Update - Position Paper: IMO Review of STCW Convention SAR Training Requirements for Ship Personnel

* This article has been updated in February 2026 to reflect the latest developments and information *

The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), during its 12th session, scheduled from 23 to 27 February 2026, will review various chapters of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.

As part of this work, the HTW has compiled an STCW Gap List (IMO paper HTW 12/6) that the IMRF also shared with its members. On page 42, Gap No. 148 proposes reducing training requirements in STCW Table A-II/3, specifically regarding skills related to responding to a distress signal at sea and knowledge of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual.

Additionally, IMO paper ISWG-STCW 1/2/30 has suggested that certain training requirements may be “outdated,” implying that coastal navigating vessels do not need the same level of SAR awareness as other vessels.

IMRF’s Concern

For the IMRF and its members, this is a critical issue.

Any vessel, regardless of location, may be called upon to assist in a SAR operation. It is therefore a misconception to assume that coastal navigating vessels do not need the same level of SAR knowledge. In practice, Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) and On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) are not tasked, nor usually trained, to provide detailed step-by-step instructions to ships conducting SAR operations.

This means that vessels must be fully capable of responding effectively and independently. Weakening training requirements risks leaving ships unprepared, delaying assistance, and ultimately putting the lives of people in distress at sea in danger.

The IMRF has therefore taken a clear and proactive position that maritime SAR competencies should be strengthened, not reduced. This stance is already making an impact, securing the support of some IMO member states and demonstrating that the IMRF’s voice can carry real weight within the regulatory process, ahead of this key IMO meeting.

This backing shows what can be achieved when the maritime SAR community speaks collectively. Through the IMRF, operational expertise is translated into practical proposals and presented directly to decision makers at IMO level. That coordinated approach gives SAR professionals genuine influence over international standards, not just a seat at the table. There is still time for your state to add its support to the IMRF position.

IMRF’s Position

The IMRF firmly believes that SAR competencies in the STCW Convention must be strengthened, not weakened.

1. Training Content:

The current Knowledge, Understanding and Proficiency (KUP) requirements should be updated to, it is suggested, require:

“Knowledge of the contents of the IAMSAR manual(s) and check cards required to be carried on board a vessel, and all relevant IMO circulars and guidance related to search and rescue, recovery of people from the water, and distress and urgency communications.”

This broader formulation ensures that seafarers are not only familiar with the IAMSAR manual but also with the wider set of tools, guidance, and best practices available to support effective SAR operations.

2. Universal Applicability:

The IMRF is clear that SAR training must apply equally to all convention ships, regardless of where they trade or operate. Safety of life at sea is not determined by geography, and in many cases, the nearest ship to a distress situation may not be an oceangoing vessel but a coastal trader.

Ensuring that all ship personnel are trained to the same baseline standard guarantees that seafarers everywhere have the knowledge, competence, and readiness to respond to emergencies effectively and without delay. This training also enables them to work efficiently with the RCC coordinating a response, and safely with any other vessels involved.

Call to Action

1. Engage National Maritime Administrations:

The IMRF members are urged to raise this matter directly with their maritime administrations or national IMO representatives as soon as possible. These discussions should make clear that SAR training requirements must not be reduced, and that the IMRF advocates for their expansion and strengthening.

2. Support Submissions to HTW 12:

 The deadline for submission of documents (working papers and comments on papers) to this meeting has now passed. But IMRF members who have views and/or concerns should email them to [email protected] so that they can be used as part of any verbal intervention during the discussion of this subject. 

1. Member States and IMO Accredited Organisations Support

It should be noted that the IMRF has had support for its position and paper from the maritime administrations of Australia and Morocco, and another member state, and an IMO recognised organisation has also expressed their tacit support.

Why This Position Matters

The IMRF’s mission is to save lives in the world’s waters. Weakening SAR training requirements for commercial vessels, that provide significant SAR capability globally, directly compromises safety at sea. Clear, consistent, and effective SAR skills are not optional; they are crucial to ensuring ships can save lives during emergencies.

Every seafarer needs the skills, knowledge, and confidence to respond when required. Lowering standards endangers lives, while raising them improves global maritime safety.

The IMRF urges its members and partners to act now to protect and enhance SAR training requirements in the STCW Convention. Together, we can ensure that the maritime community remains committed to its most fundamental duty: saving lives at sea.

Email Roly McKie if you have any comments, suggestions or wish to discuss this matter further.