STCW Convention: what seafarers need to know

1 What it covers

The STCW Convention sets minimum international standards for the training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers on seagoing ships. Parties issue certificates to its standards and recognise each other’s certificates through an agreed procedure.²

The Convention itself issues no documents: a certificate is issued by a national administration, and the Convention defines what its holder must know and be able to do. That is why the same certificate has different names in different countries; national names are listed on the document type pages.^3,4

2 How it is built

• ArticlesConventionGeneral obligations of Parties, entry into force, amendment procedure and dispensations (Article VIII)
• I–VIIIAnnex to the ConventionRegulations: who receives which certificate and on what conditions
• Part ASTCW Code, mandatory partStandards of competence: tables of knowledge and skills for each level
• Part BSTCW Code, recommended guidanceGuidance on implementation; it creates no mandatory requirements by itself

Structure as set out in the official texts.^2,4

3 Chapters and documents

Documents of the reference by chapter of the Annex. The code of a document points to the regulation or Code section it is based on.

• IGeneral provisionsFamiliarisation with the Installed ECDISSeafarer Medical Fitness CertificateEndorsement Attesting the Recognition of a CertificateShipboard Safety Familiarisationand 8 brief entries in the reference
• IIMaster and deck departmentCertificate of Proficiency – Able Seafarer DeckBridge Resource Management TrainingCertificate of Competency – Chief Mate, 3,000 GT or moreCertificate of Competency – Chief Mate, 500–3,000 GTApproved Deck Officer Training Record BookGeneric ECDIS TrainingLeadership and Managerial Skills – Management LevelCertificate of Competency – Master, 3,000 GT or moreCertificate of Competency – Master, 500–3,000 GTCertificate of Competency – Master, under 500 GT, near-coastal voyagesCertificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, 500 GT or moreCertificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch, under 500 GT, near-coastal voyagesRadar Training, Management LevelRadar Training, Operational LevelCertificate of Proficiency – Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watchand 12 brief entries in the reference
• IIIEngine departmentCertificate of Proficiency – Able Seafarer EngineCertificate of Competency – Chief Engineer Officer, 3,000 kW or moreCertificate of Competency – Chief Engineer Officer, 750–3,000 kWApproved Engineer Officer Training Record BookEngine-Room Resource Management TrainingCertificate of Competency – Electro-Technical Officer, 750 kW or moreApproved Electro-Technical Officer Training Record BookCertificate of Proficiency – Electro-Technical RatingHigh-Voltage Competence – Electro-Technical OfficerHigh Voltage Training, Management LevelHigh Voltage Training, Operational LevelCertificate of Competency – Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch / Designated Duty Engineer in Periodically Unmanned Machinery Spaces, 750 kW or moreCertificate of Proficiency – Rating Forming Part of an Engineering WatchCertificate of Competency – Second Engineer Officer, 3,000 kW or moreCertificate of Competency – Second Engineer Officer, 750–3,000 kW
• IVRadiocommunication and radio operatorsGeneral Operator’s Certificate (GOC)Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC)and 4 brief entries in the reference
• VSpecial training requirements for personnel on certain types of shipsAdvanced Training for Service on Ships Subject to the IGF CodeBasic Training for Service on Ships Subject to the IGF CodePassenger Ship Crisis Management and Human Behaviour TrainingPassenger Ship Crowd Management TrainingSafety Training for Personnel Providing Direct Service to Passengers in Passenger SpacesPassenger Safety, Cargo Safety and Hull Integrity TrainingAdvanced Training for Ships Operating in Polar WatersBasic Training for Ships Operating in Polar WatersAdvanced Training – Chemical Tanker Cargo OperationsAdvanced Training – Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo OperationsAdvanced Training – Oil Tanker Cargo OperationsBasic Training – Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo OperationsBasic Training – Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations
• VIEmergency, occupational safety, security, medical care and survival functionsAdvanced Fire FightingBasic Safety TrainingProficiency in Fast Rescue BoatsMedical Care on Board ShipMedical First AidShipboard Safety FamiliarisationSecurity Awareness TrainingTraining for Seafarers with Designated Security DutiesShip Security OfficerProficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boatsand 11 brief entries in the reference
• VIIAlternative certificationAlternative Certification – Officer FunctionsAlternative Certification – Rating Functions

4 How to read the codes

• II/1 – regulation 1 of chapter II of the Annex: the certificate of an officer in charge of a navigational watch
• A-II/1 – section A-II/1 of the Code: the standard of competence for that certificate
• A-VI/1-1 – table 1 of section A-VI/1: personal survival techniques within basic training
• B-I/2 – a recommended section of Part B, for example the list of certificates and endorsements

5 Amendments

The Convention and Code are amended by resolutions of the Maritime Safety Committee. Listed here are the amendments that affect the seafarer documents in this reference.

6 Where to read the text

IMO sells the consolidated text of the Convention and Code as a priced publication, the latest being the 2026 edition. The IMO website terms do not permit republication or translation, so this page gives only our own explanation. IMO publishes the texts of the Manila amendments openly.^10,11

• 2010 Manila amendments to the Annex (STCW/CONF.2/33, PDF)
• 2010 Manila amendments to the STCW Code (STCW/CONF.2/34, PDF)
• List of IMO conventions and their amendments (IMO, PDF)