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DGSCIRCULAR12Of2026
FileNo.25-104/4/2026-NT–DGSCompno.38720 Date:09.03.2026
AuthorisedBy: Subject:Implementation ofthe2016amendmentstotheSTCW
ChiefExaminerof ConventionandCoderelatingtoRegulationV/2–Trainingand
Master&Mates Certificationrequirementsforpersonnelonpassengerships-reg.
IssuedBy:NauticalWing
DGS STCWCIRCULAR02of2026
EACBranch.
1. The Directorate General of Shipping remains firmly committed to upholding maritime
safety and promoting professional excellence in the maritime sector. The International
Maritime Organization (IMO) periodically amends the STCW Convention to address
emerging challenges and evolving requirements in the maritime sector. As a proactive
member state, India places a high priority on the timely implementation of these
instruments.
2. The purpose of this Circular is to notify implementation of the 2016 amendments to the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers(STCW),1978,asamended, adoptedby theMaritimeSafetyCommittee(MSC)
of the IMO via Resolutions MSC.416(97) and MSC.417(97). These resolution introduces
revised and enhanced training and certification requirements under Regulation V/2 for
personnelservingonpassengerships.
3. In pursuance of the above, the following competency tables are hereby notified and
annexedtothiscircular
(a) Annexure A – Table A-V/2-1: Specification of minimum standard of competence in
passengershipcrowdmanagementtraining;and
(b) Annexure B – Table A-V/2-2: Specification of minimum standard of competence in
passengershipcrisismanagementandhumanbehaviourtraining.
4. In line with the amendments, the following mandatory minimum requirements for the
training and qualification of masters, officers, ratings and other personnel on passenger
shipsareherebynotified:-
Page1of9a) PassengerShipEmergencyFamiliarizationTraining
All personnel serving on board passenger ships engaged on international voyages shall,
before being assigned shipboard duties, complete Passenger Ship Emergency
Familiarization Training covering the competencies prescribed in Section A-V/2,
paragraphs1and2ofthe STCWCode.
b)SafetyTrainingforPersonnelProvidingDirectServicetoPassengers
Personnel providing direct service to passengers in passenger spaces shall receive the
additionalsafetytrainingrequiredunderregulationV/2,paragraph6.
c)PassengerShipCrowdManagementTraining
Masters, officers and ratings qualified in accordance with chapters II, III and VII, and
personnel designatedon the muster list toassist passengers in emergency situations, shall
have successfully completed the crowd management training required under regulation
V/2, paragraph 7, as set out in table A-V/2-1 of STCW Code, herein annexed as
ANNEXUREA.
d)CrisisManagementandHumanBehaviorTraining
Before being assigned to shipboard duties, masters, chief mates, and any person
designated on the muster list as having responsibility for the safety of passengers in
emergency situations shall have successfully completed the approved crisis management
and human behavior training required under regulation V/2, paragraph 8, as set out in
tableA-V/2-2ofSTCWCode,hereinannexedas ANNEXUREB.
e) Passenger Safety, Cargo Safety and Hull Integrity Training (Ro-Ro Passenger
Ships)
Before being assigned to shipboard duties, masters, chief mates, and every person
assigned immediate responsibility for embarking and disembarking passengers, for
loading, discharging or securing cargo, or for closing hull openings on board ro-ro
passenger ships shall receive the passenger safety, cargo safety and hull integrity training
requiredunderregulationV/2,paragraph9.
5. The training requirements, course content, assessment standards, and certificate format
prescribed under DGS Training Circular No. 05 of 2016 shall be deemed to satisfy the
above requirements. Certificates issued pursuant to Training Circular No. 05 of 2016
shallremainvalid,subjecttocontinuedservice andcompliancewithnationalregulations.
6. RPSL Managers, ISM Managers, Maritime training institutes, and seafarers shall ensure
compliancewiththe provisionsofthiscircular.Non-complianceshallattractactionunder
theapplicableprovisionsoftheMerchantShippingActandSTCWRules.
Page2of97. ThiscircularsupplementsandclarifiesTrainingCircularNo.05of2016andshallberead
inconjunctionwithDGS(NT/ENG)CircularNo.18of2025.
ThisissueswiththeapprovalofChiefExaminerofMasterandMates.
(Capt.RaviSinghSikarwar)
NauticalSurveyor-cum-DDG(Tech.)
Enclosures:-
Annexure-A- Specification of minimum standard of
competenceinpassengershipcrowdmanagement training.
Annexure-B- Specification of minimum standard of
competence in passenger ship crisis management and human
behavior.
Copyto:
1. DGSSecretariat
2. NauticalAdvisortothe GovernmentofIndia
3. AllMaritimeTraining Institutes(MTIs)
4. AllRPSLCompanies
5. INSA/MASSA/FOSMA/ICCSA
6. ComputerCell–foruploadingontheDGSwebsite.
Page3of9TableA-V/2-1
Annexure-A
Specificationofminimumstandardofcompetenceinpassenger
shipcrowdmanagementtraining
Column1 Column2 Column3 Column4
Competence Knowledge,understanding Methods for Criteriaforevaluating
andproficiency demonstrating competence
competence
Contribute to the Knowledge of the Assessmentof Actions taken in case of
implementation shipboard emergency evidenceobtained an emergency are
of shipboard plans, instructions and fromtraining appropriate and comply
emergency plans procedures related to the and/orinstruction with established
and procedures to management and procedures
muster and evacuationofpassengers
evacuate
passengers Knowledge of applicable
crowd management
techniques and relevant
equipment to be used to
assist passengers in an
emergencysituation
Knowledge of muster
lists and emergency
instructions
Assist Ability to give clear Assessment of Actions taken conform
passengersen reassuringorders evidence with emergency plans,
routetomuster obtained from instructions and
Ability to manage
and practical procedures Information
passengers in corridors,
embarkation training and/or given to individuals,
staircases and
stations instruction emergency response teams
passageways
andpassengers is accurate,
relevantandtimely
Understanding the
importance of and having
the ability to maintain
escape routes clear of
obstructions
Knowledge of methods
available for evacuation of
disabled persons and
persons needing special
assistance
Page4of9Knowledge of methods of
searching passenger
accommodation and
publicspaces
Ability to disembark
passengers, with special
attention to disabled
persons and persons
needingassistance
Importance of effective
mustering procedures,
including:
.1 the importance of
keepingorder;
.2 the ability to use
procedures for
reducing and avoiding
panic;
.3 the ability to use,
where appropriate,
passenger lists for
evacuationcounts;
.4 the importance of
passengers being
suitably clothed as far
as possible when
mustering;and
5. the ability to check that
the passengers have
donned their life
jacketscorrectly.
Page5of9TableA-V/2-2
Annexure-B
Specificationofminimumstandardofcompetencein
passengershipcrisismanagementandhumanbehavior.
Column1 Column2 Column3 Column4
Competence Knowledge,understandingand Methodsfor Criteriafor
proficiency demonstrating evaluating
competence competence
Knowledgeof:
Organize Assessment of The shipboard
shipboard evidenceobtained emergency
.1 the general design and
emergency fromapproved procedures ensure a
layoutoftheship
procedures training, exercises state of readiness to
.2 safetyregulations
with one or more respond to
.3 emergencyplansand
prepared emergency
procedures
emergency plans situations
and practical
The importance of the principles
demonstration
for the development of ship-
specific emergency procedures,
including:
.1 the need for pre-planning and
drills of shipboard emergency
procedures
.2 the need for all personnel to
be aware of and adhere to
pre-planned emergency
procedures as carefully as
possible in the event of an
emergencysituation
Optimizethe Ability to optimize the use of Assessment of Contingency plans
useof resources,takingintoaccount: evidenceobtained optimize the use of
resources from approved availableresources
.1 the possibility that resources training,practical
available in an emergency demonstration Allocation of tasks
maybelimited and shipboard and responsibilities
training and drills reflects the known
.2 the need to make full use of of emergency competence of
personnel and equipment procedures individuals
immediately available and, if
necessary,toimprovise Rolesand
responsibilitiesof
Ability to organize realistic drills teamsand
to maintain a state of readiness, individualsare
taking into account lessons learnt clearlydefined
from previous accidents involving
passenger ships; debriefing after
drills
Page6of9Competence Knowledge,understanding Methodsfor Criteria for
andproficiency demonstrating evaluating
competence competence
Control Ability to make an initial Assessment of Procedures and
responseto assessment and provide an evidenceobtained actions are in
emergencies effective response to emergency from approved accordance with
situations in accordance with training,practical established
established emergency demonstration principlesand
procedures and shipboard plansforcrisis
training and drills managementon
Leadershipskills of emergency board
procedures
Abilitytoleadanddirectothersin Objectives and
emergency situations, including strategy are
theneed: appropriate to the
nature of the
.1 to set an example during emergency, take
emergencysituations account of
contingencies and
.2 tofocusdecisionmaking,
make optimum use
giventheneedtoactquickly
of available
inanemergency
resources
.3 to motivate, encourage and Actions of crew
reassure passengers and other
members contribute
personnel
to maintaining
Stresshandling orderandcontrol
Ability to identify the
development of symptoms of
excessivepersonalstressandthose
of other members of the ship's
emergencyteam
Understanding that stress
generatedbyemergencysituations
can affect the performance of
individuals and their ability to act
on instructions and follow
procedures
Page7of9Control Humanbehaviourandresponses Assessmentof Actions of crew
passengersand evidence members contribute
obtainedfrom to maintaining order
other Ability to control passengers and
approved andcontrol
personnel other personnel in emergency
training,practical
during situations,including:
demonstration and
emergency
shipboard training
situations awareness of the general reaction and drills of
emergency
patterns of passengers and other
procedures
personnel in emergency
situations, including the
possibilitythat:
1.1 generally it takes some time
before people accept the fact that
thereisanemergencysituation
1.2 some people may panic and
not behavewith a normal level of
rationality, that their ability to
comprehend may be impaired
and they may not be as
responsive to instructions as in
non-emergencysituations
.2 awareness that passengers and
otherpersonnelmay,interalia:
2.1 start looking for relatives,
friends and/or their belongings
as a first reaction when
somethinggoeswrong
2.2 seek safety in their cabins
or in other places on board
where they think that they can
escapedanger
2.3 tend to move to the upper
sidewhentheshipislisting
3. appreciation of the possible
problem of panic resulting from
separatingfamilies
Page8of9Assessment of
Establish and Ability to establish and maintain Information from
maintain effective communications, evidence obtained all available
effective including: from approved sources is obtained,
communicati training, exercises evaluated and
.1 the importance of clear and confirmed
ons
and practical
concise instructions and as quickly as
reports demonstration possible and
reviewed
.2 the need to encourage an
throughout the
exchange of information with,
emergency
and feedback from, passengers
evaluated and
and otherpersonnel
confirmed
as quickly as
Ability to provide relevant possible and
information to passengers and reviewed
other personnel during an throughout the
emergency situation, to keep emergency
them apprised of the overall
situation and to communicate Information given
any action required of them, to individuals,
taking into account: emergency
response teams and
.1 the language or languages
passengers is
appropriate to the principal
accurate, relevant
nationalities of passengers and
and timely
other personnel carried on the
particularroute
Information keeps
.2 the possible need to passengers
communicate during an informedastothe
emergency by some other natureofthe
means, such as by emergency and the
demonstration, or by hand actions requiredof
signals or calling attention to them
the location of instructions,
muster stations, life-saving
devices or evacuation routes,
when oral communication is
impractical
.3 the language in which
emergency announcements
may be broadcast during an
emergency or drill to convey
critical guidance to passengers
and to facilitate crew members
in assisting passengers
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