Amendments to STCW 78, as amended

DGS (NT/ENG) Circular No. 18 of 2025 File No. 25-83/2/2020-NT - DGS Dated: May 8, 2025 Subject: Amendments to STCW 78, as amended. QMSEAC WPI-8.5-04D-02 References: I. Background The International Conference on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, sets the standards of competence for seafarers internationally. The Convention was adopted on July 7, 1978, and entered into force on April 28, 1984. Ever since, there have been numerous amendments that have been adopted based on the periodic assessment of the special training requirements for personnel serving on ships. India notified the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998 for implementing the STCW Convention, thus providing a legal framework that ensured effective application of the requirements. The subsequent 2010 amendments to the Convention saw India notifying the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Rules, 2014 which superseded the Rules promulgated in 1998. II. Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code (i) The 2014 amendments to the Convention were adopted by resolutions MSC.373(93) and MSC.374(93). The amendments updated Chapter I (General provisions) to the STCW Convention and Chapter I (Standards regarding general provisions) to the STCW Code, Part A, entered into force on January 1, 2016. 1(ii) The 2015 amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.396(95) and MSC.397(95). The amendments updated Chapter I (General provisions), regulations I/1 and I/11, chapter V (Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships) and introduced new section V/3 on training requirements for personnel on ships subject to the IGF Code, in the STCW Code Part A and B, and entered into force on January 1, 2017. (iii) The 2016 amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.416(97) and MSC.417(97). The amendments updated Chapters I (General provisions) and Chapter V (Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships) of the Convention and Code. This included amendment to the regulation’s V/2 (training requirements for personnel on passenger ships) and V/4 (training requirements for masters and deck officers on ships operating in polar waters) in the Convention. In the STCW Code, Chapter I and Chapter V were amended to include key amendments to sections A- V/2 and addition of a new section A-V/4. These amendments entered into force on July 1, 2018. (iv) The 2021 amendments were adopted by resolutions MSC.486(103) and MSC.487(103) which updated Chapter I of the STCW Convention and the STCW Code, respectively. These amendments entered into force on January 1, 2023. (v) The amendments to part B of the STCW Code were adopted at the 95th, 96th, 97th, 98th, 100th and 103rd sessions of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and have been promulgated by STCW Circulars STCW.6/Circ.11 (2015), STCW.6/Circ.12(2016), STCW.6/Circ.13(2017) and resolution MSC.455(100) Noting that, International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued various amendments to the STCW 78, as amended, from time to time; the gist of which is annexed to this Circular at Annexure-I. Whereas, Part VI, Section 75 to 87 D, of the Merchant Shipping Act,1958 as amended, provides India, the legislative provisions and powers for the implementation of various requirements under the STCW Convention. 2Recognizing, that the regulatory framework thus covers all seafarers certified by India in conformity with the international standards, the Directorate General of Shipping, vide this Circular intends to issue guidance concerning the amendments which entered into force since the notification of the Merchant Shipping (Standard of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers) Rules, 2014. The seafarers, shipping companies, maritime training institutes and other stakeholders are therefore required to be guided by this Circular and earlier Circular/Notices towards compliance with the provisions, to give full effect to the Merchant Shipping (Standard of Training, Certification and watch keeping for Seafarers) Rules, 2014 and as amended. This Circular supersedes the DGS (NT/ENG) Circular No.4 of 2024, issued on the same subject. This circular is issued with the approval of the Competent Authority Yours faithfully, (Praveen Nair) Dy.Chief Surveyor (i/c) To, 1. The Principal Officer/ Mercantile Marine Department, Mumbai /Kolkata/ Chennai/ Kandla /Cochin. 2. Surveyor-in-charge, Mercantile Marine Department Office Noida, Jamnagar, Mormugao, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, Haldia, Paradip, Port Blair. 3. All Shipping companies Copy to: 1. INSA / FOSMA /MASA 2. Chief Surveyor with the Govt. of India 3. Nautical Adviser(i/c) to the Govt. of India 4. Chief Ship Surveyor with the Govt. of India 5. Surveyors of Engineering /Nautical and Naval Architecture wings of DGS. 6. Hindi Cell 7. Computer Cell 3Annexure-I Adopted Amendments Date of Adoption Effective date Amendments by STCW Convention Chapter I 2014 MSC.373(93) & May 22, 2014 January 1, 2016 Amendments MSC.374(94) STCW Code, Part A Chapter 1 STCW Convention Chapter 1, Reg I/1, I/11 Chapter V MSC.396(95) & Introduced new section V/3 June 11, 2015 January 1, 2017 MSC.397(95) 2015 STCW Code, Part A Amendments Chapter V Introduced new Section A-V/3 STCW Code, Part B STCW.6/Circ.11 June 11, 2015 January 1, 2017 Introduced new Section B-V/3 STCW Convention Chapter 1, Reg I/1, I/11 Chapter V - Reg.V/2 Added Reg,V/4 MSC.416(97) & November 25, 2016 July 1, 2018 STCW Code, Part A MSC.417(97) 2016 Chapter I Amendments Section A-I/11 & Section A-I/14 Chapter V Section A-V/2 & A-V/4 STCW Code, Part B STCW.6/Circ.12 November 25, 2016 July 1, 2018 Section B-I/2, table B-I/2 2017 MSC 98: STCW Code, Part B June 16, 2017 Amendments STCW.6/Circ.13 Section B-V/f STCW Code, Part B 2018 MSC.455(100) December 6, 2018 January 1, 2019 Chapter V Amendments STCW Convention Chapter I, Reg I/1 2021 MSC.486 (103) & May 13, 2021 January 1, 2023 Amendments MSC.487(103) STCW Code, Part A Chapter 1, Section A-I/1 4