§ Lord Clinton-Davisasked Her Majesty's Government:
What enhanced or new training programmes for seafarers have been introduced to take account of the revision of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) which comes into effect on 1st February 1997.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. Robin Bradley, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Clinton-Davis from the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. R. M. Bradley, dated 3rd February 1997.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about enhanced or new training programmes for seafarers to take account of the revision of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW '95).
Under the transitional arrangements provisions of STCW '95, training programmes approved under the preceding version of the Convention (STCW '78) will continue to be recognised until 1st August 1998.
The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), in consultation with shipowners, seafarers' trade unions, training organisations and the MSA, is the body which reviews the training requirements for Merchant Navy personnel. The MNTB is currently reviewing the existing training programmes and updating them, where necessary, to comply fully with STCW '95.
When this exercise is completed, enhanced and new training programmes meeting the STCW '95 requirements will be approved by the MSA.