VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLO #0705/01 0791758
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201758Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1773
INFO RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00I/CG-094/CG-5//
RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS LONDON 000705 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT AORC ASEC UK
SUBJECT: IMO: SUBCOMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING AND WATCHKEEPING 
- REPORT OF THE 40TH SESSION, LONDON, FEBRUARY 2 - 6, 2009. 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The 40th session of the IMO Standards of Training and 
Watchkeeping (STW) Sub-Committee (S/C) met in London from 2-6 
February 2009, chaired by Rear Admiral Peter Brady (Jamaica).  The 
session was attended by delegations from 90 member states, 2 
associate members, 1 United Nations specialized agency, observers 
from 4 inter-governmental organizations, and observers from 22 
non-governmental organizations. Two working groups (WG) were formed 
to address agenda item 7, the comprehensive review of the 
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) and Seafarers' Training 
Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code).  One WG was formed 
to address agenda item 8: review of the principles for establishing 
the safe manning levels of ships.  The S/C addressed all of the 
agenda items during the meeting. USDEL objectives were achieved. 
Accomplishments and outcomes of particular interest include the 
following: 
 
¶A.  Agenda item 7 - Comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and 
STCW Code.  The S/C discussed the proposed amendments to the 
Convention and Code emanating from the September 2008 intersessional 
working group, and further developed preliminary revised draft text. 
The S/C endorsed the preliminary revised draft text of Chapters II, 
III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII. The S/C considered the need to convene 
an intersessional meeting for the comprehensive review of the STCW 
Convention and the STCW Code, prior to STW 41, but was unable to 
agree on the timing.  The S/C agreed to develop terms of reference 
for the intersessional meeting and forward them to the 86th session 
of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 86) for a final decision on 
the need of such meeting and the timing. 
 
¶B.  Agenda item 8 - Review of the principles for establishing the 
safe manning levels of ships. The S/C endorsed the preliminary draft 
amendments to Resolution A.890(21) and agreed to request MSC to 
forward the draft amendments to the Sub-Committee on Safety of 
Navigation (NAV). END SUMMARY. 
 
Validation of Model Training Courses 
------------------------------------ 
¶2. Agenda item 3 - The S/C agreed on amendments to the model course 
on operational use of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). The 
S/C agreed on the list of IMO model courses related to the STCW 
Convention that should be reviewed in light of the ongoing 
comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code. 
 
Unlawful Practices Associated with Certificates of Competency 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶3. Agenda item 4 - The S/C noted the information provided by the 
Secretariat detailing the reports on fraudulent certificates for the 
year 2007. The S/C focused its discussion to the sharing of 
information in a prompt manner. 
 
Training of Seafarer Safety Representatives 
------------------------------------------- 
¶4. Agenda item 5 - The S/C agreed to await the outcome of the Joint 
MSC/MEPC working group on the human element relating to amendments 
to the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code) before 
developing training requirements for a ship's safety 
representative. 
 
Comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and STCW Code 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶5. Agenda item 7 - Due to time constraints, the S/C was unable to 
fully consider all of the issues. Issues of interest follow. 
 
¶A. Seafarers' awareness of counter-piracy measures. The S/C agreed 
that there was an urgent need to include appropriate provisions in 
the STCW Convention to ensure that seafarers are properly educated 
and trained to face situations whereby their ship is under attack by 
pirates.  The issue will be discussed further during STW 41. 
 
¶B. Chapter I - General Provisions. Due to time constraints, the WG 
only considered the proposals for amendments to Regulation I/9 
(Medical Standards). Delegations raised concerns with the 
International Maritime Health Association's proposal for assessment 
of minimum entry level and in-service physical abilities for 
seafarers.  The seafarer organizations raised concerns with the 
application of a standard that would be solely based on "sudden 
incapacitation" of a seafarer while at sea. 
 
¶C. Chapter II - Master and Deck Department. The WG agreed: (1) to 
include mandatory training requirements for basic marine environment 
awareness for an officer in charge of a navigational watch (OICNW); 
(2) to include VTS reporting-related training for OICNW and 
management level personnel; (3) to include Electronic Chart Display 
Information System (ECDIS) training for OICNW and management level 
personnel; and (4) to simplify the training requirements for 
celestial navigation. 
 
¶D. Chapter III - Engine Department. The WG agreed: (1) to include 
additional training requirements for steam-powered ships for 
management level personnel;(2) to include mandatory training 
 
requirements for basic marine environment awareness for an officer 
in charge of a engineering watch (OICEW); (3) to replace the 30 
months training requirement for OICEW with a competence-based 
standard; (4) to further discuss increasing the propulsion power 
restriction in the near-coastal provisions. 
 
¶E. Chapter V - The S/C agreed: (1) to establish a correspondence 
group, under the coordination by Norway, to develop guidance for 
personnel operating in Arctic and Antarctic ice-covered waters for 
consideration at STW 41; (2) to include guidance for dynamic 
positioning systems and invited members to submit proposals. The WG 
agreed that it was premature to develop mandatory training 
requirements for offshore supply vessels, and instead agreed to 
consider guidance at the next meeting. The WG agreed to re-format 
the tables of competence for tankers for consistency and clarity. 
 
¶F. Chapter VI - The WG prepared draft amendments relating to 
fire-fighting training for personnel serving on board tankers for 
further consideration at the next meeting. 
 
¶G. Chapter VIII - Watchkeeping.  The WG developed draft text in 
order to harmonize the STCW Convention with the ILO Maritime Labor 
Convention 2006. The WG agreed to omit social issues unrelated to 
safety, but significant disagreement remains concerning the proposed 
derogation clauses. The WG agreed to include requirements for 
mandatory alcohol limits, but raised concerns with respect to the 
enforcement of these requirements. 
 
Review of the principles for establishing the safe manning levels of 
ships 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶6. Agenda item 8 - The S/C developed draft amendments to Resolution 
A.890(21) including a manning framework based on four main steps: 
submission from the company based on the nature of the operation and 
a task analysis of the functions; evaluation by the Administration 
against the relevant national and international requirements; 
maintenance of minimum safe manning; and compliance monitoring. 
 
Mandatory requirements for determining safe manning 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶7. Agenda item 10 -. The S/C agreed to defer further discussions to 
STW 41. 
 
Measures to improve training on board 
------------------------------------- 
¶8. Agenda item 11 - The S/C considered the MSC tasking to consider 
measures to improve training on board, particularly India's proposal 
to include additional berthing spaces for trainees. The majority of 
the delegations were sympathetic to the problem but were not in 
favor of a prescriptive path.  The majority supported a 
recommendatory approach with incentives for shipping companies.  The 
S/C agreed that such a provision cannot be included within the STCW 
Convention, but that an alternative approach could be to adopt a 
resolution, at the Diplomatic Conference to be convened, to adopt 
the amendments emanating from the comprehensive review of the STCW 
Convention and Code.  The resolution would urge members to encourage 
shipowners to ensure that adequate certified accommodation for 
trainees was available on board ships, in particular new-built 
ships. 
 
Election of the Chairman and Date/Location of Next Meeting 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶9. Agenda item 12 - The S/C unanimously re-elected Rear Admiral 
Peter Brady (Jamaica) as Chairman and Mr. A. H. El-Kayssi (Lebanon) 
as Vice-Chairman, both for the calendar year 2009. The 41st session 
of the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping is 
tentatively scheduled for 11 to 15 January 2010 at the IMO 
Headquarters in London, United Kingdom. 
 
LEBARON