UN revisions to watchkeeping convention to be enforced

MAJOR revisions to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention), and its associated code, have been adopted at the IMO Diplomatic Conference held in Manila.

The amendments, to be known as "The Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and Code" are set to enter into force on January 1, 2012. The STCW will now include requirements for resource management training.

The resource management topics listed in the STCW are: 1. allocation, assignment and prioritisation of resources 2. effective communication 3. assertiveness and leadership 4. obtaining and maintaining situational awareness. This is already part of the MRM course plus most of new STCW requirements related to "leadership and team working/managerial skills" are also covered by the MRM course.

"That elements of the MRM course now are part of the STCW Convention and Code is to be considered an important 'bonus' but this has never been our primary objective. We do hope that we shall see a reduced number of incidents following the new STCW requirements but in order to achieve substantial safety improvements we still believe that management ashore has to be involved and have a deep understanding of what we are trying to achieve through MRM training," said a statement issued by the Swedish Club Academy.
(Source:www.schednet.com)