IMO Seafaring Conference Ends With All Shipping Safety And Security Measures Approved

Source: Handy Shiping Guide

PHILIPPINES – Today saw the end if the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conference in Manila supported by the government of the Philippines and attended by more than 500 delegates from 85 IMO Member States, as well as by observers from three Associate Members, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the European Commission (EC) and various other interested parties.

The purpose of the conference was to revise the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention), and its associated Code, thereby ensuring that the necessary global standards will be in place to train and certify seafarers to operate technologically advanced ships for some time to come.

Agreement was reached that the changes would come into force on the 1st January 2012 under the ‘tacit acceptance procedure’ and are aimed at bringing the Convention and Code up to date with developments since they were initially adopted in 1978 and further revised in 1995.

The amendments adopted are those as proposed listed fully in our previous article and include a variety of safety, security and training criteria bringing the international competency of seafaring staff up to a modern and acceptable standard.

Speaking at the close of the Conference, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said that the adoption of the revised STCW had brought to a successful conclusion the concerted effort undertaken by so many – Government and industry alike, dedicated seafarer representative bodies, maritime training institutions, and the many other interested organizations – over a four-year period.

Mr Mitropoulos stressed that work must commence immediately to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the new framework.