MT07 - AMSA Policy - training, standards, and certification of seafarers
Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended, (STCW) sets the standards of competence and certification for seafarers internationally. Australia is a signatory to the STCW Convention and as such the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is considered the "Administration" as it relates to STCW.
Important aspects of the STCW Convention include:
- The requirement for courses to be approved by the administration;
- The requirement for the training and certification arrangements to be captured under a quality management framework;
- The requirement for 5 yearly submission to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to demonstrate continued compliance;
- The requirement for the issue of certificates of competency to be "fraud proof".
The 1995 amendments to the STCW Convention required countries to provide a submission to the IMO demonstrating that their training and certification arrangements met international standards. In achieving this, countries were then placed on the "White List", indicating internationally that a country was compliant. In 1998 Australia provided a submission to the IMO that provided AMSA with "White List" status, which was updated in 2003. For Australia this means that a seafarer holding an unlimited AMSA issued STCW Certificate of Competency will have it recognised internationally.
In 2010 it is proposed that AMSA, upon the re-issue of Marine Orders Part 3 (MO3), will introduce near-coastal certificates of competency referenced to STCW. The holder of such a certificate may approach overseas Administrations and ask for the certificate to be recognised for use in that Administrations waters.
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F)
The International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (STCW-F) has not yet been ratified by Australia. However with the re-issue of MO3 AMSA will approve courses that lead to the issue of certificates of competency that comply with STCW-F. It is proposed that this will occur in 2010. AMSA will adopt identical approval and audit processes as it currently utilises for STCW course approvals and audits.
AMSA Policy
The primary objective of this AMSA policy is to ensure compliance with the standards of STCW. This is to ensure Australia remains on the "White List" of STCW compliant countries, and that Australian unlimited certificates of competency are recognised worldwide as being of STCW standard.
It is AMSA's policy to ensure that training and assessment requirements are contemporary and meet both the regulator and industry's needs. An individual working through a career path in the maritime sector should move through in a logical and transparent way. In this regard AMSA has devised a certificate structure that enables this to be achieved.
AMSA has achieved this through a number of initiatives including:
Certificate Structure
The certificate structure provides for any seafarer, who can satisfy the necessary standards, to progress from the near-coastal certificate system to the highest STCW unlimited certificates. This is in accord with general educational seamless philosophies, and with the practical need to allow a major source of entry-level Australian seafarers to develop to fill the higher-level seagoing and shore-based positions in the Australian maritime industry. This will be further enhanced with the re-issue MO3 in 2010.
Maritime Training Package (MTP)
As part of the synergy with the Australian general education system, which enhances the quality of Australian maritime qualifications, AMSA has aligned itself to accept the appropriate Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications from the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC) Maritime Training Package (MTP) as satisfying the training course pre-requisite for the issue of STCW certificates of competency by AMSA.
Course Approvals
AMSA, as required by STCW and MO3, approves courses which lead to the attainment of an STCW certificate of competency. In approving such courses AMSA will utilise the MTP supported by the IMO model courses.
Audits and Orals
In accordance with normal international practice, AMSA conducts audits of Recognised Training Organisations (RTO’s) as a condition of the ongoing approval of their training courses, and conducts oral assessments of candidates for the unlimited STCW certificates of competency as well as the higher end near coastal certificates.
These audits of RTO’s and oral assessments of candidates, are:
- integral parts of the quality assurance that Australia requires to satisfy STCW; and
- the quality assurance tools that allow AMSA to be flexible in other areas, such as accepting distance education, without any reduction of standards.
Because of the importance of both audits and orals to AMSA's twin objectives of both flexibility and quality assurance, AMSA, under its quality management system, will continually review both these functions for relevance.
AMSA appreciates the burden that audits might place on RTO’s and therefore encourages as much cooperation as possible between AMSA and State AQTF audits.
AMSA considers it of vital importance to be actively involved, and actively engage, across a broad range of stakeholders including:
- the IMO Sub-committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW) - where AMSA can speak on behalf of Australian interests and have a voice in the development of international standards;
- participating in TLISC maritime sector meetings - where AMSA can work with industry to maintain the MTP and in particular ensure that any changes to STCW requirements are considered; and that the MTP continues to satisfy STCW standards;
- liaising with Department Education Science and Training (DEST) - where AMSA can communicate with those educational authorities and ensure an alignment between maritime requirements and the national educational requirements;
- engagement of peak bodies and other industry representative groups as appropriate; and
- holding appropriate meetings and workshops to ensure nationally consistent understandings.
As part of this engagement AMSA does not support unnecessary administrative barriers. To facilitate this, AMSA will seek and welcome advice on perceived barriers with the aim of addressing them as appropriate.
The above policy arrangements have led AMSA to undertake a range of initiatives whilst being fully committed to the retention of standards and compliance with its international obligations under STCW.