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Glossary Term

STCW

STCW is the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978: the IMO convention that sets minimum standards for the training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers on seagoing ships. Each flag State applies it by issuing or recognising certificates, while the detailed standards of competence are set out in the STCW Code.The convention was adopted on 7 July 1978 and entered into force on 28 April 1984. It was substantially revised in 1995, when the STCW Code was adopted, and again by the 2010 Manila amendments. Part A of the Code contains mandatory standards; Part B contains recommended guidance.

Does STCW apply to yachts?

The convention applies to seafarers serving on seagoing ships entitled to fly the flag of a Party. It excludes those serving on warships and other government ships on non-commercial service, fishing vessels, wooden ships of primitive build and “pleasure yachts not engaged in trade”. A yacht engaged in trade, such as one in commercial charter use, is therefore within its scope, while a yacht used only privately falls under that exclusion. Matters the convention does not cover remain subject to national law, so the flag state can still set its own requirements for crew on private yachts. For a particular yacht, the flag Administration’s requirements show which certificates and endorsements apply.

Article IX allows an Administration to adopt other training arrangements adapted to special types of ships and trades, provided they are at least equivalent to the convention’s requirements and are reported to IMO. The UK, for example, notified the LY3 large yacht code to IMO as an equivalent arrangement under this article.

Certificates by tonnage and propulsion power

Deck certificates are graded by gross tonnage:

  • An officer in charge of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must hold a certificate of competency.
  • Masters and chief mates need certificates for ships of 3,000 GT or more, or for ships of between 500 and 3,000 GT.
  • Ships of less than 500 GT have separate requirements, which differ for ships engaged on near-coastal voyages.

Engineering certificates are graded by main propulsion power rather than tonnage:

  • An officer in charge of an engineering watch on a ship of 750 kW propulsion power or more must hold a certificate of competency.
  • Chief and second engineer officers need certificates for ships of 3,000 kW or more, or for ships of between 750 kW and 3,000 kW.

A yacht’s gross tonnage and her installed propulsion power therefore both affect which certificates her officers need, and a refit that increases either can move her into a different band.

Familiarisation and basic training

Before being assigned to shipboard duties, everyone employed or engaged on a seagoing ship, other than passengers, must receive approved familiarisation training or sufficient information and instruction on elementary safety matters. Seafarers with designated safety or pollution-prevention duties must also complete basic training in four elements: personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities. Where basic training is not part of a higher certificate, a certificate of proficiency is issued.

Every five years, seafarers qualified in basic training must provide evidence that they have maintained the required standard of competence in personal survival techniques and in fire prevention and fire fighting. Parties may accept onboard training and experience for maintaining competence in some survival and fire-fighting tasks. Further certificates of proficiency cover, among others, survival craft and rescue boats, and advanced fire fighting for those designated to control fire-fighting operations. From 1 January 2026, amendments adopted by IMO in resolution MSC.560(108) add a competence on preventing and responding to violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, to the personal safety and social responsibilities element.

Revalidation, recognition and hours of rest

Masters, officers and radio operators holding certificates issued or recognised under any chapter of the convention other than chapter VI must, at intervals not exceeding five years, meet the medical fitness standards and establish continued professional competence in order to remain qualified for seagoing service. This is separate from the medical certificate itself, which is valid for no more than two years, or one year for a seafarer under 18.

A certificate issued by one Party is accepted for service on another flag’s ships through an endorsement from that flag’s Administration. Before recognising it, the Administration must have confirmed, through an evaluation of the issuing Party, that the convention’s standards of competence, training, certification and quality are fully complied with, and must have agreed with that Party that any significant change in its training and certification arrangements will be notified promptly. Certificates issued by a non-Party are not recognised. Subject to those conditions, an Administration may allow a seafarer who holds an appropriate and valid certificate, issued and endorsed by another Party for use on that Party’s ships, to serve on its ships for up to three months before its own endorsement is issued, provided documentary proof that the application has been submitted is readily available.

Watchkeepers, and those with designated safety, pollution-prevention or security duties, must have at least 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period. Rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of at least six hours, with no more than 14 hours between consecutive periods. Parties may allow limited exceptions, provided rest is not less than 70 hours in any seven-day period and the further conditions in the Code are met. The limits also need not be maintained in an emergency or other overriding operational conditions; once the normal situation is restored, the master must ensure, as soon as practicable, that seafarers who worked during a scheduled rest period receive an adequate period of rest. The MLC sets its own limits on hours of work and rest for seafarers generally.

In a port of another Party, officers may check that the seafarers required to be certificated hold valid certificates or dispensations. The certificates are accepted unless there are clear grounds to believe one was obtained fraudulently or the holder is not the person to whom it was issued.

STCW FOR SUPERYACHTS

Frequently asked questions

Do yacht crew need security training under STCW?

On a ship required to comply with the ISPS Code, everyone employed or engaged on board, other than passengers, must receive approved security-related familiarisation training before being assigned to shipboard duties. Before being assigned to any shipboard duties, crew members without designated security duties must also receive approved security-awareness training or instruction and provide evidence that they have achieved the required standard of competence. Those with designated security duties must meet a separate, higher standard of competence; where this training is not part of a higher certificate, a certificate of proficiency is issued. Whether a particular yacht must comply with the ISPS Code is a question for her flag Administration.

How do the STCW and MLC hours of rest differ?

STCW sets minimum hours of rest for watchkeepers and for seafarers with designated safety, pollution-prevention or security duties: at least 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period. The MLC covers seafarers generally and lets each State fix either maximum hours of work, of no more than 14 hours in any 24 hours and 72 hours in any seven days, or minimum hours of rest, of at least 10 hours in any 24 hours and 77 hours in any seven days. Both instruments allow exceptions, under different conditions.

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