THE CONFERENCE,
HAVING ADOPTED the 1995 amendments to the International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
(STCW), 1978,
HAVING AGREED that the amendments will include regulation I/15 on Transitional provisions,
which allows for an interval of 5 years before Parties will be required
to issue, recognize and endorse certificates in accordance with the
amendments adopted by the Conference,
RECOGNIZING that,
in order for full compliance to be achieved by 1 February 2002, it
is necessary for Parties to begin promptly taking appropriate measures
to implement the revised Convention in their national training, certification
and administration systems,
BEING CONCERNED that difficulties
which may arise in connection with implementing the requirements of
the revised STCW Convention could undermine the objective of introducing
the highest practicable standards of competence at the earliest possible
time,
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1. URGES each Party to keep the Maritime Safety
Committee of the International Maritime Organization informed of progress
being made in respect of the transitional provisions of regulation I/15 under its national system
to implement the requirements of the amendments to the STCW Convention,
adopted by the Conference, as well as any difficulties encountered
in this regard;
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2. INVITES the Maritime Safety Committee, in order
to promote the introduction of the highest practicable standards of
competence as soon as possible, to monitor progress toward implementation
of the revised STCW Convention by all Parties, with the aim of encouraging
an orderly transition and anticipating complications which could otherwise
undermine full and effective implementation.