Mayte Medina News

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) model courses are valuable tools that assist Member States and other stakeholders to develop detailed training programmes, to effectively implement the provisions of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended, and to achieve the knowledge and skills demanded by increasingly sophisticated shipping industry.According to the UN body, three new model courses and one revised model course have been put forward to the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 6, 29 April-3 May) for validation: draft new model courses on Advanced training for masters, officers, ratings and other personnel on ships subject to the International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)…

The ongoing comprehensive review of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaty on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) is set to continue this week. The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 5), meeting at IMO Headquarters (16-20 July), will continue its work to review the minimum standards of competence set out in the treaty in order to bring them up to date and reflect realities in the fishing industry. The STCW-F treaty was adopted in 1995 and entered into force in 2012. It is a key pillar among the international instruments addressing fishing vessel safety.

Panelists say U.S. may be at competitive disadvantage by not adopting “MLC, 2006”. Panelists at a major symposium on an international maritime agreement today said the U.S. may be at a competitive economic disadvantage if it doesn’t approve what more than 30 other shipping nations have adopted. The symposium, hosted by the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, the Charleston School of Law and its Charleston Maritime Law Institute, focused discussion on the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006, also known as “MLC, 2006.”  The most significant development in seafarers’ rights law in history, it provides a comprehensive statement of seafarers’ working conditions that balance tradition and modern shipping realities.

The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping held its 43rd Session at IMO Headquarters on Monday 30 April through Friday 4 May 2012 under the Chairmanship of Rear Admiral Peter Brady (Jamaica) who elected to step down on completion of the meeting. Mr Bradley Groves (Australia) was chosen as his successor whilst Mrs Mayte Medina (USA) was elected as the on-going Vice-Chairman.

Notice on Implementation of 2010 Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping Published. The Coast Guard will publish in an upcoming Federal Register a notice announcing steps for implementation of the 2010 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended, (STCW) concerning hours of rest and security related training requirements. Because the…