by LCDR Tom Curley, Chief of Licensing, USCG Office of Certification and Marine Inspection (OCMI), Seattle

The Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping of Seafarers 1978 (STCW) is an international convention which sets qualifications and training standards for licensed masters, engineers and watchkeeping personnel serving aboard seagoing merchant ships. 

On October 1, 1991 the US became signatory to the 1978 convention and had five years to implement the STCW. Beginning October 1, 1996 the USCG began issuing 1978 STCW forms to currently licensed officers and seaman based solely on the strength of their U.S. licenses and documents. However, beginning February 1, 1997 all countries signatory to the 1978 convention are now required to enforce additional training requirements imposed by the 1995 amendments to the 1978 rules. The new training requirements include but are not limited to:

Completion of training record books assessing one's practical skills

Completion of approved courses in:

Basic Safety Training (BST) includes four modules: personal survival techniques, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid and personal safety and social responsibilities. The STCW BST requirements are contained in Reg. VI/1 of the STCW Code. BST is required for those persons serving in a position that must be filled as part of the required crew complement or assigned a responsibility on the muster list.

Bridge Resource Management

Survival Craft

Automatic RADAR Plotting Aids (ARPA)

Global Marine Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) 

As required by the 1995 amendments, all 1978 forms will expire on January 31, 2002.  Therefore it is of utmost importance that both companies and individual mariners comply with the new rules so they may obtain the 1995 STCW forms required for service beyond the US boundary line. In addition, all mariners whose sea service began on or after August 1, 1998 must fully comply with the 1995 training requirements at this time. For more information, visit the Coast Guard's STCW website at www.uscg.mil/stcw or call Seattle’s OCMI at (206) 217-6115.