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STCW

STCW, as many NOAA field personnel already know, stands for "Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarer's". The STCW code comes from a branch of the United Nations known as the International Maritime Organization. The purpose of STCW is to ensure that there are minimum standards of training that are met by the mariners of nations which are parties to the convention.

The requirements of STCW are far reaching and sometimes well beyond the scope of knowledge or proficiency required of small boat operators, but there are some very basic STCW training requirements that can add value to NOAA small boat operations. The USCG has published Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 7-00, "CLARIFICATION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARER'S (STCW) 1978, AS AMENDED, TO VESSELS LESS THAN 200 GROSS REGISTER TONS (GRT)". This NVIC details very few instances where the USCG would require STCW training for personnel serving aboard vessels of less than 200 GRT.

Although there are few instances where the requirements of STCW are imposed upon small boats engaged in near coastal service, the principles upon which STCW training is based can add value and/or act as refresher training for operators of qualified Class II or larger motorboats. Specifically, the hands-on training and demonstration of proficiency required in STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) is a worth while experience. Many field activities have recognized this and have been successful in locating local vendors who, although not STCW certified, engage boat operators in hands on experience in many of the areas of training detailed in STCW-BST. These areas include the actual donning and swimming in immersion suits, deploying and boarding survival craft, use of PFDs, operation of emergency electronics, techniques to avoid hypothermia, administering CPR/First Aid, and use of basic fire fighting equipment to combat fires. This type of training is strongly recommended where deemed appropriate to abate inherent risks of operating "large" small boats. The best aspect of STCW implementation is that the availability of these types of training courses will most likely increase in the future.

There are a few NVICs which offer guidelines for the proficiencies that must be demonstrated in order to meet the STCW code. These NVICs are listed below in order for field operators to make a determination whether or not their existing training meets (or exceeds) the minimum basic requirements or the basic intent of STCW. In conclusion, STCW training for boat operators is not a NOAA requirement, but rather a recommendation for field activities to consider when implementing their own boat management policies.

• NVIC 1-02, "GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF SEAFARER'S PROFICIENCY IN ADVANCED FIRE-FIGHTING THROUGH DEMONSTRATION OF SKILLS"
  
  
• NVIC 02-02, "GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF SEAFARER'S PROFICIENCY FOR CERTIFICATION AS RATINGS, FORMING PART OF A NAVIGATIONAL WATCH THROUGH DEMONSTRATION OF SKILLS"
  
  
• NVIC 03-02, "GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF MERCHANT MARINER'S PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL-CRAFT OR RESCUE BOATS THROUGH DEMONSTRATION OF SKILLS"