Directive 2022/993 - Minimum level of training of seafarers (codification) - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 169/45

Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) has been substantially amended several times (4). In the interests of clarity and rationality, that Directive should be codified.

In order to maintain, and to aim to improve, a high level of maritime safety and the prevention of pollution at sea, it is essential to maintain and possibly to improve the level of knowledge and skills of Union seafarers by developing maritime training and certification in line with international rules and technological progress, as well as to take further action to enhance the European maritime skills base.

The training and certification of seafarers is regulated at international level by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which was subject to a major revision at a Conference of Parties to the STCW Convention held in Manila in 2010 (Manila amendments). Further amendments to the STCW Convention were adopted in 2015 and in 2016.

This Directive incorporates the STCW Convention into Union law. All Member States are signatories to the STCW Convention and thus a harmonised implementation of their international commitments is to be achieved through the alignment of Union rules on the training and certification of seafarers with the STCW Convention.

The Union shipping sector has maritime expertise of a high quality which helps to underpin its competitiveness. The quality of training for seafarers is important for the competitiveness of this sector and for attracting Union citizens, in particular young people, to the maritime professions.

Member States may establish higher standards than the minimum standards laid down in the STCW Convention and in this Directive.

The Regulations of the STCW Convention annexed to this Directive should be supplemented by the mandatory provisions contained in Part A of the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code). Part B of the STCW Code contains recommended guidance intended to assist Parties to the STCW Convention, and those involved in implementing, applying or enforcing its measures, to give the Convention full and complete effect in a uniform manner.

One of the objectives of the common transport policy in the field of maritime transport is to facilitate the movement of seafarers within the Union. Such movement contributes, among other things, to making the Union maritime transport sector attractive to future generations, thereby avoiding a situation whereby the European maritime cluster is faced with a shortage of competent staff with the right mix of skills and competencies. The mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates issued by Member States is essential to facilitate the free movement of seafarers. In the light of the right to good administration, Member States’ decisions in respect of the acceptance of certificates of...