HTW 12 Outcomes: Aligning Maritime Careers with Changing Standards
The 12th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 12) has concluded, with experts from the Head Office and the Far East Branch of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping attending in the event as part of the national delegation.
The main item on the HTW 12 agenda was the continued Comprehensive Review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention) and the STCW Code. The Sub-Committee began substantive work on drafting amendments, building on previously identified regulatory gaps and concrete proposals submitted by Member States and international organizations.
The systematic development of these amendments will continue through the Intersessional Working Group on the Revision of the STCW Convention and Code, scheduled to take place between March 2–6, 2026.
In addition, the Sub-Committee completed the planned revision and validated three updated IMO model courses used by Member States when developing their own training programs.
Among other key outcomes, the Sub-Committee approved draft IMO Interim Guidelines on training for seafarers on ships using methyl/ethyl alcohols and ammonia as fuel. These represent the first two in a planned series of recommendatory instruments developed to address the unique characteristics and associated risks of specific alternative fuel types and technologies in seafarer training.
Additional information:
Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.
Today, RS is actively expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys, management system certification and recognition of manufacturers. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.
