§ Lord Burnhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the International Maritime Organisation's "White List" of countries deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of the 1995 International Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention is satisfactory. [HL1370]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonA number of countries have been identified by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation as having demonstrated, through submission of specified documents, that full and complete effect has been given to the provisions of the STCW Convention, as amended in 1995. That list of countries is unofficially known as the "White List".
It serves as a guide, an indicator that signatories to the convention have in place the necessary legislation, training, certification and quality assurance measures to implement STCW 95. However, for service on the registered ships of a country wishing to recognise 57WA another country's certificates, it is only a starting point for recognition. STCW 95 requires that countries take any measures necessary to satisfy themselves that the training and certification are of an equivalent standard. No country should simply recognise and endorse another country's certification purely because that country appears on the "White List".
On that basis, the "White List" serves its purpose and we have no reason to believe it is not satisfactory.