STCW-F Convention for fishing vessel personnel

18.08.2025

STCW-F, 2025 Edition (digital)
IMO KA915E
The STCW-F Convention (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel) and the STCW-F Code are international agreements that establish minimum standards for the training, certification, and watchkeeping of fishing vessel personnel. The Convention sets the legal framework, while the Code provides detailed technical specifications. The goal is to enhance safety at sea, protect the marine environment, and ensure sustainable fishing practices.

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), was adopted by IMO in 1995. The 1995 STCW-F Convention is a binding treaty that sets certification and minimum training requirements for crews of seagoing fishing vessels with the aim to promote the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment, taking into account the unique nature of the fishing industry and the fishingworking environment.

This Convention generally applies to personnel of seagoing fishing vessels and, in particular, to skippers and officers in the deck department of fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over, and officers in the engine department of fishing vessels of powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.

The publication contains the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995, including amendments that enter into force on 1 January 2026, and introduces the new Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) Code.