STCW
Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. The IMO convention setting global minimum standards for seafarer competency.
STCW 1978 as amended (Manila amendments 2010) sets minimum standards for training, certification, and watchkeeping. All seafarers on commercially operated yachts above 500 GT require STCW Basic Safety Training as a minimum. Senior officers require STCW Certificates of Competency at deck (Master, Chief Mate, OOW), engineering (Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, EOOW), and other functional levels. Flag states issue endorsements recognising CoCs from other flags.