STCW Training News
Update nr. 3
April 2021
In this STCW Training News Update:
- STCW Convention at a glance
- Rood Boven Groen is investigating the possibility of a webinar
- Cruises to nowhere
STCW Convention at a glance
We have noticed that seafarers still have many questions about the STCW code. In the following STCW news updates, we will explain the STCW code in more detail. This update will be an introduction, and the next update will cover the lay-out of the STCW code.
In 1978, STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) was created to promote safety of life and property at sea and to protect the marine environment. It establishes internationally accepted standards of training and certification of seafarers, ensuring that crew are qualified and fit for duties at sea. Previously the minimum standards of training, certification and watchkeeping of officers and ratings were established by individual governments, usually without reference to practices in other countries. As a result, minimum standards and procedures varied widely, even though shipping is extremely international by nature.
The first review of the STCW code took place in 1995, and the amended convention was then called STCW-95.
Another amendment took place in 2010, called “The Manila Amendments”. These amendments were necessary to keep training standards in line with new technological and operational developments on board modern ships that require new shipboard competencies.
Whereas the first Convention focused almost entirely on knowledge, the latest Publication has been shifted to practical skills and competence.
Today, the STCW Convention has helped to create a ‘Level Playing Field’ between seafarers, promoting the same quality and level of maritime education worldwide. By having the same level of knowledge and speaking the same language, seafarers can communicate and understand each other much better than in former decades.
Rood Boven Groen is investigating the possibility of a webinar
In previous STCW News updates, we informed about the advantages of using a workbook in addition to online training. The idea of a workbook is to bring newly learned theories into practice on board, to help asses ones skills. The assignments are short and relate directly to your work on board.
If one does not have the opportunity to board a vessel, the assessment of skills might be organized ‘live’ in a online meeting hosted by a experienced trainer.
For this reason, Rood Boven Groen is investigating the possibility of a webinar. During the webinar, participants can demonstrate that they can apply the theoretical skills during their work. We hope this method will be available for the Crisis Management and Human Behaviour training this summer. If successful, this will also be applied in other online STCW-training courses. This would make the online training ‘hybride online’.
Cruises to nowhere
Cruises to nowhere may be the next big thing in Covid-safe travel. From Singapore, the Quantum of the Seas and the World Dream sail short 2, 3 or 4 day journeys without calling at any port.
These cruises, though, will look quite different than the typical seagoing experience.
In order to ensure hygiene protocols, ships will depart from and return to the same spot, with no port calls in between. The ships will operate at no more than 50% capacity and are for Singapore residents only. They do this very successfully and without infections! We expect that other shipowners in Europe and Caribbean will follow soon.
The cruise ships will follow strict sanitation guidelines, These strict guidelines also extend to the people who will be working on board. All crew members will have to isolate in their home countries, go through a 14-day quarantine upon arriving in Singapore and undergo regular testing. Online training can also be an important contribution to contain the pandemic as much as possible. After all, you don’t come into contact with others and travelling has become unnecessary.