BETA


2020/0329(COD) Minimum level of training of seafarers. Codification

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead JURI AUBRY Manon (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 100-p2

Events

2022/06/27
   Final act published in Official Journal
2022/06/08
   CSL - Draft final act
Documents
2022/06/08
   CSL - Final act signed
2022/05/24
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
2022/04/05
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 623 votes to 4, with 2 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers (codification).

Parliament adopted its position at first reading by adopting the Commission's proposal as adapted to the recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the Legal Services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.

The proposal for a directive introduces into EU law the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), 1978 ("STCW Convention"), which underwent a major revision at a Conference of the Parties to the STCW Convention held in Manila in 2010. Further amendments to the Convention were adopted in 2015 and 2016.

As all Member States are parties to the STCW Convention, the harmonisation of the EU rules on seafarer training and certification with the STCW Convention is intended to ensure a coherent implementation of their international commitments.

Specifically, the proposal:

- sets out the training rules and standards of competence which seafarer candidates must meet in order to obtain or revalidate a certificate to perform the functions covered by the certificate of competency. The training of seafarers should cover theory and practice so that seafarers are qualified to meet safety and security standards and are able to respond to hazards and emergencies;

- obliges Member States to designate the authority or authorities or bodies empowered to provide training, organise and/or supervise any examinations that may be required, issue certificates and grant dispensations;

- obliges Member States to adopt and enforce specific measures to prevent and sanction fraudulent practices related to certificates of proficiency and competence;

lays down criteria for the inspection of maritime training establishments, training programmes and courses;

- contains provisions on minimum rest periods for watchkeeping personnel to enhance maritime safety and pollution prevention at sea. All persons who are assigned duty as an officer in charge of a watch or as a rating forming part of a watch, and those whose duties involve designated safety, prevention of pollution and security duties shall be provided with a rest period of not less than: (i) a minimum of 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period; and (ii) 77 hours in any seven-day period;

- provides for measures to ensure communication between crew members of ships sailing in Union waters;

- establishes common criteria and procedures, based on the standards of training and certification adopted under the STCW Convention, for the recognition by Member States of seafarers' qualifications issued by third countries;

- improves the efficiency of the centralised mechanism for the recognition of third country seafarers' certificates and enhances legal clarity with regard to the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by Member States. If there are no endorsements attesting recognition issued by a Member State in relation to certificates of competency or certificates of proficiency issued by a third country for a period of more than eight years, the recognition of that third country's certificates will be re-examined. Third countries which have been recognised in accordance with the recognition procedure will be subject to regular reassessment at 10-year intervals;

- provides that ships, irrespective of their flag, should, when in a port of a Member State, be subject to control by the port State to verify that all seafarers serving on board hold a valid certificate of competency or dispensation and/or a certificate of proficiency and/or documentary evidence in accordance with the STCW Convention;

- specifies grounds for detention of a ship, such as lack of training or working conditions of the crew, where it has been established that these deficiencies constitute a danger to property, persons or the environment;

- calls on the Commission to establish a dialogue with social partners and Member States to develop maritime training initiatives additional to the internationally agreed minimum level of training of seafarers, and which could be mutually recognised by Member States as European Maritime Diplomas of Excellence.

Documents
2022/03/30
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2022/03/30
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
Documents
2022/03/28
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading
2022/03/18
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2021/07/01
   EP - AUBRY Manon (GUE/NGL) appointed as rapporteur in JURI
2020/11/23
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading
2020/11/18
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to align EU rules with international rules on the training and certification of seafarers (codification of Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council).

PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: in the interests of clarity and transparency of EU law, the aim of this proposal is to undertake a codification of Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers, which has been substantially amended several times. The new Directive will supersede the various acts incorporated in it; it fully preserves the content of the acts being codified and hence does no more than bring them together with only such formal amendments as are required by the codification exercise itself.

CONTENT: the proposed Directive incorporates into EU law the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), (STCW Convention), which was the subject of a major revision at a Conference of the Parties to the STCW Convention held in Manila in 2010. Further amendments to the Convention were adopted in 2015 and 2016.

As all Member States are Parties to the STCW Convention, the harmonisation of EU regulations on the training and certification of seafarers with the STCW Convention aims to ensure consistent implementation of their international commitments.

Specifically, the proposal:

- sets out the training rules and standards of competence to be met by candidate seafarers in order to obtain or revalidate a certificate enabling them to perform the duties for which the certificate of competency or proficiency is issued. Training for seafarers should cover proper theoretical and practical training so as to ensure that seafarers are qualified to meet security and safety standards and are able to respond to hazards and emergencies;

- obliges Member States to adopt and enforce specific measures to prevent and penalise fraudulent practices related to certificates of competency or certificates of proficiency;

- lays down criteria for the inspection of maritime training establishments, training programmes and courses;

- contains provisions on minimum rest periods for watchkeeping personnel to improve maritime safety and the prevention of pollution at sea;

- provides for measures to ensure communication between crew members of ships sailing in EU waters;

- establishes common criteria for the recognition by the Member States of seafarers’ certificates issued by third countries, based on the training and certification requirements as agreed in the framework of the STCW Convention;

- improves the effectiveness of the centralised mechanism for the recognition of seafarers’ certificates from third countries and enhances legal clarity with regard to the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by Member States. The proposal provides that a reassessment of third countries which provide a low number of seafarers to ships flying the flags of Member States should be performed at intervals of ten years.

Documents

Votes

Niveau minimal de formation des gens de mer (codification) - Minimum level of training of seafarers (codification) - Mindestanforderungen für die Ausbildung von Seeleuten (kodifizierter Text) - A9-0080/2022 - Manon Aubry - Proposition de la Commission #

2022/04/05 Outcome: +: 623, -: 4, 0: 2
DE IT FR ES PL RO NL SE CZ BE PT AT BG EL SK DK HU FI HR IE LT LV EE CY SI MT LU
Total
94
71
56
53
50
29
27
21
21
20
19
17
14
18
13
13
13
12
12
11
10
7
7
6
5
5
5
icon: PPE PPE
161

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Hungary PPE

1

Finland PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
2

Slovenia PPE

3

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
126

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

2

Hungary S&D

1

Finland S&D

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
94

Italy Renew

3

Poland Renew

1
3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Hungary Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
69

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
57

Germany ECR

1

Romania ECR

1

Belgium ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

1

Greece ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: ID ID
54

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

2
3

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
33

France The Left

2

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Ireland The Left

3

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: NI NI
35

France NI

1

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania NI

1

Latvia NI

1

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

events/7/docs
  • title: Directive 2022/993 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32022L0993
  • title: OJ L 169 27.06.2022, p. 0045 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2022:169:TOC
procedure/final
title
Directive 2022/993
url
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32022L0993
events/7
date
2022-06-27T00:00:00
type
Final act published in Official Journal
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
New
Procedure completed
events/6
date
2022-06-08T00:00:00
type
Final act signed
body
CSL
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting signature of act
New
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
events/5
date
2022-05-24T00:00:00
type
Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
body
EP/CSL
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Council's 1st reading position
New
Awaiting signature of act
docs/0
date
2020-11-18T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
docs/2
date
2022-06-08T00:00:00
docs
title: 00037/2021/LEX
type
Draft final act
body
CSL
events/0
date
2020-11-18T00:00:00
type
Legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
summary
docs/3
date
2022-04-05T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0109_EN.html title: T9-0109/2022
type
Text adopted by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/3/summary
  • The European Parliament adopted by 623 votes to 4, with 2 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers (codification).
  • Parliament adopted its position at first reading by adopting the Commission's proposal as adapted to the recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the Legal Services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.
  • The proposal for a directive introduces into EU law the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), 1978 ("STCW Convention"), which underwent a major revision at a Conference of the Parties to the STCW Convention held in Manila in 2010. Further amendments to the Convention were adopted in 2015 and 2016.
  • As all Member States are parties to the STCW Convention, the harmonisation of the EU rules on seafarer training and certification with the STCW Convention is intended to ensure a coherent implementation of their international commitments.
  • Specifically, the proposal:
  • - sets out the training rules and standards of competence which seafarer candidates must meet in order to obtain or revalidate a certificate to perform the functions covered by the certificate of competency. The training of seafarers should cover theory and practice so that seafarers are qualified to meet safety and security standards and are able to respond to hazards and emergencies;
  • - obliges Member States to designate the authority or authorities or bodies empowered to provide training, organise and/or supervise any examinations that may be required, issue certificates and grant dispensations;
  • - obliges Member States to adopt and enforce specific measures to prevent and sanction fraudulent practices related to certificates of proficiency and competence;
  • lays down criteria for the inspection of maritime training establishments, training programmes and courses;
  • - contains provisions on minimum rest periods for watchkeeping personnel to enhance maritime safety and pollution prevention at sea. All persons who are assigned duty as an officer in charge of a watch or as a rating forming part of a watch, and those whose duties involve designated safety, prevention of pollution and security duties shall be provided with a rest period of not less than: (i) a minimum of 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period; and (ii) 77 hours in any seven-day period;
  • - provides for measures to ensure communication between crew members of ships sailing in Union waters;
  • - establishes common criteria and procedures, based on the standards of training and certification adopted under the STCW Convention, for the recognition by Member States of seafarers' qualifications issued by third countries;
  • - improves the efficiency of the centralised mechanism for the recognition of third country seafarers' certificates and enhances legal clarity with regard to the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by Member States. If there are no endorsements attesting recognition issued by a Member State in relation to certificates of competency or certificates of proficiency issued by a third country for a period of more than eight years, the recognition of that third country's certificates will be re-examined. Third countries which have been recognised in accordance with the recognition procedure will be subject to regular reassessment at 10-year intervals;
  • - provides that ships, irrespective of their flag, should, when in a port of a Member State, be subject to control by the port State to verify that all seafarers serving on board hold a valid certificate of competency or dispensation and/or a certificate of proficiency and/or documentary evidence in accordance with the STCW Convention;
  • - specifies grounds for detention of a ship, such as lack of training or working conditions of the crew, where it has been established that these deficiencies constitute a danger to property, persons or the environment;
  • - calls on the Commission to establish a dialogue with social partners and Member States to develop maritime training initiatives additional to the internationally agreed minimum level of training of seafarers, and which could be mutually recognised by Member States as European Maritime Diplomas of Excellence.
docs/3
date
2022-04-05T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0109_EN.html title: T9-0109/2022
type
Text adopted by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/3
date
2022-04-05T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0109_EN.html title: T9-0109/2022
forecasts
  • date: 2022-04-05T00:00:00 title: Vote in plenary scheduled
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament's position in 1st reading
New
Awaiting Council's 1st reading position
forecasts/0
date
2022-04-05T00:00:00
title
Vote in plenary scheduled
forecasts/0
date
2022-04-04T00:00:00
title
Indicative plenary sitting date
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0080_EN.html
events/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2022-0080_EN.html
docs/2
date
2022-03-30T00:00:00
docs
title: A9-0080/2022
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/2
date
2022-03-30T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
body
EP
docs
title: A9-0080/2022
forecasts
  • date: 2022-04-04T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament's position in 1st reading
events/1
date
2022-03-28T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading
body
EP
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
docs/1
date
2022-03-18T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/JURI-PR-699290_EN.html title: PE699.290
type
Committee draft report
body
EP
forecasts
  • date: 2022-03-23T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
forecasts/0
date
2022-03-23T00:00:00
title
Indicative plenary sitting date
forecasts/0
date
2022-02-14T00:00:00
title
Vote in plenary scheduled
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: AUBRY Manon date: 2021-07-01T00:00:00 group: The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2022-01-01T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
forecasts/0/title
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date
New
Vote in plenary scheduled
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2022-01-01T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: AUBRY Manon date: 2021-07-01T00:00:00 group: The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL
forecasts/0/date
Old
2022-02-21T00:00:00
New
2022-02-14T00:00:00
forecasts
  • date: 2022-02-21T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
forecasts
  • date: 2021-12-13T00:00:00 title: Vote in plenary scheduled
forecasts/0/title
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date
New
Vote in plenary scheduled
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: AUBRY Manon date: 2021-07-01T00:00:00 group: The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: MELCHIOR Karen date: 2021-01-11T00:00:00 group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew
forecasts
  • date: 2021-12-13T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
events/0
date
2020-11-23T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading
body
EP
events/0
date
2020-11-23T00:00:00
type
?!oeil-ANPRO!?
docs/0/summary
  • PURPOSE: to align EU rules with international rules on the training and certification of seafarers (codification of Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council).
  • PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.
  • ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
  • BACKGROUND: in the interests of clarity and transparency of EU law, the aim of this proposal is to undertake a codification of Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers, which has been substantially amended several times. The new Directive will supersede the various acts incorporated in it; it fully preserves the content of the acts being codified and hence does no more than bring them together with only such formal amendments as are required by the codification exercise itself.
  • CONTENT: the proposed Directive incorporates into EU law the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), (STCW Convention), which was the subject of a major revision at a Conference of the Parties to the STCW Convention held in Manila in 2010. Further amendments to the Convention were adopted in 2015 and 2016.
  • As all Member States are Parties to the STCW Convention, the harmonisation of EU regulations on the training and certification of seafarers with the STCW Convention aims to ensure consistent implementation of their international commitments.
  • Specifically, the proposal:
  • - sets out the training rules and standards of competence to be met by candidate seafarers in order to obtain or revalidate a certificate enabling them to perform the duties for which the certificate of competency or proficiency is issued. Training for seafarers should cover proper theoretical and practical training so as to ensure that seafarers are qualified to meet security and safety standards and are able to respond to hazards and emergencies;
  • - obliges Member States to adopt and enforce specific measures to prevent and penalise fraudulent practices related to certificates of competency or certificates of proficiency;
  • - lays down criteria for the inspection of maritime training establishments, training programmes and courses;
  • - contains provisions on minimum rest periods for watchkeeping personnel to improve maritime safety and the prevention of pollution at sea;
  • - provides for measures to ensure communication between crew members of ships sailing in EU waters;
  • - establishes common criteria for the recognition by the Member States of seafarers’ certificates issued by third countries, based on the training and certification requirements as agreed in the framework of the STCW Convention;
  • - improves the effectiveness of the centralised mechanism for the recognition of seafarers’ certificates from third countries and enhances legal clarity with regard to the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by Member States. The proposal provides that a reassessment of third countries which provide a low number of seafarers to ships flying the flags of Member States should be performed at intervals of ten years.
events/0
date
2020-11-23T00:00:00
type
?!oeil-ANPRO!?
events/0
date
2020-11-18T00:00:00
type
Legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
summary
events/1
date
2020-11-23T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: MELCHIOR Karen date: 2021-01-11T00:00:00 group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: EPP - Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: EPP - Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Legal Affairs
committee
JURI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
events/0/summary
  • PURPOSE: to align EU rules with international rules on the training and certification of seafarers (codification of Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council).
  • PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.
  • ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
  • BACKGROUND: in the interests of clarity and transparency of EU law, the aim of this proposal is to undertake a codification of Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers, which has been substantially amended several times. The new Directive will supersede the various acts incorporated in it; it fully preserves the content of the acts being codified and hence does no more than bring them together with only such formal amendments as are required by the codification exercise itself.
  • CONTENT: the proposed Directive incorporates into EU law the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), (STCW Convention), which was the subject of a major revision at a Conference of the Parties to the STCW Convention held in Manila in 2010. Further amendments to the Convention were adopted in 2015 and 2016.
  • As all Member States are Parties to the STCW Convention, the harmonisation of EU regulations on the training and certification of seafarers with the STCW Convention aims to ensure consistent implementation of their international commitments.
  • Specifically, the proposal:
  • - sets out the training rules and standards of competence to be met by candidate seafarers in order to obtain or revalidate a certificate enabling them to perform the duties for which the certificate of competency or proficiency is issued. Training for seafarers should cover proper theoretical and practical training so as to ensure that seafarers are qualified to meet security and safety standards and are able to respond to hazards and emergencies;
  • - obliges Member States to adopt and enforce specific measures to prevent and penalise fraudulent practices related to certificates of competency or certificates of proficiency;
  • - lays down criteria for the inspection of maritime training establishments, training programmes and courses;
  • - contains provisions on minimum rest periods for watchkeeping personnel to improve maritime safety and the prevention of pollution at sea;
  • - provides for measures to ensure communication between crew members of ships sailing in EU waters;
  • - establishes common criteria for the recognition by the Member States of seafarers’ certificates issued by third countries, based on the training and certification requirements as agreed in the framework of the STCW Convention;
  • - improves the effectiveness of the centralised mechanism for the recognition of seafarers’ certificates from third countries and enhances legal clarity with regard to the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by Member States. The proposal provides that a reassessment of third countries which provide a low number of seafarers to ships flying the flags of Member States should be performed at intervals of ten years.
procedure/instrument
Old
Directive
New
  • Directive
  • Repealing Directive 2008/106 2007/0219(COD)
commission
  • body: EC dg: Legal Service commissioner: VON DER LEYEN Ursula
committees/0/rapporteur/0/mepref
197490
events/1
date
2020-11-23T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
  • JURI/9/04678
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting committee decision
committees/0/rapporteur
  • name: ADAMOWICZ Magdalena date: 2020-11-20T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP