A well-trained, competent crew is essential for ensuring operational safety and efficiency. Adequate crew training is also a core component of numerous international shipping standards and regulations.
In this post we will outline some of the key crew training requirements in shipping. As well as exploring the benefits of a competent crew, we will also discuss some of the risks you may face if your crew fails to meet the appropriate training standards.
International Standards for Competent Crew Requirements
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) was first adopted in 1978 and has seen numerous amendments in the intervening years. The STCW Convention establishes minimum basic international standards for training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers.
The Convention features four modules of basic safety training, including Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety and Social Responsibility. Seafarers must complete these four modules before they are assigned to duties on a seagoing ship.
Recent amendments to the STCW Convention include new modules on bullying and harassment, and a requirement for cyber-awareness training for officers.
Beyond this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) established the minimum standards for manning levels in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974.
You can read the full guidelines for the application of the IMO safe manning principles.
Certificates of Competency
Under the STCW Convention, flag states are responsible for issuing Certificates of Competency (CoCs) to seafarers who have completed the required training. CoCs are often only necessary if the crew members are undertaking certain duties, and even then, they may only be necessary if the ship is of a certain size, or if it is operating in certain areas.
Broadly speaking, the following crew members are generally required to have CoCs:
- Deck officers, especially if they perform navigational and bridge watch-keeping duties
- Engineering officers
- Radio operators
- Cooks
- Security operators
CoCs must be revalidated every five years. Seafarers can revalidate their certificates through demonstrating that they have completed either 12 months of sea service in the last five years, or three months of sea service in the last six months. You can learn more about CoC revalidation.
If seafarers from certain non-UK countries want to work as an officer on a UK-registered ship, then they can apply for a Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) instead.
You can read the full UK Government guidance on competent crew requirements, including the necessary qualifications and documentation, here.
How Crew Competency Affects Seaworthiness
Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, it is a criminal offence to send, or to attempt to send, an “unseaworthy” ship to sea. Seaworthiness has also been an implied warranty of all standard marine insurance policies since the introduction of the Marine Insurance Act of 1906, which outlined that vessels must be “reasonably seaworthy in all respects.”
Shipowners have a legal responsibility to ensure that their vessels are seaworthy at the start of their voyage, and throughout. While seaworthiness largely depends on the physical condition of the vessel, it also hinges on the competency of the crew.
For example, in a recent case involving the grounding of the Happy Aras bulk carrier, the court ruled that the master’s incompetence had rendered the vessel unseaworthy.
Following an incident, if the shipowner’s due diligence and the vessel’s seaworthiness come into question, it may not be enough to simply demonstrate that your officers were appropriately certified. It may also be necessary to evidence your recruitment, onboarding, training, supervision, and performance monitoring procedures. These can demonstrate how you ensure your crew remains competent, and your vessel thus remains seaworthy, throughout a voyage.
Owner/Operator Responsibilities for Having Competent Crew
The International Maritime Organization Rules 26.2.2 outlines the responsibilities of owners and operators in ensuring that vessels are safely and sufficiently manned.
These responsibilities include:
- Assessing all tasks, duties, and responsibilities necessary for the vessel’s safe operation, for the protection of the marine environment, and for dealing with emergency situations.
- Identifying the skills and experience required to fulfil all necessary functions.
- Ensuring the manning level is adequate at all times, accounting for peak workloads.
- Reviewing the manning level in the event of any changes in the nature of the operation.
- Ensuring that all working arrangements also allow for sufficient rest periods, so as to avoid fatigue.
You can read the full list of IMO general principles for ensuring that vessels are safely and sufficiently manned.
The Importance of a Competent Crew
A competent crew is essential for ensuring operational safety and efficiency. With adequate training, in the event of an incident at sea, every member of the crew will know exactly what they need to do to keep themselves and others safe.
Good training can also help to reduce the losses in the event of an accident. If a fire breaks out onboard, for example, the crew should be able to contain the blaze before it has a chance to spread.
With all this in mind, the risks you will face if your crew does not meet the minimum safety standards should be obvious: The ship will likely be plagued by operational inefficiencies and health and safety oversights. Your operations may fall behind schedule, and should anything go wrong, the crew may not know how to react. Their actions could lead to further damages, along with serious injuries, and even death.
Plus, if you fail to meet these international training standards, you may face fines and other penalties for non-compliance. There could be insurance implications too. Following an incident at sea, if your insurer finds that you did not act to ensure your crew met all relevant standards, then they may reject your claim.
We Can Help You Get The Dedicated Insurance You Need For Voyages
Everard Insurance Brokers provides specialist marine insurance solutions, helping businesses protect valuable shipments throughout the supply chain. We can help you understand the training and regulatory requirements that may apply to your ship and your crew. We can also help you access insurance solutions tailored to the risks you may face both at port and at sea.
Find out more about our specialist marine insurance services.