IMO Convention · 1978 · Amended 1995 & 2010 (Manila)

STCW 78 — Visual Guide

Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers — the two halves of the STCW Code (Part A & Part B), every rank from cadet to Master/Chief Engineer, plus ETO and ratings, with animated career paths.

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The STCW Code

Part A (mandatory) & Part B (guidance)

The two halves of the STCW Code

When STCW was overhauled in 1995, the technical standards were lifted out of the Convention itself and placed in a separate STCW Code. That Code has two parts: Part A (mandatory minimum standards) and Part B (recommended guidance). The 2010 Manila Amendments tightened both — adding ETO, ECDIS, leadership, security, hours of rest and refresher training.

Code A — Mandatory

Minimum standards every Party MUST enforce

Chapter IIDeck Officers — OOW, Chief Mate, Master (Reg. II/1, II/2)

Chapter IIIEngineers + ETO (Reg. III/1, III/2, III/6, III/7)

Chapter IVRadio personnel — GMDSS GOC / ROC (Reg. IV)

Chapter VTankers, passenger ships, polar, IGF specialised training

Chapter VIBasic safety, PSCRB, AFF, MFA, Security (Reg. VI/1–VI/6)

Chapter VIIAlternative certification

Chapter VIIIWatchkeeping — hours of rest, fitness for duty

⚠ Failure to apply Part A = the Party is removed from the IMO "White List" of compliant administrations.

Code B — Recommended

Guidance on HOW to implement Part A

GuidanceHow to design syllabi, assessment criteria, simulators

Quality StandardsInternal audits, instructor qualifications

Medical fitnessVisual standards, drug & alcohol guidance

Onboard trainingUse of Training Record Books (TRB)

Watchkeeping principlesBridge/Engine team management practice

Special tradesAdditional advice on tankers, passenger, polar, fishing

✓ Although technically "recommended", most quality flag States and MET institutions apply Part B as if it were mandatory — port-State Control inspectors look for it.

Why both Codes apply almost everywhere

Quality MET institutions teach to Part A and Part B because:

Flag administrations use Part B as the basis of their model courses.
Port-State Control (Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU, USCG) inspects CoCs and CoPs against the full Code.
A seafarer with a Code-B-aligned CoC is hireable on any foreign-flag vessel; an A-only CoC is not.
The IMO STCW White List is published only after audits confirm both parts are applied.

Ranks & certification paths

Every rank, mapped to its STCW path

Pick a department, then a rank — the certification voyage animates right below with study, sea service, exam and CoC/CoP stages. Tap Narrate for a brief spoken commentary at every stage.

STCW Reg. II/1 · Operational level

Officer of the Watch (Deck)

CoC OOW (Deck) — Unlimited

Step 1/5Cadet entry

36 months

Approved 3-year MET programme (HND/BSc Nautical Science)

Study

Worldwide application

Most member States apply both Codes — to their MET institutions and to every ship in port

MET institutions

Maritime Education & Training centres must align syllabi, instructor qualifications, simulators and Training Record Books with Part A and Part B for course approval.

Own-flag ships

Flag administrations issue CoC / CoP only after the candidate has met the full STCW Code, then revalidate every 5 years with refresher training (Reg. I/11).

Foreign-flag ships in port

Port-State Control (Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU, USCG, IOMoU…) verifies that every seafarer on a visiting ship holds STCW certificates compliant with both Code parts. Non-compliance = detention.

Reference: IMO STCW Convention & Code (consolidated 2017 edition), Manila Amendments 2010, IMO STCW White List (Reg. I/7).

Disclaimer: this tool is for training and refresher use only. The exact sea-service and course durations vary by flag State — always consult the consolidated STCW text (IMO Sales No. IC938E) and your flag State's syllabus before applying for any CoC/CoP.

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