STCW Basic Safety Training 2026: Official Amendments, Flag State Positions, and Practical Guidance for Crewing and Seafarers
As of 1 January 2026, amendments to STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.560(108) enter into force. The amendments concern the Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) module and introduce, for the first time, a mandatory competence related to the prevention of and response to violence and harassment on board ships.These amendments are mandatory at the international level and directly affect:
crewing and every crewing company;employment processes and work at sea;
documentary requirements when applying for employment through a crewing company for open seafarer vacancies;
the management of crewing vacancies and vacancies for seafarers under international flags.
1. What Exactly Changed in STCW from 2026
By Resolution MSC.560(108), the IMO amended Part A of the STCW Code, fully replacing Table A-VI/1-4 (PSSR). From 1 January 2026, this table applies in its revised form to all approved training courses and instructional programmes.
New Mandatory PSSR Competence
The revised Table A-VI/1-4 formally introduces the competence: “Contribute to the prevention of and response to violence and harassment”, including:
sexual harassment;
bullying;
sexual assault.
This competence constitutes a minimum international STCW standard, not a company policy or optional corporate training requirement.
2. What a Seafarer Is Now Required to Know and Demonstrate
Under the revised Table A-VI/1-4, a seafarer completing PSSR must demonstrate the following:
Knowledge
what constitutes violence and harassment on board;
the consequences of such conduct for ship safety, crew welfare, and mental health;
risk factors such as power imbalance, isolation, fatigue, stress, and alcohol.
Practical Skills
the ability to identify unacceptable behaviour at an early stage;
knowledge of reporting and intervention procedures;
basic trauma-informed response principles for appropriate interaction with victims and bystanders.
This is an integral part of STCW compliance, not an internal shipowner training initiative.
3. A Critical Principle: IMO Did Not Invalidate Existing Certificates
This point is frequently misunderstood and requires clear clarification.The text of MSC.560(108):
specifies the entry-into-force date as 1 January 2026;
replaces the PSSR competence table;
does not contain any provision declaring previously issued BST or PSSR certificates invalid.
👉 IMO did not introduce any retroactive obligation to replace valid certificates.
Accordingly:
if a BST/PSSR certificate is valid by date;
and was issued before 1 January 2026, it remains legally valid unless otherwise required by the flag State or the shipowner.
4. Position of the Liberian Flag
The Liberia Maritime Authority issued clear guidance through Marine Advisory .Liberia explicitly states that:
all seafarers completing training or renewal on or after 1 January 2026 must hold PSSR including the new competence;
when renewing Basic Training after 1 January 2026, the following modules must be refreshed:
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting;
Personal Survival Techniques;
PSSR including Violence & Harassment (SASH).
Importantly, Liberia does not require:
immediate replacement of valid BST certificates;
retroactive renewal of PSSR.
5. Position of the Panama Flag
As of now, the Panama Maritime Authority:
recognises MSC.560(108) as part of the STCW framework;
has not issued a circular invalidating existing BST or PSSR certificates.
This reflects the standard STCW implementation approach:
new requirements apply to training and renewal after the effective date;
existing certificates remain valid until their expiry date.
6. Is BST Renewal Required in 2026 if the Certificate Is Valid Until 2028?
The Practical Scenario
A seafarer holds a valid Basic Safety Training certificate until 2028 and is joining a vessel or signing a new contract in 2026.
Clear Answer
No automatic renewal is required.Joining a vessel in 2026 does not in itself create an obligation to renew BST, provided that:
the certificate was issued before 1 January 2026;
it remains valid;
no renewal is otherwise required;
there are no additional flag State or shipowner requirements.
Legal Basis for This Conclusion
MSC.560(108) contains no retroactive replacement clause;
Liberia Maritime Authority links the requirement exclusively to training or renewal dates;
STCW amendments have consistently been applied prospectively, not retroactively.
7. Seafarers On Board During the 2025–2026 Transition Period
Scenario 1
A seafarer joined a vessel in 2025 and the contract ends in 2026.If all certificates remain valid:
no BST update is required during the current contract;
no automatic additional training applies.
Scenario 2
A new contract is signed after disembarkation in 2026.In this case:
if renewal is required, the updated STCW requirements apply;
PSSR must include the MSC.560(108) competence.
8. What This Means for Crewing and Seafarer Vacancies
For crewing, the 2026 amendments are primarily a matter of professional risk management.A competent crewing company:
does not demand replacement of valid certificates without legal grounds;
clearly distinguishes between valid certificates and renewals after 1 January 2026;
informs candidates in advance when applying for crewing vacancies and vacancies for seafarers;
prevents embarkation delays and non-compliance risks.
Final Conclusion
If a Basic Safety Training certificate is valid until 2028, a seafarer may join a vessel in 2026 without renewing the course. An updated PSSR is required only when training or renewal takes place on or after 1 January 2026, not merely because the voyage occurs after that date.
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available IMO and Flag State guidance. It does not constitute official flag state instruction or legal advice.
