Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) are a well known term against the mariners and sailors across the globe. Though, it takes a jargon like appearance, this term is highly important as far , navigators, mariners are concerned and this term has a well defined explanation and it even differs slightly across to according to a given region of the world. But, on the whole, the term or rather the acronym STCW can be defined as the international regulatory body, which determines or rather defines the standards or criteria for Masters, merchant officers or watch personnel in marine terms.
This body, the STCW which can be expanded as Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping was the brainchild of the conference held in 1978 in London which was conducted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Though the amendments were made in the year 1978, it took almost 6 years for the practical implementation of the laws and in the year 1984 the amendments and the legislation’s came into force and totally 133 countries today issue maritime license across the globe. The implementations got the high level significance in the year 1985, a year later the actual implementation of legislation.
This international body drafted the rules, conventions that are universally applicable and that empowered even the non member states to have a relationship in marine arenas with the member states and special provision was drafted even for those cases. The real implementation was executed after conducting so many optimization experiments and trial runs and picking out the best of all working models. The drafting body, Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping had a representation from almost all its member states, so that the concept of universality could be maintained and which is significant for an internationally acclaimed body.
The Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) was acclaimed as a part of the International Maritime Organization which is an international governing body for all maritime activities across the globe.
And this unit, the Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping drafts the rules and conventions for maritime proceedings and happenings and the governing body deals with and take care of juristic disputes regarding the breach of code of conventions that were being drafted after so many amendments and trial runs and they try to establish solidarity universally regarding the requirements and criteria of naval and maritime staff, worldwide.
One big advantage as far as working in this naval industry or the field of maritime studies is that the staffs encounter extensively thrilling, surprising and adventurous turns in due course of job proceeding in addition to their fat pay. Being a naval staff or a sailor or officer, they experience excessive life threatening hostile atmospheres at extreme conditions that could deter even the mentally and physically stronger people. Hence they need to be sufficiently trained well in advance to combat these and the trainings offered are designed by Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping for maintaining international standards.