Nautilus at work
RAISING THE STANDARDS
The International Maritime Organization’s STCW requirements for seafarer
training have not been reviewed for 10 years, during which there has been
massive technological change in shipping. Meanwhile, employers have
stubbornly continued to prioritise cost over competence, and flag state
enforcement of standards has remained patchy. In a major new research
exercise, trade unions in the worldwide Nautilus Federation group surveyed
nearly 1,000 seafarers on what is and isn’t working with STCW, and what
changes they would like to see. HELEN KELLY reports.
THE STCW Convention and Code
are not fit for purpose and
should be revised, according
to the 2020 Nautilus Federation survey of close to
1,000 seafarers.
Known in full as the International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping, STCW is the global benchmark for
seafarer training set by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO). But it was last
reviewed 10 years ago – a lifetime, considering
the advances in technology.
‘Training should be future-proofed to respond
to the rise of automation and digitalisation and
the predicted transformational effects that these
will have on the role of crew,’ Nautilus Federation
director Mark Dickinson said. The Nautilus
Federation is a group of 21 like-minded trade
36 SUOMEN MERENKULKU J FINLANDS SJÖFART
unions in the global shipping industry.
Respondents to the Nautilus Federation
survey identified several areas currently lacking
in STCW, including IT skills, soft skills and
interpersonal skills, familiarity with modern
marine equipment and knowledge of new
propulsion systems and fuels.
IT computing and networking were identified
as key skills that will be in great demand in
future, and as a result, there was recognition that
the role of the electro-technical officer (ETO)
will become increasingly important. Many
respondents suggested that traditional distinc-tions
between deck, engine and electrical
departments will become obsolete and that
seafarers will need to be multi-skilled.
The seafarers surveyed were sceptical about
the concept of a remote-controlled ship operated
G Officer on
the bridge.
IMAGE: OLEKSANDR
KALINICHENKO
All Nautilus
articles has been
published in
Nautilus
Internationals
”Telegraph” and/
or Nautilus
Federations
”The Global
Seafarer”