Alert
Maritime Alert - October 2025
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October 7, 2025
International Maritime Organization – STCW.7/Circ.25
The Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) provides provisional generic guidelines and parameters on the training of crews of ships using alternative fuels and new technologies through STWC.7/Circ.25 (hereinafter, the “Guidelines”), issued on September 8, 2025.
Main additions:
- The Guidelines serve as a reference for developing and approving training programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international maritime transport and apply to crew working on ships that use alternative fuels and new technologies. It should be noted that the Guidelines differ from mandatory instruments (such as the IGF Code, IGC Code, 1978 STCW Convention and Code), which take precedence over them. The Guidelines establish the objective of creating an international training standard and require that crew members, prior to their assignment, familiarize themselves with their duties, provisions, and emergency procedures.
- The Guidelines stipulate that training must be provided by qualified personnel with experience in the relevant fuels/systems and safety procedures, and that the risk analyses carried out must be made available to trainees. The Guidelines specify that crew members must undergo training at one of the two (2) levels set out below:
- Basic training: safety duties related to the care, use, or emergency response to situations involving fuel and systems are assigned. Before being assigned, designated personnel must receive training determined by the Administration to: contribute to the safety of operations; prevent risks; apply occupational health and safety precautions at work; carry out firefighting operations on ships; respond to emergencies; and take precautions to prevent environmental pollution.
- Advanced training: intended for captains, engineering officers, and all personnel with direct responsibility for the care and use of fuel and systems on board ships that use alternative fuels and new technologies. In this regard, those with immediate responsibility must receive training prior to their assignment in order to: understand the properties of the fuel and the characteristics of the system; operate the controls related to propulsion/engineering systems and safety devices; safely perform and supervise all fuel/system-related operations; understand on-board fire prevention, control, and extinguishing systems, among other things. In both cases, crew members must demonstrate that they have achieved an adequate level of competence to perform their duties and responsibilities by: (i) demonstrating their competence, as established by the Administration, or (ii) undergoing an examination or continuous assessment as part of a training program.
- Before being assigned to ships using alternative fuels and new technologies, all crew members must receive appropriate training. Administrations may exempt crew members on ships of less than 500 gross tons, except passenger ships, where full implementation would be unreasonable or impracticable, taking into account safety and the protection of the marine environment.
- Ships must conduct regular emergency drills related to the fuels or systems used, and response and safety systems for the control of related risks and accidents must be reviewed and tested.