STCW Code Revision Delay Raises Concerns in Maritime Industry
The slow pace of revising the STCW Code, the global rulebook for seafarer training, certification and watchkeeping, came under the spotlight at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global, held last week in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest sources of seafarers.
The STCW Convention was adopted in 1978 and came into force in 1984. It has been revised twice, in 1995 and 2010, with the last set of amendments taking effect in 2012. The International Chamber of Shipping first called publicly for a third revision in 2018, but the IMO’s comprehensive review only started in 2024.
Since that call, the industry has seen the first methanol- and ammonia-fuelled ships enter service, widespread low-earth-orbit broadband at sea and AI tools such as assisted navigation. The review, led by the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), began with 22 focus areas and has now identified 416 gaps. Completion is targeted for 2029–2030, with adoption by the Maritime Safety Committee to follow later.
Several speakers questioned whether this timeline is realistic. One panellist said a convention that takes more than a decade to revise cannot keep up with modern technology. Haakon Storhaug of the Norwegian Maritime Authority explained that the sub-committee is now working chapter by chapter, currently on deck and engine officer requirements, and admitted the process is slow and labour-intensive.
ITF representative Lydia Ferrad suggested the review should prioritise technical competencies for ships already using alternative fuels and complex digital systems. Capt Pradeep Chawla of Marine PALS / GlobaMET warned that if the review stretches to 2032 or 2033, around 22 years will have passed since the last update, and urged regulators to move faster to protect seafarers.
For seafarers, a slow review means official training may lag behind the fuels and systems already on board, so company and on-the-job training on new technology will matter even more.
