Skills and Competency Framework for Future Autonomous Ship Operators: A Feasibility Study for STCW Code Revision

8 pages•Published: January 5, 2024

Abstract

Recent qualitative research by the authors of this paper revealed a common understanding that future operators of autonomous ships are expected to possess a traditional seafaring licence (deck or engine) as a prerequisite for obtaining a licence to operate the future smart ships. Since the standards of competence for a traditional seafaring licence are dictated by the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW 95) Convention, this paper sets out to investigate if the Convention, in its current form, can serve as a skill and competency-based framework for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) operations. The theoretical and analytical research presented in this paper is based on the analogy drawn between the elements of the STCW with the elements of existing skills and competency frameworks in other industries influenced by increasing automation. The findings of this research paper set out to answer the future dilemma between the need to revise an existing, global standards (STCW 95), the approval of which may find a quick consensus among existing members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) versus reinventing and building new standards which may become redundant due to possibly delayed regulatory bureaucracy. The recommendations, based on the findings of the analysis, provide a pathway for the STCW Code to continue being relevant with an evolving skills and competency framework due to changing technologies and innovation.

Keyphrases: Autonomous Shipping, Future Ready, Maritime Education and Training, mass, skills and competency framework, STCW Code

In: G. Reza Emad and Aditi Kataria (editors). Proceedings of the International Conference on Maritime Autonomy and Remote Navigation 2023, vol 2, pages 8--15

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/LlQl
	https://doi.org/10.29007/fb7s