Jūrininkų rengimo ir diplomavimo teisinis reglamentavimas

Abstract

In accordance to International Maritime Organization (IMO) sources, 80 % of accidents at sea are caused by human error. Such a statistic makes it clear that seafarer training and certification is of paramount importance. The training and certification of seafarers plays a major role in maritime safety and in the protection of the maritime environment. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the content of the legal documents regulating training and certification of seafarers and indicate existing or possible problematical aspects of legal norms of the mentioned issue. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW convention), witch was adopted in 1978 by the IMO, was the first to establish basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers on an international level. The STCW convention prescribes minimum mandatory requirements for service, age, medical fitness, training, qualification and examination for seafarers. The Republic of Lithuania joined the STCW convention in 1991. However, legal regulation of the training and certification of seafarers a long time after this date did not ensure compliance with the provisions of the STCW convention. Recently, legal regulation relating training and certification of seafarers in Lithuania fully complies with the provisions of the STCW convention and EU standards concerning maritime training and certification. Practical implementation of legal norms regulating training and certification of seafarers in the Republic of Lithuania indicate some problematical aspects.