STCW stands for the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping.
STCW is for all the mariners who aspire to navigate beyond the United States of America on the commercial vessels. The boundary lines basically separate the harbors, the bays and the other water bodies from the ocean. There are a number of courses that come under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping. Some of the safety training courses include safe working practices, fire prevention, hypothermia, emergency equipment, shipboard communications, compliance with the emergency procedures, first aid, and the proper usage of life rafts, the immersion suits, personal flotation devices, and abandon the ship procedures and the equipment. One of the most important requirements of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping is that one must finish the coast guard approved maritime training courses. There is also a need to demonstrate the ability and knowledge for the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping tasks in front of the examiner.
The designated examiner is a qualified individual who observes and assess the performance of the candidate. If the designated examiner is satisfied with your performance and he thinks that you are the deserving candidate, then you will be given the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping certificate.
The Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping was revised in the year 1995 and all the members are expected to follow the new standards in terms of the training requirements and it also gives a chance for the mariners to complete the training in which ever place they are located at. But this has not worked with a lot of countries. Steps are taken to improve this downfall. One of the major reasons for this to happen is that, this is a pretty expensive thing and all the schools are not in a position to afford this huge amount. This is also the main reason for the school to consider their next best option in terms of the certification. There are also some strict norms that are followed by the countries. So in order to get the approval the schools have to clear all these norms, then only the STCW training classes will be considered as a recognized one. In the maritime jargon, there is something known as the White List.
This is a list that identifies countries which are in accord with the STCW revised convention code, as per the 1995 norms.
The list was formed by the competent panel at the International Maritime Organization. The headquarters of the IMO is located in the United Kingdom and has nearly 140 countries under the White List. Some of the vital elements of the STCW are the control of the Port and the Flag State. The control of the port state refers to the inspection and the oversight of the port by the administration. They inspect the vessel that is entering into the port. The flag state is the inspection of the Flag that is entering the port. These are very important to get approval for Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping.