What Is STCW? Meaning, Convention vs Code and Requirements

STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. It is the IMO convention that sets the minimum training, certification and watchkeeping standards for crews on seagoing merchant ships.

IMO adopted the Convention on 7 July 1978 and it entered into force on 28 April 1984. Over 160 States are now Parties, covering almost all of the world fleet.

This guide explains what STCW means, how the Convention differs from the Code, what each chapter covers and how compliance is checked on board. It is written for cadets, officers, crewing staff and inspectors.

What Does STCW Stand For?

STCW is short for the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978. In everyday use, “STCW” means the Convention, its Code and the certificates issued under them.

Seafarers often hear older labels. “STCW 78” is the original text, “STCW 95” the 1995 revision and “STCW 2010” the Manila amendments. All three are the same Convention, “as amended”.

Before 1978, each country set its own standards for officers and ratings. STCW was the first treaty to set minimum standards worldwide. It sits alongside SOLAS, MARPOL and the MLC as one of the main pillars of maritime regulation.

What Is the Difference Between the STCW Convention and the STCW Code?

The STCW Convention contains the articles and the annex regulations, which state what is required. The STCW Code gives the detailed technical standards behind each regulation, in a mandatory Part A and a recommended Part B.

Part	What it contains	Status
Convention articles	Legal framework: application, definitions, certificates, control, amendments	Mandatory
Annex regulations (Chapters I–VIII)	Basic requirements, for example Regulation II/1 for officers in charge of a navigational watch	Mandatory
STCW Code Part A	Minimum standards of competence, set out in tables per function and level	Mandatory
STCW Code Part B	Guidance to help Parties apply the Convention	Recommended

Each regulation has a matching section in the Code. Regulation II/1 is detailed in Section A-II/1 and supported by guidance in B-II/1. The STCW Code was created by the 1995 revision.

What Are the 8 Chapters of STCW?

The STCW annex has eight chapters. Chapters II to IV cover each department and Chapter V covers special ship types. Chapter VI covers safety training for all crew, and Chapter VIII covers watchkeeping.

Chapter	Subject	Key content
I	General provisions	Certificates, endorsements, medical fitness, revalidation, quality standards
II	Master and deck department	Officers of the watch, chief mates, masters, ratings and able seafarers deck
III	Engine department	Engineer officers, electro-technical officers and engine ratings
IV	Radiocommunication and radio personnel	GMDSS radio operators
V	Special training for certain types of ships	Tankers, passenger ships, IGF Code ships and polar waters
VI	Emergency, occupational safety, security, medical care and survival	Basic training, survival craft, advanced firefighting, medical care, security
VII	Alternative certification	Certificates based on functions instead of departments
VIII	Watchkeeping	Fitness for duty, hours of rest, watchkeeping principles

Radio operator requirements in Chapter IV link to the GMDSS equipment carried under SOLAS. Watchkeeping principles in Chapter VIII are applied in every bridge navigational watch.

How Has STCW Changed Since 1978?

STCW has been revised twice in full, in 1995 and 2010, and amended many times since. The amendments added new certificates, new ship types and new training topics.

Year adopted	In force	Main change
1978	28 April 1984	Original Convention
1995	1 February 1997	Full revision; STCW Code created; Parties report to IMO for the “White List”
2010 (Manila)	1 January 2012	Hours of rest, alcohol limits, able seafarer and ETO certificates, ECDIS, leadership and security training
2015–2016	1 January 2017 / 1 July 2018	Training for IGF Code ships, polar waters and passenger ships
2024 (MSC.560(108))	1 January 2026	Basic training on preventing bullying, harassment and sexual assault

The Manila amendments had a transition period that ended on 1 January 2017. From that date, every seafarer had to hold certificates issued to the 2010 standards.

Which Certificates Are Issued Under STCW?

STCW recognises two kinds of certificates. A certificate of competency (CoC) qualifies officers and some radio operators. A certificate of proficiency (CoP) proves specific training such as basic safety, tanker training or security.

Document	Who holds it	Examples
Certificate of competency (CoC)	Masters, officers, GMDSS radio operators	Officer in charge of a navigational watch (II/1), chief engineer (III/2)
Certificate of proficiency (CoP)	Any seafarer with the required training	Basic training, tanker familiarization, security awareness, security awareness, ship security officer (VI/5)
Endorsement	Seafarers serving under another flag	Flag State recognition of a foreign CoC (Regulation I/10)
Medical certificate	All seafarers	Valid up to 2 years; 1 year if under 18

A CoC is revalidated at least every five years, with proof of sea service or refresher training. All seafarers also need basic training, refreshed every five years. Application steps and courses are covered in what an STCW certificate is.

The four basic training elements are personal survival techniques, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities.

Since the Manila amendments, parts of the training may be delivered by distance or e-learning. Practical elements, such as firefighting and survival, must still be done in person.

What Are the STCW Hours of Rest?

STCW Section A-VIII/1 requires at least 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any 7-day period. Rest may be split into no more than two periods, one at least 6 hours long.

• The interval between consecutive rest periods must not exceed 14 hours.
• Daily hours of rest must be recorded and the records kept on board.
• Drills should be held in a way that disturbs rest as little as possible.
• Blood alcohol must not exceed 0.05%, or 0.25 mg/l in breath, for anyone on watch or with safety duties.

Fatigue is a leading cause of navigation accidents. For that reason, port state control officers often compare rest records with the watch schedule and the ship’s logbooks.

What Special Training Does Chapter V Require?

Chapter V adds training for crews of ships with special risks. It covers oil and chemical tankers, liquefied gas tankers, passenger ships, ships using low-flashpoint fuels and ships in polar waters.

Regulation	Ships	Training levels
V/1-1	Oil and chemical tankers	Basic and advanced cargo operations
V/1-2	Liquefied gas tankers under the IGC Code	Basic and advanced cargo operations
V/2	Passenger ships	Crowd management, crisis management and human behaviour
V/3	Ships under the IGF Code	Basic and advanced training for gas and low-flashpoint fuels
V/4	Ships in polar waters	Basic and advanced training for masters and deck officers

ECDIS carriage is required by SOLAS Chapter V, not STCW, like other navigation equipment. STCW requires officers to be trained in ECDIS if they serve on ships fitted with it.

Dynamic positioning training is only guidance under STCW, in Part B. DP operators are usually certified under the Nautical Institute scheme.

Who Does the STCW Convention Apply To?

STCW applies to seafarers serving on seagoing ships flying the flag of a Party. It does not apply to warships, naval auxiliaries, fishing vessels, pleasure yachts not engaged in trade, or wooden ships of primitive build.

Commercial yachts are covered, so superyacht crews need STCW certificates. Fishing vessel crews follow a separate convention, STCW-F, revised with a new STCW-F Code from 1 January 2026.

Officer and rating levels follow the ship’s organization, explained in shipboard organization and ranks. The bosun and able seafarers hold rating certificates under Regulations II/4 and II/5.

Ratings forming part of a navigational watch must be at least 16 years old. Officers in charge of a watch must be at least 18.

How Is STCW Compliance Checked?

Compliance is checked at three levels. IMO reviews each Party’s training system, flag States audit their training providers, and port State control checks certificates and competence on board.

• Each Party reports to IMO under Regulation I/7. Parties confirmed to give full effect to the Convention appear on the “White List”.
• Training, assessment and certification must run under a quality standards system, with an independent evaluation at least every five years (Regulation I/8).
• Companies must make sure every crew member is certified and familiarized with the ship (Regulation I/14). This links STCW to the ISM Code.
• Port state control officers can inspect certificates and assess watchkeeping competence under Regulation I/4.

What Do Inspectors Check Under STCW?

Inspectors start with documents and then test whether the crew can actually do the job. Common findings include:

• Certificates, endorsements and medical certificates missing or expired.
• Crew numbers and grades not matching the safe manning document.
• Foreign CoCs without a flag endorsement. Seafarers may serve up to three months while an endorsement application is pending.
• Hours of rest records incomplete, or not matching the watch schedule.
• No record of ship-specific familiarization for new joiners.
• Crew unable to operate fire, lifesaving or emergency equipment during a drill.

Certificate fraud remains a known problem. Each Party must keep a register of its certificates and confirm their status electronically to other Parties and companies.

Serious deficiencies can lead to detention, as explained in ship detention procedures. Charterers’ vetting inspections also check crew certification and experience.

What Is the STCW Comprehensive Review?

IMO started a comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code in 2024, after MSC 105 mandated it in 2022. More than 400 gaps were identified, from automation and cybersecurity to mental health and harassment.

The revised Chapters II and III will add provisions on cybersecurity, ballast water management, advanced training technologies and psychological safety. IMO plans to consider the revised Convention for approval in 2029 or 2030.

The review is led by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee and its Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW).

Until then, the Convention as amended in 2010 and later remains in force. Seafarers do not need to change certificates because of the review.

Related Topics

• Why maritime safety standards and regulations matter
• Deck cadet duties and responsibilities
• How many crew members modern ships need
• Recognized security organizations and the ISPS Code

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