THE STCW 1978 CONVENTION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE SEAFARER

By: Manuel J. Moreno Chávez. Captain OM LT, Chilean Navy. PR Executive Engineer and Senior Expert in STCW Convention

Since the beginning of life on Earth, the sea has aroused great curiosity in the human race. Man, throughout his evolution, has felt the need to know and master the sea, and has therefore devoted, on an unprecedented scale, his energy and resources to the study of the oceans.

It is safe to say that this science was created long before the birth of written history, when primitive man went to sea to fish, trade and fight, that is, when man began to accumulate a series of empirical knowledge which was the basis for initiating the study of the ocean.

Navigational charts were drawn, soundings were taken, the coordinates of ports were plotted, the distances traveled were determined by means of astrological observations, and countless maritime routes were used as a continuation of the land routes for the transport of rich caravans.

In the 15th century, the time of the renaissance of science, these discoveries advanced, as did marine explorations. One of the promoters of maritime routes was Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), who founded an observatory and a Nautical School, compiled all the geographical and maritime knowledge of his time, drew maps and built navigational devices, which allowed the seafarers of that time, the discovery of new navigation routes.

THE TRAINING CONVENTION, STCW 1978.
The STCW 1978 Training Convention is a multilateral Convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), whose objective is to standardize the functions and qualifications of personnel embarked on international traffic ships, raising the standards of professionalism, with the purpose of ensuring the protection of human life at sea, the safety of navigation and the preservation of the marine environment.

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, STCW 1978, was approved at the London Conference on July 7 of 1978, and entered into force worldwide on April 28 of 1984.

In order to keep it up to date with the advances and new technologies in the design and construction of ships, this Convention has been amended on numerous occasions since 1991, most importantly, the London 1995 Amendments and the Manila 2010 Amendments.

The STCW 1978 Training Convention plays a very important role in International Maritime Law, as together with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), constitute the 4 Pillars of the International Maritime Industry.

SEAFARERS.
The International Labor Organization (ILO), through the MLC 2006 Maritime Labor Convention, establishes that the term "seafarer" means any person who is employed, recruited or working in any job on board a vessel to which this Convention applies.

By extension, the concept of "seafarers" involves a group of people related to maritime activity (trade, transport, fishing, aquaculture, scientific research), who work on board a vessel, as well as those who provide support from land. These include:

  • Deck Crew (Captain, First Officer, Watch Officers, Pilots, Petty Officers and Seamen).
  • Engine Crew (Chief Engineer, Chief Mate, Chief Engineer Officer, Engine Watch Officers, Electro-technical Officers and Ratings, Engineer Ratings, mechanics, firemen).
  • Radioelectronics and communicators (personnel assigned to radio installations and communication systems).
  • Administration (personnel in charge of accounting tasks, accommodation and food services for crew and passengers).
  • Sanitation (medical officers, nurses and assistants).
  • Pilotage and Pilotage (personnel dedicated to nautical and legal advice).
  • Land personnel (professional and technical) that exercise functions in the port jurisdiction.
  • Industrial, coastal and offshore fishermen, among others

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SEAFARERS.
On June 21-25, 2010, the Conference of the Parties to the STCW 1978 Training Convention was held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, Philippines, in collaboration with the Director General of the International Labour Office (ILO), for the purpose of examining amendments to the Annex to the Convention and to the Training Code.

At the conclusion of the deliberations, the Conference agreed on Resolution 1, adopting the Manila Amendments to the Annex to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 1978 Training Convention); and Resolution 2, adopting the Manila Amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code, 1978, Part A (Mandatory Standards) and Part B (Guidance in the Form of a Recommendation).

At the same Conference, a total of 19 resolutions were adopted, among which, for the purposes of this article, the following should be highlighted:

  • Resolution 18, Year of the Seafarer. The Conference expresses its deep appreciation to IMO for its timely and appropriate decision to dedicate the year 2010 to seafarers, and expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude to seafarers around the world for their outstanding contribution to international maritime trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole.
  • Resolution 19, Seafarers' Day. The Conference decides to declare June 25 of each year, starting in 2010, as "Seafarers' Day", and encourages governments, organizations and shipping companies to promote Seafarers' Day in an appropriate and timely manner, adopting the necessary measures to celebrate it as it deserves.

The Manila 2010 Conference was considered a key event for the International Maritime Organization, as evidenced by the preceding Resolutions, giving the world maritime community the opportunity to pay a well-deserved tribute to seafarers of all nations for their contribution to society  and, furthermore, to recognize the vital role they play in the facilitation of international trade and the protection of the marine environment.

JUNE 25 - INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE SEAFARER.
The international maritime trade and every citizen of the world have a great and unconditional ally: the seafarers. In recognition of these anonymous protagonists, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at the Manila Conference 2010, established that on June 25 of each year, the International Day of the Seafarer will be celebrated worldwide.

Seafarers are an essential link in the development of international trade, in the midst of risks and restrictions that threaten the fulfillment of their work, such as:

  • Unintentional maritime incidents, which may cause environmental damage or loss of life, with possible criminal liabilities.
  • Adverse environmental conditions (storms, tidal waves, tsunamis).
  • Difficulties in facilitating crew changes at seaports, due to protocols established in the various countries and geographical areas that hinder the replacement of seafaring personnel.
  • Piracy, smuggling, kidnapping and human trafficking.

In this context, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has promoted numerous awareness campaigns in support of the work carried out by seafarers, with the aim of encouraging the international community to treat seafarers with dignity and respect.

Campaign 2020: Seafarers are key workers.
The 2020 slogan was "Seafarers are key workers", considering their irreplaceable work in maintaining the flow of vital goods (food, medicines, medical supplies, among others), in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective was for Member States to recognize seafarers as key workers, essential in the fight against this pandemic that has affected every country in the world, and to provide them with the logistical support and assistance required to carry out their work.

Campaign 2021: A Just Future for Seafarers
For the current year 2021 the central theme of the campaign is "A Just Future for Seafarers".

The campaign seeks to encourage governments around the world to support seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic by advocating for a fairer future for seafarers, based on:

  • Balanced treatment.
  • Working conditions in accordance with the ILO Maritime Labor Convention.
  • Fair training.
  • Fair safety.

Today's world, as we know it, is in dire need of commercial trade between the countries that produce raw materials and the industrialized countries that transform these materials into the necessary goods for all human beings, of which more than 90% is transported by sea.

In this context, Seafarers are the most important link in the logistic chain, and their selfless, silent, efficient and often unknown performance will continue to be fundamental for the subsistence of all mankind.

 

   -  OTHER ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR  -

 

#FairFuture4Seafarers #Seafarers #SeafarersDay #LifeAtSea #SeafarerDay2021 #Maritime #ProudlyMAMLa #OrgullosamenteMAMLa #ElMarNosUne #MARPOL #SOLAS #Safety #STCW #Ocean #Seafarer #GenteDeMar #Pollution #ShipManagement #Environment #SaveThePlanet #PlasticPollution #ZeroWaste #PlasticFree #GoGreen #MaritimeSustainability #GreenerShipping #MarineTraffic #WMT2022 #IMO #LemaMaritimo2022 #MaritimeRegulation #LegislacionMaritima