The International Shipping Federation (ISF) – which is the international employers’ association for shipowners – has produced a special brochure for seafarers explaining the implications of the ‘Manila amendments’ to the IMO Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW 2010).
The brochure – which is available from national shipowners’ associations free of charge – has been issued to coincide with the first IMO ‘Day of the Seafarer’ on 25 June, which was dedicated by IMO governments in recognition of the unique contribution that seafarers make to international seaborne trade and civil society.
25 June marked the first anniversary of the adoption of the ‘Manila Amendments’, which will start to come into effect from 1 January 2012. The new ISF brochure, entitled ‘Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention; A Quick Guide for Seafarers’, is an easy to follow overview, intended to explain the main impacts of the changes to the Convention to the seafarers it will affect.
ISF Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe explained:
“The competence of seafarers is a critical factor in the safe and efficient operation of merchant ships, which has a direct impact on the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment. It is incredibly important that seafarers are aware of the changes to the STCW Convention so that they can be implemented as smoothly as possible, ensuring that the highest standards of seafarer competence will continue to be maintained worldwide.”
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Source: marisec.org, June 27, 2011.