Safety

STCW: The Convention & Its Eight Chapters

What STCW stands for and the eight chapters that set the training, certification and watchkeeping standard for seafarers.

5 min read

Beginner

Safety

Key Principles at a Glance 9 points

STCW = International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.
Chapter 1 — General provisions.
Chapter 2 — Master and Deck department.
Chapter 3 — Engine department.
Chapter 4 — Radio communication and Radio personnel.
Chapter 5 — Special training required for personnel on certain types of ship.
Chapter 6 — Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and survival functions.
Chapter 7 — Alternative certification; Chapter 8 — Watchkeeping.
In total there are eight STCW chapters.

1. What STCW Stands For

S.T.C.W.

STCW = International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Sea Farers.

It is the international convention that sets the minimum training, certification and watchkeeping standards for seafarers.
It is what makes a Certificate of Competency (CoC) internationally recognised.
STCW is a Convention, not a Code — it is one of the conventions listed alongside SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line, Tonnage and BWM.

2. The Eight STCW Chapters

Chapter	Subject
Chapter 1	General provisions
Chapter 2	Master and Deck department
Chapter 3	Engine department
Chapter 4	Radio communication and Radio personnel
Chapter 5	Special training required for personnel on certain types of ship
Chapter 6	Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and survival functions
Chapter 7	Alternative certificate
Chapter 8	Watchkeeping

Chapter 1 — General provisions
Chapter 2 — Master and Deck department
Chapter 3 — Engine department
Chapter 4 — Radio communication and Radio personnel
Chapter 5 — Special training required for personnel on certain type of ship
Chapter 6 — Emergency occupational safety, Medical care and Survival function
Chapter 7 — Alternative certificate
Chapter 8 — Watch keeping

Figure 1: The eight STCW chapters — general provisions, deck, engine, radio, special training, emergency/medical/survival, alternative certificate and watchkeeping.

3. Surveyor Asks

Typical Question

"Name the STCW chapters." Open with the full name of the convention, then list the eight chapters in order. Grouping helps: people (Ch 2 deck, Ch 3 engine, Ch 4 radio), general (Ch 1, Ch 7), and safety/operation (Ch 5 special ships, Ch 6 emergency & medical, Ch 8 watchkeeping).

STCW is one of the Conventions alongside SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line, Tonnage and BWM. See the topic Maritime Codes & Conventions for the full list.