STCW in 2026: what has changed for seafarers

1 In short

Checked on 07/10/2026 against IMO texts: since 01/01/2026 basic safety training includes a new competence in preventing and responding to violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. On the same date the revised annex to the STCW-F Convention and the new STCW-F Code for fishing vessel personnel entered into force. Since 01/01/2025 an STCW certificate may be issued and kept in an electronic form approved by the Administration, and a comprehensive review of the whole Convention and Code is under way, with completion targeted for 2029–2030.^1–4

2 Basic safety training: violence and harassment

Resolution MSC.560(108), adopted on 23/05/2024, replaced table A-VI/1-4 of the STCW Code, personal safety and social responsibilities, one of the four parts of basic safety training. The amendments entered into force on 01/01/2026, and Parties were urged to apply them early.^5,6

The new competence covers what violence and harassment are, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault, and the continuum of harm; their effects on victims, perpetrators, bystanders, safety and well-being; how to identify them, how to intervene and report, and the basic principles of a trauma-informed response.⁷

The other competences of the table, including understanding and controlling fatigue, were already in it under the 2010 Manila amendments.⁸

There is no separate international certificate: the topic is part of basic safety training. The resolution contains no transitional provisions, so whether holders of earlier certificates need extra training is decided by the Administration that issues them. Basic Safety Training^9,10

3 Fishing vessel personnel: the revised STCW-F

Resolution MSC.561(108) replaced the annex to the 1995 STCW-F Convention, and resolution MSC.562(108) adopted the STCW-F Code, whose part A is mandatory and part B is guidance. Both took effect on 01/01/2026. STCW-F Convention^11–13

Under the revised annex, fishing vessel personnel receive approved basic training and onboard safety familiarization before being assigned shipboard duties, and skippers and officers revalidate their certificates at intervals not exceeding five years.¹⁴

A seafarer who holds a valid certificate under the 1978 STCW Convention need not be reassessed in the competences that were required at a higher or equivalent level for that certificate.¹⁵

4 Electronic certificates

Any certificate required by the Convention must be kept available on board in its original form. Since 01/01/2025 the original form may be paper or an electronic form issued in the format approved by the Administration; for an electronic form, the minimum data needed to start a verification must be accessible.¹⁶

An official seal, the photograph and the signature of the seafarer are not necessary on certificates and endorsements in electronic form.¹⁷

5 The 2026 edition

IMO has published the STCW Convention and Code, 2026 Edition; the digital edition came out on 30/07/2026.¹⁸

6 The comprehensive review of STCW

In 2022 the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 105) instructed the HTW Sub-Committee to carry out a comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code. The first phase identified more than 400 gaps, and in 2025 MSC 110 endorsed roadmaps targeting completion of the review in 2029–2030.⁴

The date for adopting the revised Convention and Code is still to be decided. Until revised texts enter into force, certificates are issued and revalidated under the current Convention and Code. Revalidation^4,19

7 What this means for you

• Basic safety training – check the notices of the Administration that issued your certificate and of the flag you serve under: they decide whether a certificate issued before 2026 needs a top-up on violence and harassment.²⁰
• Revalidation – keep revalidating your certificate of competency at intervals not exceeding five years.²¹
• STCW-F – if you work on fishing vessels, check the revised requirements for your capacity.

8 Frequently asked questions