The 11th session of the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was held from 10 to 14 February 2025 at IMO Headquarters.

At the session Ukraine was represented by the Counsellor of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Vice-Rector of the National University “Odessa Maritime Academy”, Professor Vadym Zakharchenko who attended the session in person.

Within the session’s Agenda delegates considered topical issues of seafarers’ training and certification, in particular the role of the human element, a report on illegal practices related to certificates of competency, the issue of supporting the reduction of GHG emissions from ships using new technologies and alternative fuels the validation of IMO model training courses and validated a number of IMO model training courses, as well as considered other issues.

One of the main issues discussed was the Comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code. Professor Vadym Zakharchenko took part in the working group on the review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code. The working group which was established by the Sub-Committee and working during the session. On a base of the working group’s report, the Sub-Committee approved the list of gaps identified in the 1978 STCW Convention and Code and the “road map” for the further review of the STCW Convention and Code.

During the session, a roundtable discussion on the consequences of the russian invasion in Ukraine, the security situation in the Black Sea region, and the functioning of the Maritime Transport Corridor was also held at IMO Headquarters. Within the roundtable Professor Vadym Zakharchenko delivered a presentation in which he shared with the participants a detailed analysis of the impact of the war on the maritime education system in Ukraine, the challenges for maritime higher education institutions in wartime, and the measures taken by educational institutions to ensure proper training of maritime students in such conditions.