FINLANDS SJÖFART ■ SUOMEN MERENKULKU 75 Pictured throughout: Our behind-the-scenes work on standard-setting and educational funding benefits cadets in the Netherlands, the UK and all around the world Watch Sarah Robinson’s video interview with David Appleton about the STCW review on NautilusTV at www.youtube.com/@nautilusint SHOULD SIMULATORS BE USED INSTEAD OF SEA TIME? This is a highly contentious topic that has often been raised by Union members at the Nautilus Professional and Technical Forum. Advances in simulation technology have opened up new possibilities for learning, prompting debate over whether simulator time can partially replace mandatory sea service for trainees. Mr Appleton is clear about the principle that should guide this discussion. ‘It shouldn’t be about cutting sea time – it should be about increasing competence,’ he argues. In other words, simulators could provide an experience that trainees may not get in a routine sea phase, such as exposure to handling a vessel in extreme weather conditions. But the technology should not be used as ‘sea time’ simply because it can be hard to find training berths for cadets onboard ships. The focus must first be on defining what high-quality simulator training looks like. Only then can regulators assess whether it justifies any reduction in time spent at sea. The UK national delegation put forward a proposal to the STCW review that reflects this approach. It includes strict requirements for standardised training courses, consistent competency benchmarks, and high-specification ‘full mission’ simulators. It also suggests limits on how much simulator time can count toward sea service. Frustratingly, though, these points were not fully debated at HTW. ‘There was swift agreement on the principle that sea time could be cut, and then the debate focused on the amount that should be cut,’ Mr Appleton says. ‘We felt that was putting the cart before the horse.’ However, with no final decisions to be taken until at least 2029, there is still time to influence the process. TACKLING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT SEA In an unexpectedly decisive move, delegates at this HTW session agreed in principle that seafarers should receive training on preventing and responding to sexual harassment and sexual assault. ‘This is going to be in the text of the STCW Convention and Code itself, not just in an amendment,’ Mr Appleton points out. Now the work needs to be done on deciding what seafarers should be taught on this matter, and when. It’s one thing to add competencies for new entrants to the profession, but quite another to make sure experienced seafarers are also covered. SENIOR ETO ENDORSEMENT Despite our best efforts, there was one significant disappointment, reports Mr Appleton. ‘There was a proposal for an international Senior ETO endorsement, which is something Nautilus has argued for strongly over the years. We’ve supported proposals in the UK to have a UK-only Senior ETO endorsement, but unfortunately, there wasn’t any support for that internationally. So that’s essentially dead in the water; it will not be moving forward.’ NEXT STEPS FOR STCW The current phase of the review has focused on Chapters 2 and 3 of the STCW Convention, covering deck and engine departments. These sections alone have generated more than 160 proposals from flag states and NGOs – far more than could be fully addressed in a single session. As a result, discussions will continue at future meetings, before moving on to other chapters of the convention. The process is necessarily slow and meticulous, reflecting both the technical complexity of the subject matter and the need for global consensus. ‘It’s a very long-winded process,’ Mr Appleton acknowledges. ‘But as participants become more familiar with it, we expect things to speed up.’ For seafarers and other maritime professionals, the stakes are high. The outcome of the STCW review will shape training standards for decades to come, influencing not only individual careers but also the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the global shipping industry. That’s why Nautilus will continue to engage closely with the review and make sure our members’ expert opinions are listened to and acted upon.
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