Phase 3 - Crew Living Conditions / STCW
The third phase of the campaign conducted between 1 August 2001 and 30 November 2001 focused on crew living conditions and issues concerning the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW 78/95). During this phase, AMSA surveyors inspected 1025 vessels, of which 124 vessels recorded deficiencies relating to crew living conditions (12% of those inspected) and 78 recorded deficiencies relating to STCW 78/95 issues (8% of those inspected).
AMSA recorded significant crew living condition deficiencies in the following areas:
- Sanitary facilities, 27%
- Galley handling rooms, 19%
- Lighting, 7 %
- Drainage, 4%
- Other (Miscellaneous), 43%
AMSA recorded significant STCW 78/95 deficiencies in the following areas:
- Certificates for masters and officers, 34%
- Certificates for ratings for watchkeeping, 16%
- Certificates for radio personnel, 5%
- Other (Miscellaneous), 45%
This part of the campaign was also used as a mechanism to increase awareness of the possible impact of the end of the transitional provisions of STCW95 on 31 January 2002. Where certification of seafarers did not fully comply with the STCW95 requirements that would be in force from 1 February 2002, a "letter of warning" was issued to the ship. 313 such letters were issued, indicating that 30% of ships were crewed by seafarers whose certification was not in full compliance with STCW95. This issue was later recognised by IMO which issued a circular (STCW.7/Circ12) recommending that AMSA surveyors issue letters of warning after 1 February 2002 in such cases rather than detain ships for these deficiencies.
No ships warranted a detention resulting from the items inspected under the Focused Inspection Campaign.
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