Marine Operations Note: 01/2017 - Advice on implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code

10 January 2017

MARINE OPERATIONS NOTE 0₁/2017

Subject: Advice on implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code

Ref: (a) MSC.1-Circ.1560

Dear Shipowners/Operators, Masters and Recognized Organization

Purpose:

This Marine Operations Note provides guidance on MSC.1-Circ.1560 issued by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) regarding implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended.

Background:

The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention entered into enforce on 1 January 2017. Due to concerns expressed that, so close to 1 January 2017, seafarers in some States were reportedly unable to obtain certificates and/or the necessary endorsements meeting the requirements of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, MSC issued MSC.1-Circ.1560 containing advice for Parties, Administrations and port State control authorities. MSC.1-Circ.1560 recognizes that some seafarers on board ships may not yet hold their certificates or flag State endorsements meeting the 2010 Manila Amendments to the Convention and urges port State control authorities to take the above factors into consideration when taking action under the control procedures in article X and regulation I/4 of the STCW Convention.

MSC agreed that, in cases where a seafarer's documentation complied with the requirements in force immediately before 1 January 2017, but was not in accordance with the requirements of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, and recommended port State control authorities, until 1 July 2017, take a pragmatic and practical approach during inspections and to notify the ships, seafarers and Administrations concerned accordingly.

MSC urged all concerned, including certificate-issuing Parties and Administrations, to do their utmost to ensure that seafarers were issued with the appropriate certificates and necessary endorsements.

Administration’s Action:

The endorsements issued by the Liberian Administration are based on the certificates issued by the seafarer’s National Administration. This Administration authorizes officers and ratings that had national certificates that complied with the STCW requirements in force immediately before 1 January 2017, but were not in accordance with the requirements of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, to continue to serve, until 1 July 2017 in their respective capacity identified on their valid National Certificates.

The Liberian Administration is aware that some certificate-issuing Parties/National Administrations have extended the validity of seafarers certificates beyond 1 January 2017, until they are able to issue certificates meeting the requirements of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention. Liberian endorsements that were issued based on these certificates will continue to remain valid, until the certificate-issuing Party/National Administration issues a certificate meeting the requirements of the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention.

Recognized organizations authorized to conduct ISM Code certification on behalf of Liberia shall inform the Administration, if a seafarer's documentation is not in accordance with the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, when assessing compliance with the provisions of the ISM Code.

If you have any questions please contact the Safety Department at safety@liscr.com or telephone +1 703 790 3434.

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