INTERCARGO PRE-BRIEF on IMO SUB-COMMITTEE ON HUMAN ELEMENT, TRAINING AND WATCHKEEPING (HTW 12)
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INTERCARGO’s Pre-Brief for this meeting is available here
Overview
There are a total of 200 papers submitted to HTW 12 under 12 agenda items, with the following agenda items and papers to be referred to in this Pre-Brief:
- Agenda item 3 – Validated model training courses, 9 papers
- Agenda item 6 – Comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code, 168 papers
- Agenda item 7 – Development of a safety regulatory framework to support the reduction of GHG emissions from ships using new technologies and alternative fuels, 6 papers
- Agenda item 8 – Scoping exercise and enhancement of the effectiveness of provisions on fatigue and seafarers’ hours of work and rest, 2 papers
- Agenda item 11 – Any other business, 6 papers
Under agenda item 6, reviewing the consolidated text of chapters 2 and 3 of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code, four new elements will be considered for amending the Convention and Code:
- Violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault;
- Mental health, psychological safety, and gender and cultural diversity;
- Ballast water management; and
- Cybersecurity.
Working Groups
It is expected that 5 Working and Drafting Groups will be established during HTW 12:
- Working Group on the Comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code (agenda item 6);
- Working Group on the STCW oversight and verification processes (agenda item 6);
- Working Group on the Development of training provisions for seafarers on ships using alternative fuels and technologies (agenda item 7);
- Drafting Group on Model courses (agenda item 3); and
- Drafting Group on Scoping exercise of fatigue-related provisions (agenda item 8).
Intersessional Working Group on Comprehensive Review of the STCW Convention and Code
On 02 – 06 Mar 2026, there will be the second meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Comprehensive Review of the STCW Convention and Code (ISWG-STCW 2).
The documents for ISWG-STCW 2 will be those submitted to HTW 12 under agenda item 6, “Comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code”. The agenda items of ISWG-STCW 2 include:
- Draft amendments to chapters 2 and 3
- Draft amendments to chapter 1 (provisions on the oversight system only)
- Update of the work plan for the comprehensive review of the Convention and Code
