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Including 2010 Manila Amendments. STCW Convention and STCW Code. International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. A comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention commenced in January 2006 and culminated in a Conference of Parties to the STCW Convention, held in Manila, Philippines, from 21 to 25 June 2010, that adopted a significant number of amendments to the STCW Convention and STCW Code. The amendments update standards of competence required, particularly in light of emerging technologies, introduce new training and certification requirements and methodologies, improve mechanisms for enforcement of its provisions, and detail requirements on hours of work and rest, prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and medical fitness standards for seafarers. This publication contains the Final Act of the 2010 Conference of Parties to the 1978 STCW Convention, resolutions adopted by that Conference, and a complete, consolidated text of the STCW Convention, including its original articles, revised annex and supporting STCW Code. The Convention articles and annex provide the legal framework within which mandatory technical standards contained in part A of the STCW Code are applied. Part B of the Code provides guidance to assist those involved in educating, training or assessing the competence of seafarers or who are otherwise involved in applying STCW Convention provisions. While not mandatory, the guidance given has been harmonized through discussions within IMO, involving, where appropriate, consultation with the International Labour Organization. Observance of this guidance will contribute to achieving a more uniform application of Convention requirements. All parts of this publication must be studied to understand the intent of the Convention fully and to give complete effect to the minimum global standards of knowledge, understanding, experience and professional competence desired by the States that are Parties to it, the industry itself and the general public. The Convention and part A of the Code form a binding treaty between States, the interpretation of which is governed by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. The revision aims to bring the Convention and Code up to date with developments since the last full revision and to enable them to address issues that are anticipated to emerge in the foreseeable future in an effort to raise the standards of competence and professionalism of seafarers, upon whom the safety of life, property and the environment depends.

Shipmasters today and those in command of naval vessels have a unique authority which is different to that of the factory manager or civil servant. Ships, although under the jurisdiction of the Flag State, are treated in law as independent 'out-posts'. The master and commanding officer are expected to uphold the general rule of law and to ensure the safety of the crew and the ship using their best judgment.

Copyright © 2009 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. The States Parties to this Convention, Prompted by the desire to settle, in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation, all issues relating to the law of the sea and aware of the historic significance of this Convention as an important contribution to the maintenance of peace, justice, and progress for all peoples of the world, Noting that developments since the United Nations Conferences on the Law of the Sea held at Geneva in 1958 and 1960 have accentuated the need for a new and generally acceptable Convention on the law of the sea, Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole,

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ( S O L A S ) , 1 9 7 4 , currently in force, was adopted on 1 November 1974 by the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, which was convened by the International Maritime Organization ( I M O ) , and entered into force on 25 May 1980. It has since been amended twice by means of protocols:

1. by the Protocol adopted on 17 February 1978 by the International Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention ( 1 9 7 8 SOLAS Protocol), which entered into force on 1 May 1 9 8 1 ; and
2. by the Protocol adopted on 11 November 1 9 8 8 by the International Conference on the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (1988 SOLAS Protocol), which entered into force on 3 February 2 0 0 0 and replaced and abrogated the 1978 Protocol, as between Parties to the 1988 Protocol.