Page 18: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2015)

GOVERNMENT UPDATE

Unfamiliar Ships Marit me Training & Educat on is a Lifelong Pursuit

BY DENNIS BRYANT he theme for World Maritime was beginning to change. GPS was be- gated as a ? nal rule on 24 December information systems (ECDIS) were add-

Day 2015 is Maritime Educa- coming common, but was not yet ubicu- 1997. ed. Use of electro-technical equipment

Ttion and Training. Education and quous. Electronic charts were being and dynamic positioning systems were training is a lifelong pursuit. It does not introduced, but were still considered ex- STCW Convention recognized, with training and certi? ca- end when you graduate from a maritime perimental. AIS was truly experimental. The International Convention on tion standards de? ned for the ? rst time. academy or school, receive a certi? cate, The IMO recognized that, as ships be- Standards of Training, Competency, Guidance was added relating to person- and get your ? rst job. Not only do you came increasingly differentiated, it was and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 nel serving on board ships operating in have to gain more knowledge and skill to important that seafarers be made aware (STCW Convention) re? ects the increas- polar waters. Security training was man- get a promotion, you have to gain more of the particular characteristics of the ing challenges with regard to seafarers. dated. Distance learning and web-based knowledge and skill just to retain your vessel to which they had been assigned, When ? rst adopted, it utilized the stan- learning were recognized as alternative current position. This is particularly true even if that concept was not mandatory. dard terminology for crew members on or supplementary approaches.

for those serving at sea. Equipment on In 1993, when the ISM Guidelines board commercial vessels, such as deck Regulation I/14 (originally dating ships is regularly upgraded. Most mari- became the ISM Code, the ‘familiariza- of? cer and engineer of? cer, with terms from 1995) now states, in pertinent part: ners change ships with alacrity – and tion’ provision was reworded to: such as of? cer in charge of a navigation- each ship is different. al watch appearing only occasionally. Each Administration shall . . . hold

The Company should establish pro- Radar was the only means of electronic companies responsible for the assign-

ISM Code cedures to ensure that new personnel navigation speci? cally mentioned. ment of seafarers for service in their

On 6 November 1991, the IMO assem- and personnel transferred to new as- ships in accordance with the provi- bly adopted Resolution A.680(17) en- signments related to safety and pro- The 1995 Amendments sions of the present Convention, and titled “IMO Guidelines on Management tection of the environment are given The ? rst comprehensive amendments shall require every such company to for the Safe Operation of Ships and for proper familiarization with their du- to the STCW Convention were made in ensure that . . . seafarers, on being as-

Pollution Prevention”. While not man- ties. Instructions which are essential 1995. The terms deck of? cer and engi- signed to any of its ships, are famil- datory, the Resolution established stan- to be provided prior to sailing should neer of? cer were largely consigned to iarized with their speci? c duties and dards for measures that owners and op- be identi? ed, documented and given. history. The use of simulators as a train- with all ship arrangements, instal- erators should implement to reduce the ing tool was formally recognized and the lations, equipment, procedures and risk of marine casualties. The concept The 1994 Conference of Contracting ship familiarization provision was add- ship characteristics that are relevant was to identify steps necessary to safe- Governments to the International Con- ed. Many of the details were moved to to their routine or emergency duties guard the shipmaster in the proper dis- vention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SO- a new STCW Code. Part A of the Code and the ship’s complement can effec- charge of his or her responsibilities in re- LAS) 1974 adopted a new chapter IX on became mandatory, while Part B consist- tively co-ordinate their activities in an gard to maritime safety and protection of Management for the Safe Operation of ed of recommendations (best practices). emergency situation and in perform- the marine environment. The Company Ships, with the effect that the ISM Code, Flag administrations were also required ing functions vital to safety or to the was identi? ed as responsible not only for including the ship familiarization provi- to inform the IMO concerning measures prevention or mitigation of pollution.

ensuring that its ships were adequately sion, became mandatory on 1 July 1998 taken to ensure compliance with the manned for the trade in which they were for passenger ships, including passenger Convention. The STCW Code, in the mandatory engaged, but also for ensuring that ship’s high-speed craft; oil tankers; chemical Section A-I/14, contains detailed provi- personnel have the proper knowledge of tankers; gas carriers; bulk carriers; and The Manila Amendments of 2010 sions for implementation of this respon- the technical aspects of the ship and its cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross ton- The STCW Convention and Code sibility for familiarization, including the operation as necessary for performance nage and upwards, regardless of their were changed again in 2010 by means of requirement for written instructions to of their duties, and receive the necessary date of construction. the Manila Amendments. In addition to the master, allocation of a reasonable pe- training for familiarization with the par- The ISM Code was adopted for the recognizing various increased complexi- riod of time for newly employed seafar- ticular ship or equipment. United States by means of section 602 ties, a number of wholly new provisions ers to gain the necessary familiarity, and

This concept that ‘familiarization with of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of were added. Measures were added to designation of a knowledgeable crew the particular ship in which the seafarer 1996 (codi? ed at 46 U.S. Code, Chap- address the risk of fraudulent certi? cates member who will be responsible for en- was engaged’ was a Company respon- ter 32 – Management of Vessels) and of competency and to closely monitor suring that an opportunity is provided to sibility had not previously been articu- became mandatory for covered US-? ag ? ag administrations’ compliance with each newly employed seafarer to receive lated. Back when ships were more basic vessels on 1 July 1998. The ISM Code Convention. Requirements relating to the essential information.

and less technical, ships (at least those in was implemented for the United States hours of work and rest and for preven- In the non-mandatory Section B-I- the same trade) were very similar. The by means of a new Part 96 to title 33 of tion of drug and alcohol abuse were 14, the STCW Code recommends that equipment on the bridge of one ship the Code of Federal Regulations – Rules strengthened. Speci? c requirements re- companies should provide ship-speci? c was generally the same as that found on for the Safe Operation of Vessels and garding training in and use of such tech- introductory programs aimed at assist- the bridge of other ships. By 1991, that Safety Management Systems, promul- nology as electronic chart displays and ing newly employed seafarers to famil- 18 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2015

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