The measures suggested aren’t mandatory and also the examples given are only intended to illustrate how certain Convention requirements may be complied with. However, the recommendations in general represent a method that has been harmonized by discussions within IMO and consultation with international organizations.

The Manila amendments towards the STCW Code were adopted on 25 June 2010, marking an important revision of the STCW Code. The 2010 amendments applied for force on 1 January 2012 underneath the tacit acceptance procedure and so are aimed at bringing the Convention and Code current with developments ever since they were initially adopted and in order to address problems that are anticipated to emerge in the foreseeable future.

Amongst the amendments adopted, there are a variety of important changes to every chapter from the Convention and Code, including:

• Improved measures to stop fraudulent practices related to certificates of competency and strengthen the evaluation process (monitoring of Parties’ compliance with all the Convention);
• Revised requirements on hours at work and rest and new requirements to prevent drug and alcohol abuse, along with updated standards associated with medical fitness standards for seafarers;
• Updating of competence requirements for personnel serving on board all types of tankers, including new requirements for personnel serving on liquefied gas tankers;
• New requirements for security training, as well as provisions to ensure seafarers are properly trained to cope if their ship comes under attack by pirates;
• Introduction of recent training methodology including distance learning and web-based learning;
• New training guidance for personnel serving up to speed ships operating in polar waters; and
• New training guidance for personnel operating Dynamic Positioning Systems.
• New certification requirements for able seafarers;
• New requirements associated with training in modern technology such as electronic charts and knowledge systems (ECDIS);
• New requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in leadership and teamwork;
• New training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers;

Seafarers have been trained in school about the proper security precautions to adopt during emergency situations. In addition to their training does end after graduating because before they’re hired for a job on the vessel, they are needed to undergo further schooling. Additionally, once they get employed and work with board, they continue to have regular drills all for maritime safety purposes.

The overall governing body in terms of worldwide shipping may be the International Maritime Organization or IMO. Since its establishment in 1959, the business has adopted global safety standards for vessels and seafarers. Its Maritime Safety Committee is the one that takes control of safety-related issues.

Each country features a maritime agency that looks into all aspects of shipping operations inside their jurisdiction and checks vessels entering and leaving their territorial waters. When accidents happen, this same agency features a committee or special board that investigates the causes and comes up with disciplinary actions and solutions.

In the European Union, the Parliament and its particular Council reached a contract in March to implement more security precautions to avoid maritime accidents and accountability of shipping operators. This may create a better control system of checking vessels that pose a danger, more stringent standards, and the creation of a certification body and implementation of monetary penalties.

Before and recent years, there has been several accidents cruising involving passenger and non-passenger ships in the various areas of the world. Included in this are fires, collisions, sinking of ships and the ones brought on by mechanical failure in addition to disasters such as storms and bad weather. Since these are accidents, it’s also inevitable that some individuals will get killed or injured in worse cases.

While maritime accidents involving big vessels may be unexpected occasionally, some could be attributed to negligence due to inexperienced crew. There have been reports that some ships employ crew members not properly trained for the position resulting in underperformance aboard.

When it comes to cruise ships, it is the passengers who become victims of negligent conduct on the part of crew members. Due to unforeseen circumstances, sometimes their vacation becomes a nightmare which could haunt them for a long period. But there are the maritime lawyers who can always enable them to should they desire to file a case and claim.

Accidents which happen on the ocean really should not be ignored so when injuries are participating, taking court action could be the right step. This is not merely to seek compensation for that injury suffered by the victim but in addition to instruct ship operators a lesson. Sometimes, shipping companies are extremely confident regarding operations that it’s only when accidents occur they take the necessary steps to enhance their systems. The maritime safety of life cruising is and really should continually be a priority for shipping firms. This matter ought to be constantly reviewed to avoid further unfortunate incidents.

Seafarers are already trained in school about the proper safety measures to consider during emergency situations. And their training does end after graduating because before they’re hired for a job on the vessel, they’re needed to undergo further schooling. Additionally, when they get employed and focus on board, they keep having regular drills all for maritime safety purposes.

The entire governing body with regards to worldwide shipping may be the International Maritime Organization or IMO. Since its establishment in 1959, the organization has adopted global safety standards for vessels and seafarers. Its Maritime Safety Committee will be the one which takes charge of safety-related issues.

Each country features a maritime agency that appears into all aspects of shipping operations inside their jurisdiction and checks vessels entering and leaving their territorial waters. When accidents happen, this same agency features a committee or special board that investigates the reasons and arises with disciplinary actions and solutions.

In the European, the Parliament and its Council reached a contract in March to implement more security precautions to prevent maritime accidents and accountability of shipping operators. This will pave the way for a better control system of checking vessels that pose a danger, exacting standards, and the roll-out of a certification body and implementation of financial penalties.

Previously and recent years, there has been several accidents cruising involving passenger and non-passenger ships in the some other part of the world. Such as fires, collisions, sinking of ships and the ones brought on by mechanical failure along with natural disasters such as storms and bad weather. As these are accidents, additionally it is inevitable that some individuals will get hurt or killed in worse cases.

While maritime accidents involving big vessels could be unexpected sometimes, some could be attributed to negligence as a result of inexperienced crew. There have been reports that some ships employ crew members not properly trained about maritime safety for the job leading to underperformance aboard.

When it comes to cruise lines, it’s the passengers who become victims of negligent conduct on the part of crew members. As a result of unforeseen circumstances, sometimes their vacation gets a nightmare that could haunt them for some time. But you will find the maritime lawyers who are able to always help them to whenever they need to file a lawsuit and claim.

Accidents that happen cruising shouldn’t be ignored so when personal injury is involved, taking law suit could be the right step. This is not only to seek compensation for that injury suffered through the victim but also to show ship operators a lesson. Sometimes, shipping companies are extremely confident regarding their operations that it is only if accidents occur they take the necessary steps to improve their systems and maritime safety training.

Safety of life on the ocean is and really should always be a high priority for shipping firms. This matter ought to be constantly reviewed to prevent further unfortunate incidents.

Here’s what you need to do:

1.      Determine which kind of license is acceptable for your needs. For instance, the Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) “6-Pack” License allows the captain to command small vessels with six or fewer passengers in local waters. The OUPV Limited License is named the “launchtender license,” because it’s tailored to captains who move boats around for marinas, camps and yacht clubs. The Limited Master’s License allows command of vessels of lower than 100 gross registered tons. This is the same as the OUPV Limited License, but is issued for Coast Guard-inspected vessels. Finally, the actual 100 Tons License is divided into several tonnage categories, and is also suitable for Coast Guard-inspected vessels for example small ferries, dinner cruise boats and whale watching or sightseeing vessels.

2.      Make certain you have satisfied these requirements to acquire captain license: Minimum age for the specific license (18 or 21), evidence of citizenship and driver’s license, Medical and CPR Course certifications, physical and vision exams, a negative drug make sure character references. You may want to certify competence in protection training and bridge team leadership. Some licenses could also demand a Radio Operator’s Certificate, demonstrated familiarity with radar-based navigation and Safe Boating Course completion.

3.      Document your boating experience of regards to the specific captain license requirements. Each license requires different amounts of “on the water” time; however, in history must be documented and verified before the job will probably be approved for testing. All logged time must be signed from the captain with the vessel upon which you served.

4.      Complete the written exam for captain license. Even though the exam might include questions on some topics while not including others, applicants has to be well-versed in most Coast Guard regulations, inland and international Rules of the Road, and virtually whatever else associated with boating and vessel command. At this point, you need to determine if it is possible to accomplish the preparation all on your own, or if it makes more sense to utilize a Captain License Preparation course. Many of these courses also offer start-to-finish licensing. A couple of the most effective known license education/completion organizations are the Maritime Institute and Safeboating America.

Function

The Standards of Training, Certification, & Watchkeeping were created as standards that professional mariners must comply with an international level. STCW provides different levels of certifications with regards to the capacity and type of vessel the mariner is going to be working on. The essential Training course satisfies the security requirements for any mariner on any size vessel.

Courses

Basic safety training contains four different courses; Personal Safety and Social Responsibility, Personal Survival Techniques, Medical Emergencies cruising and Basic Firefighting. The entire Protection Training program could be bought out the path of four days. Personal Safety and Social Responsibility is protected in four hours, Personal Survival Techniques is included in 12 hours, Medical Emergencies on the ocean is included in eight hours and Basic Firefighting is protected in 16 hours.

Applicability

The STCW applies to all mariners who plan to sail outside of the boundary line. The boundary lines are the separation point of rivers or bays and waters near a coast. In addition, it applies to vessels that weigh over 200 gross tons or are passenger vessels that weigh greater than 100 gross tons. Towing vessels which are not inspected or vessels that are going to be sailing to foreign waters will also be at the mercy of the STCW.

Content

The Personal Safety and Social Responsibility course covers emergency procedures, preventing pollution, safe working practices, being understood associated with duties and effective human relationships. Covered within the Personal Survival Techniques course would be the following topics: survival cruising, emergency radio equipment and preparation for emergencies, evacuation and lifesaving equipment. The Medical Emergencies cruising course covers assessment from the scene and patient, vital signs, life-threatening conditions and hypothermia. The ultimate course, Basic Firefighting, covers fire detection, prevention, equipment and strategy. In addition, it involves eight hours of hands-on training where fires are fought using water, carbon dioxide and foam extinguishers.

History

The International Maritime Organization is located in London, England, and is also a part of the United Nations. In 1978, the International Maritime Organization gathered to improve the standards for safety and training worldwide. The STCW code was adopted from the people in the organization on July 7, 1978. The code has been updated and revised 4x; in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1997.

So You Want To Earn Your  Captains License – Some Literary Inspiration to Motivate You

These days, there’s no need for you to leave your home because there few of the classics out there that can surely take you right on the water. So, if you think to pursue your captains license or just want to read a great story about man’s interaction with the sea, then you can’t surely go wrong with the following:

Literary Piece of Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea (1952)

With this literary piece, Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize along with countless satisfied readers. It contains all the details regarding with the struggle of an old man by the name of Santiago who is on the haunt for a large marlin. The said man is under pressure to catch something that he has not caught anything in over 80 days. But on his 88 day, Santiago finally catches hold of the marlin, and the novella follows Santiago’s fight with the mammoth beast and the sea. With this terse prose of Hemingway, he again dominates this love story of man and nature. That is why, if you have the desire to gain a better understanding of man’s relationship with the sea, then there’s no better place to start than this award-winning story which is also known as the last literary piece of Hemingway.

Literary Piece of Patrick O’Brian: Master and Commander (1969)

Skip the Russell Crowe movie. Nobody can capture a sea battle scene better than Patrick O’Brian. This so-called historical fiction novel takes place during the Napoleonic Wars and is loosely based off Lord Cochrane. This literary piece chronicles the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and Stephan Maturin as they try to stay alive and serenade the sea with music. This is the first of 21 books, and you should definitely start from the beginning. This book is heralded for its realism and detail. If you want to feel like you’re in the Royal Navy in the 1800s, read O’Brian.

Literary Piece of C.S. Forester: Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (1950)

You can’t have a list of sea fiction without including Horatio Hornblower. This is the first book in chronological order where we meet Hornblower. It must be noted that this was not the first book Forester published. That would be Beat to Quartersin 1937. In Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, Horatio Hornblower begins his career in the Royal Navy. He suffers from seasickness, but his mathematical skills make him a natural at nautical analysis. He is derided by some but ultimately becomes acting Lieutenant by the end of this novel. The novel has ten self-contained chapters and is a joy to read for anyone wishing to read historical fiction about naval life.  The author of the next book on this short list often said he recommended Hornblower to everyone literate he knew.

We hope you enjoy these literary classics about famous men that have accomplished their captains license and live the captains dream on the open sea.

 So You Want To Earn Your Captains License– Medical Dis-qualifiers

Remember that it is very important for every crew member be physically fit and free from any debilitating illness and injury so that they can safely operate a maritime vessel. Typically, availability of medical assistance or treatment is generally minimal and the seafaring life can be grueling, often hazardous.

Below are some maritime safety guidelines that you may follow. However, they are not intended to be absolute or all encompassing.

We cannot deny the fact that there are some individuals that may have other medical or physical conditions and limitations that would make them incompetent to do their maritime duties aboard vessel. There are also some individuals who may be quite capable of working at sea without even posing a risk to themselves, their ship, or shipmates even though one of the listed conditions exists.

The ability of each crew member to perform his or her routine duties and respond to emergencies becomes even more critical, as the industry continues its trend toward smaller crews. The following are the top 5 medical conditions that can delay your Captains License application or cause the application to be denied:

• Sleep Apnea
• Chronic use of Narcotics
• Diabetes
• Cardiac Disease
• Psychiatric Disorders

Keep in mind that it is really important for you to provide medical documentation from your Doctor if you have one or more of these medical conditions. Any cause for rejection is disqualifying only while the condition persists or is likely to cause disqualifying complications.

 USCG approved STCW-95 courses

Did you know that there is no better way to learn safety skills than to practice them side by side with a team of accomplished maritime safety instructors? Exactly! During a five day course, you can the chance to learn various skills such as personal survival, firefighting, safety and social responsibility, and of course the first aid/CPR theory. Aside from this, you can also practice all of these skills in different environments.

With this kind of maritime training, you can fully understand on how to put on the full fire-fighting gear and practice putting out fires; quickly change into a survival suit, deploy a liferaft, and enter the raft which will be floating in a pool simulating an abandon ship situation; fine tune your first aid and CPR skills to ensure that you will be prepared in an emergency situation; all while learning how to work effectively, efficiently, and respectively in a team environment!

Also, this course is instructed in compliance with STCW-95 Code A; V1-2 and provides a variety of practical and theoretical lessons fundamental to onboard safety. This course is followed by a written exam. Certificates received at the end of the entire course: Candidates who successfully complete the CC/OP STCW course will receive the following:

1. A.      First Aid Certificate (S.T.C.W. 95)
2. B.      Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (S.T.C.W. 95)
3. C.      Basic Sea Survival Certificate (S.T.C.W. 95)
4. D.      Fire Fighting Certificate (S.T.C.W. 95

What does STCW means?

STCW is a five day course. In other words, it is a one day Personal Survival course module which is instructed in compliance with STCW ’95 Code A – VI/1-2 and consists of a half day in a classroom covering subjects like evacuations, emergency situations, survival craft and rescue boats, personal lifesaving appliances, survival at sea, emergency radio equipment and helicopter assistance. The rest of the module can be done in a swimming pool wherein you need to perform life raft inflation and inversion and the simulation of other abandon ship procedures. Both the theory and practical are followed by an exam.

A two day Fire Prevention module which is instructed in compliance with STCW ’95 Code A – VI/1-2 including shipboard fire fighting organization, the elements of fire and explosion, types of ignition, fire and smoke detection, breathing apparatus use and automatic alarm system familiarization. CC/OP trainees will fight and extinguish actual fires using personal equipment, appliances methods and various agents. The module includes seminar and practical instruction taught by licensed and certified fire fighting professionals. It takes two days to complete and is followed by a written exam.

A one day First Aid and CPR course which is instructed in compliance with STCW ’95 Code A – VI/1-2 and consists of approximately seven hours of theory and practical covering basic First Aid and CPR in marine situations. Through classroom lecture and use of an anatomical mannequin suitable for performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the student will demonstrate the following:

• Initial treatment for severe bleeding
• Initial treatment for severe burns
• Basic patient transport
• Basic life support (CPR) for an adult victim