STCW 2010 refers to the Manila Amendments, which came into effect in 2012. They updated the STCW 95 (1995) rules to include new competencies, more frequent refresher training, updated medical fitness requirements, and provisions for modern safety issues such as security awareness. There are a few differences between these 2 rules, view a summary here.
You must complete an STCW Refresher Course every five years, as required by the IMO under the STCW Convention.
This STCW Training Course is available at training centre in Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. You can find out more about the Cape Town based STCW Refresher course here.
An STCW Refresher Course is mandatory training designed to keep seafarers’ safety and emergency skills up to date. It typically covers Personal Survival Techniques and Fire Prevention & Firefighting. It’s validity is 5 years, to keep your certification valid, one need to do the refresher course every 5 years.
You can find out more about the STCW Refresher course here. This STCW Training Course is available at our Hout Bay training centre in Cape Town, South Africa. This is one of 3 of our course locations.Â
The main difference between STCW 95 and STCW 2010 lies in the updates introduced by the 2010 Manila Amendments. While STCW 95 set the global baseline for seafarer training and certification, STCW 2010 introduced new requirements such as mandatory refresher training every five years, updated safety and security training, stricter medical fitness standards, and competency assessments.
If your certificate was issued under STCW 95, you may need to update or revalidate it to meet STCW 2010 standards before working at sea. You can do your STCW Refresher course with us in our Hout Bay STCW Training Centre. Other courses are offered at our other course locations.
STCW 95 refers to the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) — a comprehensive update to the original 1978 convention, adopted by IMO member nations to modernize safety and training standards for seafarers
The amendments introduced structured regulations, mandatory code parts, and enhanced practical skills training that aligned international maritime training standards worldwide.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the UK government body that regulates maritime safety, training, and certification. It ensures all STCW courses, including the Basic STCW Course and STCW refresher courses, meet international standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). MCA approval is a mark of quality that assures seafarers their training is globally recognised.
Links to the MCA found below.