industry and one of the major concerns for seafarers.

In 1978, IMO adopted a landmark Convention for all seafarers across the world to establish high standards of competence and professionalism in their duties on-board. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, the STCW Convention in brief, establishes the minimum basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers on an international level.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has updated its Code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers (COSWP) 2019, which was firstly published on 4 September 2015. The Code of Safe Working Practices (COSWP) Code details the regulatory framework for health and safety on board, safety management and statutory duties underlying the advice in the Code and the areas that should be covered when introducing a recruit to the safety procedures on board.

There is a lot talk about ‘human element’ in the maritime industry; the human element, which lies at the heart of shipping, is blamed for the majority of the accidents. In this regard, the industry has taken significant steps to address human factor issues and UK MCA’s Deadly Dozen is one of them.

Three Filipino seafarers have excelled in the global shipping industry during the International Diplomatic Conference of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Manila last week. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) awarded three Filipino seafarers who have excelled in the global shipping industry during the International Diplomatic Conference of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Manila last week.According to DOLE news, the historic event marked the first time The Outstanding Filipino Seafarers Awards (TOFSA) were conferred.The awarding ceremonies were held as the Philippines hosted IMO proceedings, which will pave the way for new and updated global standards for seafaring in the 21st century.Labor Chief Marianito D Roque emphasized that TOFSA honors all Filipino seafarers by recognizing particular seamen who have served as models through their outstanding skills, competence, and qualities, contributing to the growth and development of the Philippine maritime industry.Roque congratulated the first TOFSA awardees: Demosthenes C Quiñones, Master Mariner Abelardo M Pacheco, and Master Mariner Ricardo M Salunar.Filipino seafarers have consistently demonstrated competency and proficiency in the international maritime sector and for this reason, the Philippines has become the largest and most viable source of shipping crew around the world and the most professional, reputable, adaptable, and...

During the 2019 SAFETY4SEA Athens Forum, Mr. Stavros Niotis, Principal Engineer OEP, ABS, discusses the STCW requirements of seafarers’ training, noting the three training types and the importance of seafarer competency and knowledge of people onboard the sea.

They recognise and encourage excellence in welfare facilities and services for seafarers The International Committee on Seafarers Welfare (ICSW) has launched the first International Seafarers Welfare Awards to recognise and encourage excellence in welfare facilities and services for seafarers.The awards will recognise companies, ports, welfare organisations and individuals who provide excellent welfare facilities and services to seafarers on land or at sea. They will be presented by IMO Secretary Efthimios Mitropoulos at an event in London on 1 December 2010.Roger Harris, ICSW Executive Director, said: Without seafarers we wouldnt get the essential goods and services we need to live our lives and run our economies, as shipping is responsible for transporting 95% of the worlds trade. Seafarers welfare is crucially important and thats why weve launched these awards. We need to ensure that seafarers are valued, their role recognised, and their wellbeing protected and enhanced.The ITF is supporting the awards, alongside the IMO, International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Shipping Federation (ISF), and the International Christian Maritime Association ICMA.Seafarers can make nominations directly for the seafarer centre, port and shipping company of the year awards through a dedicated website www.seafarerswelfareawards.org or by post and email. The deadline for seafarers nominations is...

According to STCW, seafarers need to carry on board the originals of all certificates and endorsements, not photocopies of those. In particular, seafarers should keep on board their national certificate of competence and endorsement, certificates and documentary evidence covering specific safety or pollution prevention duties and service on board certain types of ship as well as endorsements of recognition.

UK-based union Nautilus has backed calls for crew internet, data and satellite calls to be made free for three months to cover the peak infection period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nautilus 24/7 provider ISWAN, on behalf of Nautilus and other trade unions, seafaring charities, the UK Chamber of Shipping and international maritime medical experts, have urgently requested global satellite provider Inmarsat and shipboard high-speed internet solutions provider KVH Industries to enable free calls. In separate letters to the service providers, ISWAN executive director Roger Harris asked Inmarsat to grant additional free data and free satellite calls, and for KVH Industries to grant additional free data and free satellite calls for seafarers aboard vessels on international voyages for the next three months: Seafarers on board vessels are being badly affected, often unable to leave their ship because of port state and other restrictions. They are having to stay on board for a lot longer than they signed up for and are being prevented from going ashore. Many seafarers are also stranded and unable to return to their home countries. Mr Harris said communication back home is the 'number one welfare concern of seafarers, and the link with home has become even...