STCW bullying & harassment training — mandatory from 2026
The 2024 STCW amendments, adopted at IMO MSC 108, introduce a mandatory harassment and bullying prevention training requirement for all seafarers, entering into force on 1 January 2026. The requirement converts what was previously a guideline in MLC 2006 Code Guideline B4.3.1 into a mandatory STCW standard binding on all flag-state administrations and their registered seafarers. It runs in parallel with the 2024 MLC amendments, which made the equivalent MLC Regulation 4.3 standard mandatory, and with ILO Convention C190 on Violence and Harassment, 2019, which applies where ratified by the seafarer's home state. Together, these instruments establish for the first time a binding international legal requirement for every person on board a commercial vessel to have received structured training in recognising, preventing, and reporting harassment at sea.
Who needs the training
All seafarers — awareness module
Every seafarer on board any ship to which STCW applies must complete an approved awareness module covering recognition, prevention, response, and reporting. This includes ordinary ratings, able seafarers, cadets, cooks, and specialist crew such as electricians and pumpmen — any person with designated duties on a commercial sea-going ship. The module may be completed on shore or on board.
Officers in management roles — extended module
Officers holding supervisory or management certificates — Chief Mate, Master, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, and any officer designated as department head — must additionally complete a management-level module with deeper scenario-based content on investigation, documentation, and liability. Flag states may extend this obligation to officers of the watch who supervise ratings on watch.
Course content — awareness module
Recognition
Defining harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence in a shipboard context. Understanding the power dynamics inherent in a hierarchical crew structure, the isolation of the maritime work environment, and why shipboard harassment is frequently under-reported. Distinguishing between workplace banter and conduct that crosses into harassment, including digital harassment via ship communications systems.
Prevention
The role of a respectful-workplace policy and a code of conduct in setting clear behavioural standards. Flag-state and shipowner obligations to maintain a harassment-free workplace under MLC 2006 Regulation 4.3 (as amended in 2024) and STCW 2024. The duty of masters and officers in supervisory roles to model professional conduct, respond to early warning signs, and set the tone for the entire crew. Awareness of ILO Convention C190 (Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019) and its Recommendation R206.
Response
What to do immediately after witnessing or experiencing harassment or bullying — securing evidence, accessing onboard support, and understanding that MLC Standard A5.1.5 prohibits retaliation against a complainant. Trauma-informed approaches for supporting a colleague who has disclosed. The role of the seafarers' welfare officer (where designated) and the company welfare policy.
Reporting pathways
Step-by-step use of the onboard complaint procedure required by MLC Std A5.1.5. Escalation to the flag state via the DMLC Part I contact details. Reporting to port-state-control officers in any MoU port — PSC officers have authority to investigate MLC complaints and, where appropriate, detain the vessel. External contacts: ITF inspectors, ISWAN SeafarerHelp (24/7, free, multilingual), national maritime unions, and IMO GISIS for flag-state contact information.
Additional content — management module
- ·Conducting a fair, confidential investigation into a harassment complaint — interviewing parties, gathering evidence, maintaining records.
- ·Understanding vicarious liability of the shipowner where a supervisor fails to act on a known complaint.
- ·Managing a crew environment post-disclosure, including separation of parties where practicable and psychological first-aid referral.
- ·Reporting obligations to the company ashore, the flag state, and — in cases of serious criminal conduct — port-state authorities.
- ·Documentation requirements under the ISM Code and the ship's safety management system.
Refresher cycle
Definitive refresher intervals are being set by individual flag administrations as they implement the 2024 amendments. The provisional consensus is a five-year refresher cycle, aligned with CoC revalidation, so that seafarers can complete the refresher as part of their existing revalidation coursework rather than making a separate visit to a training centre. Some flag states may count completion of an approved e-learning module as satisfying the refresher requirement; others may require a practical scenario component. Check your issuing administration's implementing circular for the definitive requirement.
Intersection with MLC 2006 and ILO C190
MLC 2006 Regulation 4.3 (as amended in 2024) requires shipowners to implement a policy preventing and addressing harassment and bullying on board, and to provide a confidential complaint mechanism under Standard A5.1.5. The STCW training requirement operates alongside — not instead of — the MLC obligation. Where a flag state has also ratified ILO C190, additional national-law obligations on criminal sanctions, civil remedies, and access to justice may apply to seafarers employed by operators registered in that state. For seafarers' broader rights, see the rights page on bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
Frequently asked questions
Who exactly must complete the harassment and bullying training?
All seafarers on board any ship subject to STCW must complete the awareness module. Officers holding supervisory or management-level certificates (Chief Mate, Master, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, and any officer designated as department head) must complete the additional management-level module. The training requirement applies regardless of rank, nationality, or contract type (permanent, voyage, or pool).
When must the course be completed by?
The requirement enters into force on 1 January 2026. For seafarers already at sea on that date, flag states are expected to grant a transitional period — commonly 12 months — to complete the course during their next leave period. New entrants and cadets joining after 1 January 2026 must complete the training before their first sea-going service or within the first month on board, depending on their flag state's implementing regulations.
How long is the course and how often must it be refreshed?
The awareness module is typically 4–8 hours, delivered online or in a classroom setting. The management module typically adds a further 4–8 hours, including practical scenario exercises. Refresher requirements are still being finalised by flag states — provisional guidance suggests a five-year refresher cycle aligned with CoC revalidation, though the awareness module may be incorporated into existing mandatory shipboard drills rather than requiring a standalone refresher.
How does this relate to ILO Convention C190?
ILO C190 (Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019) is a broad labour convention addressing violence and harassment across all industries. It covers maritime employment when ratified by the seafarer's home state. The STCW 2024 amendment and the MLC 2024 amendment are the primary instruments for the maritime sector because they apply through flag-state jurisdiction regardless of the seafarer's nationality. C190 strengthens the framework where ratified, particularly on criminal sanctions and access to justice ashore.
Where can I find an approved course provider?
Approved providers are accredited by your flag-state administration — MARINA for Philippine seafarers, DG Shipping for Indian seafarers, Maradmin for Ukrainian seafarers, MCA for UK seafarers, and equivalent authorities for other nationalities. Major maritime training organisations including Videotel/KVH, Seagull Maritime, and STCW.com have published courses; check that your flag state has specifically approved the provider and the course title before enrolling.
See also
- · 2024 & 2026 STCW amendments — full amendment context.
- · CoC revalidation — incorporating refreshers into the five-year cycle.
- · Rights: bullying, harassment, sexual harassment — MLC rights and reporting.
- · MLC 2006 — your bill of rights — Title 4, Regulation 4.3.
- · STCW hub — all STCW topics.
- · Training centres directory — approved course providers.
- · Maritime careers hub — certificate requirements by role.
- · Helplines — ISWAN SeafarerHelp, ITF, and national unions.
Primary sources
- · IMO — STCW Convention overview
- · ILO NORMLEX — C190 Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019
- · ILO NORMLEX — MLC 2006 (C186) full text including 2024 amendments
- · ITF — Seafarer rights and harassment guidance
Disclaimer. General information only — not legal advice. Implementation dates and approved provider lists vary by flag state. Verify requirements with your issuing flag-state administration before enrolling. For specific incidents, contact the ITF, ISWAN, or your union.