The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has agreed on guideline for training and certification requirements for ship security officers and seafarers with designated security duties.
This is to address practical difficulties seafarers have reportedly been experiencing in obtaining the necessary security certification under the 2010 Manila amendments to the international convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and STCW code.
The guidance recommends that until July 1, 2015, relevant training of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code should be accepted as being equivalent to that required under the STCW convention and code.
The guidance was agreed by the sub-committee on human element, training and Watchkeeping (HTW), meeting in its first session in 2014, which expressed its concern that large numbers of seafarers were reportedly unable to have access to approved training courses or were unable to be issued certification of security-related training in accordance with the STCW regulations.
The committee approved an STCW circular on advice for port state control officers, recognized organizations and recognized security organizations on action to be taken in cases where seafarers do not carry certification required in accordance with regulation VI/6 of the STCW convention and section A-VI/6, paragraphs 4 and 6 of the STCW Code after 1 January 2014.
It also approved an STCW circular on advice for port state control officers, recognized organizations and recognized security organizations clarifying training and certification requirements for ship security officers and seafarers with designated security duties, which agrees that ship security officer (SSO) training encompasses the competence requirements of the STCW code (section A-VI/6). Therefore, holders of SSO certificates should not be required to undergo further training and obtain certification.
