Incorporation of new STCW Competence on Prevention of and Response to Violence and Harassment, including Sexual Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Assault in PSSR Course which is a part of Basic Safety Training (BST) (Course ID 6101 / 6141)

DGS Circular No. 53 of 2025 (STCW Circular No. 05 of 2025) File No.25/11/2025-NT-DGS (Comp.No.:36681) Date:01.12.2025 Authorizedby ChiefExaminer of Subject: Incorporation of new STCW Competence on “Prevention of and Masterand Matesand Response to Violence and Harassment, including Sexual Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Assault” in PSSR Course which is a part of Basic Safety Training (BST)(Course ID 6101 / 6141) - reg. ChiefExaminer of Engineers. 1. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, prescribes the minimum standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping to be maintained by all State Parties to ensure uniformity and safety in international shipping operations. India, being a Party to the STCW Convention, implements the prescribed training modules to ensure that seafarers are duly qualified and competent to perform their duties safely and efficiently. 2. At its 108th session held at IMO Headquarters, London, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) adoptedamendments to the STCWCodeintroducing newtraining requirements on the prevention of and response to violence and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual harassment, bullying, and sexual assault. 3. In pursuance of the above decisions, a new competence titled “Contribute to the prevention of and response to violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault” has been incorporated in Chapter VI of the STCW Code, forming part of TableA-VI/1-4 – Mandatory minimum requirements for safety familiarization, basic training, and instruction for all seafarershall enter into forceon 1 January 2026 (Annexure 1 – Highlighted). 4. The said competence aims to enhance awareness, preparedness, and response measures to ensure a safe and respectful working environment onboard ships. 5. Reference is invited to Training Branch Circular No. 26 of 2020 on Guidelines for Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR), which provides the syllabus, course structure, and Page01of10timetable for Course ID 6101 (PSSR). In line with the above STCW amendments, the new competence on violence and harassment prevention and response is hereby added to the said Circular. 6. All Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) conducting Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) courses as part of Basic Safety Training Course are directed to revise their curriculum as perAnnexure–2,with theinclusion ofan additional three(03)hours in the existing PSSR course. Accordingly, the total course duration shall now be 29 hours (4 days), in partial modification of the course outlines prescribed in DGS Training Circular No. 26 of 2020 dated 01.07.2020 and DGS Training Circular No. 03 of 2025 dated 05.02.2025. The revised course curriculum shall come into effect from 15 December2025, and course completion certificates shall be issued only upon successful completion oftheupdated module. 7. In addition, the additional competency requirements introduced in the new PSSR course, as specified in Annex 2 of the relevant circular, shall be combined with the topics of Gender Sensitization training of 6 hours duration mandated vide DGS Order No. 01 of 2023 in the following coursesand shall be implemented with effectfrom 15.12.2025: a. Preparatory/Competency Courses for allgrades of Deck Officers b. Preparatory Courses for allgradesof Engineering Officers c. Revalidation course for all DeckOfficers d. Revalidation course for all EngineerOfficers The course duration (total numberof days)ofabove-mentioned courses need not bemodified. 8. The certificates issued for the above courses as listed in ser no. 7 shall bear an annotation indicating completion of the competence on “Prevention of and Response to Violence and Harassment, including Sexual Harassment, Bullying and SexualAssault.” 9. All other existing officers, ratings and trainees, when ashore, are required to complete the e- learning programme on the said competence through the DGS Online Learning Management System (LMS) (e-learning course for PSSR amendment 2026 (Course ID 957) and download the course completion certificate upon successful completion. This certificate may be kept attached with the Certificate of Basic Safety Training or PSSR course certificate. Seafarers currently serving onboard may complete the said course after signing off and before joining next vessel on or after01st Jan 2026. 10. Shipping companies are guided to incorporate the above competence in their training and familiarization programmes forallshipboard personnel. 11. This directiveshall come into force with effectfrom 01.01.2026. This is issued with the approval oftheCompetentAuthority. (Capt. Ravi Singh Sikarwar) Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG(Tech.) Page02of10To, 1. DGS Secretariat. 2. ChiefSurveyor with the Govt. of India 3. Nautical Advisorto theGovt. of India 4. AllMaritime Training Institutes 5. INSA/FOSMA/MASSA/ICCSA 6. ComputerCell Page03of10A Annexure-1 MSC 108/20/Add.1 Annex12,page1 ANNEX 12 RESOLUTION MSC.560(108) (adopted on 23 May 2024) AMENDMENTS TO PART A OF THE SEAFARERS' TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING (STCW) CODE THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE, RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee, RECALLING ALSO article XII and regulation I/1.2.3 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 ("the 1978 STCW Convention"), concerning the procedures for amending part A of the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code ("the STCW Code"), RECOGNIZING the need for training provisions to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, HAVING CONSIDERED, at its 108th session, amendments to part A of the STCW Code, proposed and circulated in accordance with article XII(1)(a)(i) of the 1978 STCW Convention, 1 ADOPTS, in accordance with article XII(1)(a)(iv) of the 1978 STCW Convention, amendments to the STCW Code, the text of which is set out in the annex to the present resolution; 2 DETERMINES, in accordance with article XII(1)(a)(vii)(2) of the 1978 STCW Convention, that said amendments to the STCW Code shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 July 2025, unless, prior to that date, more than one third of Parties or Parties the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping of ships of 100 gross register tons or more have notified to the Secretary-General of the Organization that they object to the amendments; 3 INVITES Parties to note that, in accordance with article XII(1)(a)(ix) of the 1978 STCW Convention, the amendments to the STCW Code annexed hereto shall enter into force on 1 January 2026 upon their acceptance, in accordance with paragraph 2 above; 4 URGES Parties to implement the amendments to section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code at an earlystage; 5 REQUESTS the Secretary-General, for the purposes of article XII(1)(a)(v) of the 1978 STCW Convention, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the amendments contained in the annex to all Parties to the 1978 STCW Convention; 6 ALSO REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit copies of this resolution and its annex to Members of the Organization which are not Parties to the 1978 STCW Convention. I:\MSC\108\MSC 108-20-Add.1.docx Page 04 of 10ffdd MSC 108/20/Add.1 Annex12,page2 ANNEX AMENDMENTS TO PART A OF THE SEAFARERS’ TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING (STCW) CODE CHAPTER VI STANDARDS REGARDING EMERGENCY, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, SECURITY, MEDICAL CARE AND SURVIVAL FUNCTIONS Section A-VI/1 Mandatory minimum requirements for safety familiarization, basic training and instruction for all seafarers 1 Table A-VI/1-4 (Specification of minimum standard of competence in personal safety and social responsibilities) is replaced by the following: Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Knowledge, Methods for Criteria for Competence understanding and demonstrating evaluating proficiency competence competence Comply with Types of emergency which Assessment of Initial action on emergency may occur, such as collision, evidence obtained becoming aware of procedures fire, foundering from approved an emergency instruction or during conforms to Knowledge of shipboard attendance at an established contingency plans for approved course emergency response to emergencies response procedures Emergency signals and specific duties allocated to Information given crew members in the muster on raising alarm is list; muster stations; correct prompt, accurate, use of personal safety complete and clear equipment Action to take on discovering potential emergency, including fire, collision, foundering and ingress of water into the ship Action to take on hearing emergency alarm signals Value of training and drills Knowledge of escape routes and internal communication and alarm systems Take Basic knowledge of the Assessment of Organizational precautions to impact of shipping on the evidence obtained procedures I:\MSC\108\MSC 108-20-Add.1.docx Page 05 of 10A MSC 108/20/Add.1 Annex12,page3 Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Knowledge, Methods for Criteria for Competence understanding and demonstrating evaluating proficiency competence competence prevent pollution marine environment and the from approved designed to of the marine effects of operational or instruction or during safeguard the environment accidental pollution on it attendance at an marine approved course environment are Basic environmental observed at all protection procedures times Basic knowledge of complexity and diversity of the marine environment Observe safe Importance of adhering to Assessment of Safe working working safe working practices at all evidence obtained practices are practices times from approved observed and instruction or during appropriate safety Safety and protective attendance at an and protective devices available to protect approved course equipment is against potential hazards correctly used at all aboard ship times Precautions to be taken prior to entering enclosed spaces Familiarization with international measures concerning accident prevention and occupational health1 Contribute to Understand the principles of, Assessment of Communications effective and barriers to, effective evidence obtained are clear and communications communication between from approved effective at all on board ship individuals and teams within instruction or during times the ship attendance at an approved course Ability to establish and maintain effective communications Contribute to Importance of maintaining Assessment of Expected effective human good human and working evidence obtained standards of work relationships relationships aboard ship from approved and behaviour are on board ship instruction or during observed at all times 1 The ILO Code of practice on accident prevention on board ship at sea and in port may be of assistance in the preparation of courses. I:\MSC\108\MSC 108-20-Add.1.docx Page 06 of 10Highlighted Competence to be ffdd added in Chapter VI of the STCW MSC 108/20/Add.1 Code,formingpartofTableA- Annex12,page4 VI/1-4 as per the amendments adopted 108th Session. Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Knowledge, Methods for Criteria for Competence understanding and demonstrating evaluating proficiency competence competence Basic teamworking attendance at an principles and practice, approved course including conflict resolution Social responsibilities; employment conditions; individual rights and obligations; dangers of drug and alcohol abuse Contribute to Prevention of violence and Assessment of Acceptable the prevention harassment: evidence obtained practices and of and response from approved procedures to violence and Basic knowledge and instruction or during designed for the harassment2, understanding of violence attendance at an prevention of including sexual and harassment, including approved course violence and harassment, sexual harassment, harassment, bullying and bullying and sexual including sexual sexual assault assault, and the continuum harassment, of harm bullying and sexual assault are Basic knowledge and observed at all understanding of the times consequences of violence and harassment, including Able to identify sexual harassment, violence and bullying and sexual assault harassment, on victims, perpetrators, including sexual bystanders and harassment, stakeholders, and its bullying and effects on safety, health sexual assault, and well- being and the continuum of harm and its Understand that, among effects others, abuse of power relations, discrimination, Acceptable stress, isolation, fatigue, practices and drugs or alcohol may procedures contribute to violence and designed for the harassment, including intervention in and sexual harassment, reporting of bullying and sexual assault violence and harassment, Responding to violence and including sexual harassment: harassment, bullying and sexual assault are 2 As defined in the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). I:\MSC\108\MSC 108-20-Add.1.docx Page 07 of 10A MSC 108/20/Add.1 Annex12,page5 Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Knowledge, Methods for Criteria for Competence understanding and demonstrating evaluating proficiency competence competence Ability to identifyviolence observed at all and harassment, including times sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault Basic knowledge of the action to take to intervene in and report violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault Understand the basic principles of trauma-informed response and how to provide appropriate support to a victim, bystanders and self Understand and Importance of obtaining the Assessment of Fatigue take necessary necessary rest evidence obtained management actions to control from approved practices are fatigue Effects of sleep, schedules instruction or during observed and and the circadian rhythm on attendance at an appropriate actions fatigue approved course are used at all times Effects of physical stressors on seafarers Effects of environmental stressors in and outside the ship and their impact on seafarers Effects of schedule changes on seafarer fatigue *** I:\MSC\108\MSC 108-20-Add.1.docx Page 08 of 10ANNEXURE–2 CourseOutlineforPSSR2026amendmentsinaccordancewithIMOResolutionMSC560(108): Sr. SubjectArea No.of No. hours 1.0 Contribute to the prevention of and response to violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault 1.1 Preventionofviolenceandharassment: 1.5 hours 1. Basic knowledge and understanding of violence and harassment, including sexualharassment, bullying and sexualassault, and thecontinuum of harm 2. Remember basic concepts such as violence, harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, sexual assault, victims, perpetrators, bystanders, stakeholders, safety, health, and well-being 3. List causes of violence, harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, and sexual assault 4. Identify causes of violence, harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, and sexualassault related to different cultures,religions,andtraditions 5. Recognizecyber-harassment and cyber-bullying 6. Basic knowledge and understanding of the consequences of violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault on victims, perpetrators, bystanders and stakeholders, and its effects on safety, health and well-being 7. Recognize the consequences of violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault on victims, perpetrators, bystanders and stakeholders, and its effects on safety, health and well-being on board ships 8. Analyse the consequences of not preventing violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault on victims, perpetrators, bystanders and stakeholders, and its effects on safety, health and well-being on boardships 9. Value teamwork, respect for cultural, religious, genderand ethnic diversity, as well as conflict management and the creation of an inclusive work environment Page09of1010. Understand that, among others, abuse of power relations, discrimination, stress, isolation, fatigue, drugs or alcohol may contribute to violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault 11. Describe the underlying causes of violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexualassault 12. Identify potential conditions and attitudes, which could increase the risk of violenceand harassment on board. 13. identify the factors and risks that may contribute to violence and harassment, including sexualharassment, bullying and sexualassault on board 2.2 Respondingtoviolenceandharassment 1.5 hours 1. Ability to identify violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexualassault 2. Identify behaviours which could trigger violence and harassment, including sexualharassment, bullying and sexualassault 3. Recognizevictims, perpetrators, and bystanders 4. Basic knowledge of the action to take to intervene in and report violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault 5. Describe the basic procedures to intervene in and report violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault 6. Apply the basic procedures to intervene in and report violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault 7. Record cases of violence, harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexualassault 8. Understand the basic principles of trauma-informed response and how to provide appropriatesupportto avictim, bystanders and self 9. Describe trauma informed response 10. Indicate appropriate action to be takenfor atrauma-informed response 11. Demonstrate how to support victims and bystanders Total 3hours Page10of10