Answer
Latest STCW & MLC Amendments
The most critical recent regulatory updates governing seafarer training and welfare focus directly on safety, gender inclusivity, and anti-harassment:
- STCW Code Amendments (Resolution MSC.560(108)) — Effective 1 January 2026:
- Mandatory Harassment Prevention Competence: Replaces STCW Table A-VI/1-4 (Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities — PSSR).
- From 1 January 2026, basic safety training and refresher courses must include mandatory training on preventing and responding to violence, harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, and sexual assault.
- MLC 2006 Amendments (2022 Enacted Dec 2024 / 2025 Approved):
- Appropriately Sized PPE: Mandates shipowners to provide PPE sized specifically for all body types, ensuring safety for female seafarers.
- Gender-Specific Hygiene: Enforces access to appropriate menstrual hygiene products and disposal facilities on board.
- Internet Connectivity & Mental Health: Recommends free or low-cost internet access for crew to remain connected to families.
Protecting Women Seafarers On Board
Protecting female crew members requires a combination of structural safeguards, policy enforcement, and proactive onboard culture:
- Policy & Zero Tolerance: Strict enforcement of company Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policies with zero tolerance for discrimination, unwanted physical contact, or microaggressions.
- Equal & Safe Accommodation: Secure, private living quarters with functioning door locks, adequate lighting in alleyways, and equal access to sanitary/laundry facilities.
- Proper Fitting Gear: Provision of appropriately sized PPE (safety boots, boiler suits, coveralls, safety harnesses) designed for female crew members.
- Equal Task Allocation & Mentorship: Ensuring female officers/cadets receive fair work assignments, equal learning opportunities, and technical mentorship without bias or overprotection.
- Bystander Intervention: Cultivating an environment where senior officers (Chief Engineer/Master) actively intervene at early signs of inappropriate behavior before it escalates.
- Maintain professional behaviour and lead by example.
- Encourage reporting without fear of retaliation or victimization.
Onboard Grievance Escalation Procedure
Where Contact Information Must Be Provided & Displayed
To ensure complete transparency and immediate access, contact details for grievance redressal must be physically made available and displayed in specific locations:
1. Personal Documentation Given to Seafarer:
- Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA) Package: A copy of the company’s official Onboard Complaint Procedure, detailing step-by-step resolution timelines and contact emails/phone numbers, must be handed to every seafarer prior to signing on or upon joining the vessel.
2. Physical Notices Posted On Board (Mandatory Areas): Prominent physical notices displaying contact information must be laminated and clearly posted in:
- Engine Control Room (ECR)
- Ship’s Office / Master's Office
- Officer Messroom & Lounge
- Crew Messroom & Smoke Room
- Shipboard Information Notice Boards in main alleyways