STCW IMO Standards for Training Certification

The Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, or STCW, is a convention of the IMO. These regulations first came into existence in 1978. Major revisions to the conventions occurred in 1984, 1995, and 2010. The goal of the STCW training is to give seafarers from all nations a standard set of skills useful to crew members working aboard large vessels outside of the boundaries of their country. Do All Merchant Mariners Need to Take an STCW Course? In the United States mariners only need to take an approved STCW course if they intend to work aboard a vessel greater than 200 Gross Register Tons (Domestic Tonnage), or 500 Gross Tons, which will operate beyond the boundaries defined by the Federal Regulations which indicate international waters. Although STCW training is not required for seafarers working in nearshore areas or domestic inland waterways it is recommended. STCW training offers exposure to valuable skills which make the mariner more flexible aboard ship and more valuable in the job market. Not all nations require their licensed merchant mariners to take a separate STCW course. Many high-quality programs meet the training requirements for STCW during the regular licensing coursework. Why is STCW a Separate Course? STCW training guidelines are laid out in the IMO convention to standardize the basic skills needed to safely crew aboard a large vessel outside of areas where domestic rules apply. Some of the training does not apply to smaller craft or vessels operating in coastal or river areas. To simplify testing requirements, not all countries include the STCW information for basic merchant mariner licensing. Each country may decide if their licensing requirements meet the terms of the IMO convention. What is Taught in an STCW Course? Every course goes about their training in different ways so no two courses are the same. Some courses have a greater emphasis on classroom learning but generally, some concepts are taught in a hands-on situation. Classes will include some of the following disciplines: Bridge and Deck Skills; Traffic Patterns, Lights and Day Shapes, Horn Signals for international watersEngine Room; Operations, Signals, Emergency ProceduresInternationally Standardized Radio Operations and TerminologyEmergency, Occupational Safety, Medical Care and Survival FunctionsWatchkeeping Major components of the STCW conventions were modified during the last revision in June of 2010. These are called the Manila Amendments and they will go into effect January 1, 2012. These amendments will bring the training requirements up to date for modern operational situations and technologies. Some of the changes from the Manila Amendments are: â€Å"Revised requirements on hours of work and rest and new requirements for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as updated standards relating to medical fitness standards for seafarers†Ã¢â‚¬Å"New requirements relating to training in modern technology such as electronic charts and information systems†Ã¢â‚¬Å"New requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in leadership and teamwork†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Updating of competence requirements for personnel serving on board all types of tankers, including new requirements for personnel serving on liquefied gas tankers†Ã¢â‚¬Å"New requirements for security training, as well as provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly trained to cope if their ship comes under attack by pirates†Ã¢â‚¬Å"New training guidance for personnel serving on board ships operating in polar waters†Ã¢â‚¬Å"New training guidance for personnel operating Dynamic Positioning Systems† These new training elements will give a merchant mariner many valuable and potentially life-saving skills. Anyone considering a new career in the maritime industry or an upgrade to their current credential should strongly consider taking part in an approved STCW course. More information is available for U.S. licensees from the National Maritime Center website.

Russsian Empire Guilty of Imperialism - 954 Words

From a century to another and from regime to regime Russians have been accused of empire-building and imperialism. It is not always without a reason, since the Tsarist Russian Empire was clearly and undeniably imperialistic. (Beissinger 1995) However, the case of Soviet Union and especially their rule over Central Asia is more ambiguous and unique. It is highly disputable whether Soviet actions were actions of state-building or actions of empire-building. In this essay I examine Soviet rule in Central Asia in order to find out if it was imperialistic, and if so, to what extent. I argue that there are several facts that support the idea of Soviet imperialism in Central Asia and therefore it is correct to define it as imperialistic. Yet at the same time there are several facts that demonstrate how Soviet Union was very different from earlier Western Empires such as the British Empire. Some evidence even makes Soviet actions to be seen as actions of state-building. Therefore it is to be noticed, that the Soviet Union was not entirely imperialistic and when it was, it was imperialistic in a very unique way. Soviet leaders themselves never saw Soviet ambitions as imperialistic. They explicitly declared themselves as anti-imperialistic. They argued that they were building a state, not an empire. (Beissinger 1995) Central Asian states were seen as having been illegitimately oppressed by the Tsarist Empire. Soviet leaders sympathized those states because of the injustice they had

Music and Musicians in the Buena Vista Social Club Essay Example For Students

Music and Musicians in the Buena Vista Social Club Essay Buena Vista Social Club is a documentary which follows a group of extraordinary Cuban musicians who have been asked to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The film shows the history of Cuban music and emphasizes how these musicians became so successful. Each musician seems to have a youthful exuberance. They all believe that this is the prime of their lives, even though they are all between 50 and 80 years old. The Buena Vista Social Club points out the great history of Cuban music and how it has changed these musicians lives. Most of the musicians featured in this film seem to view music as a crystallized intelligence. They all talk about how music has always been a part of their lives and how they have learned and grown from the experiences music has provided them. Music is ever changing and evolving. As we experience different heartbreaks and happy moments, music is there to comfort us or to reflect on these situations. This is why music can be fluid and the experience of a song changes with each time you hear it. Although the notes and lyrics have not changed, our life experiences change our view and how we interpret the song. The Cuban musicians in Buena Vista Social Club have so much life experience and understanding of the world. The way they feel the music changes based on where they are in life. For example, when Ruben Gonzalez started playing piano, he was in the first grade. His family had bought a piano, which he began playing with just as a fun toy. But when his mother saw his potential she had him take lessons. Lessons were not something had he exactly enjoyed, but he did them anyway. When he was in eighth grade, his teacher told him he would one day be a great pianist. He eventually started playing with a band and toured the world playing his music. He has a very crystallized intelligence when it comes to his view in music. He started playing the piano as a fun toy and nothing serious, but as he experienced life and grew older, the piano took on a whole new role in his life. It became a way of life and a passion of his. Cuba is such a different society than the United States. Everyone smokes cigars, everyone sings and dances, and everyone lives a relaxed way of life. The man that has been smoking for 85 years physically seems to be in great health for his age. He seems to have taken care of himself, beside the fact that he smokes as much as he does. As we get older, there are many factors that contribute to staying healthy. If you ingest a certain toxin into your body, but balance it out with healthy alternatives; when it comes to diet, exercise, stress, and daily activity, it is possible to smoke daily and still be healthy. The United States puts so much emphasis on how terrible smoking is. But there are so many things that are just as bad for you if you do them excessively. The man in the film smokes a cigar daily. Compared to many Americans who smoke 20-40 cigarettes a day, one cigar does not seem too terrible. He also seems to live a very relaxed and stress free life. Stress is a major factor in aging and vitality. Many of the musicians in the Buena Vista Social Club live life to the fullest. They all seem to be stress free and enjoy life to the fullest. The older men and women in this film often talk about how they are in the prime of their lives and how they still have so much life to live. .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad , .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .postImageUrl , .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad , .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad:hover , .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad:visited , .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad:active { border:0!important; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad:active , .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u444da9429e42aaa73f3f54e7d2ad83ad:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Music and Critical Thinking Questions EssayA perfect example is the man who has been smoking for 85 years. Later in the film, he states that he has five children and is working on his sixth. He has to be around 90 years old, but is trying to have another child. This is extremely unheard of in America. The American way of life is to be successful and have a family between the ages of 25 and 40, to be content with this lifestyle for 20 years, and then retire. By 70 years old, many people in America are living slow, seemingly boring lives. Some live in retirement homes, while some live with family. But it seems that after 70 there is a downhill toward death type of outlook. In Cuba, it is the complete opposite. They live life day by day and enjoy each experience they have. The musicians in this film see each day as an opportunity to grow and spread their love of music. They enjoy their days and stay active well past 80 years of age. In my opinion, this is happening because much of the American lifestyle is based on a person’s job and financial success; while in Cuba their lifestyles are based on family, relationships, health, and happiness. This is why these musicians are able to see that they are in the prime of their lives and are able to enjoy every minute of it. I think this is the element of the film that is most applicable to the sociology of aging. Different cultures have different â€Å"flows of life† or ways that they live. It is clear that Cuba’s musicians in the film are carefree and live each day to the fullest. This is how aging is seen in their culture. It just proves that each culture has different views on aging. The important thing for us to do is to learn from different cultures and try to apply their ways to our own lives the best we can.

Didion Essay Example

Didion Paper Joan Doing On Keeping a Notebook In On Keeping a Notebook, Doing writes about the Importance In keeping a notebook to record events and personal feelings. She makes It vital to write In the moment that these events, thoughts, and feelings occur. Although, the point Sins to be accurate or persuasive but rather personal to reflect and reveal what she discovers about herself In the process while still applying rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos In her essay. Her notebook Includes personal experiences written erratically, versus to writing In a diary dally. Some of the entries Jotted down have little to no significance to her life and this format enforces the effects to writing In a notebook the same way any average person would. Some of these stories are questionable to her and are used to make a point of how writing in a notebook isnt about finding a meaning but keeping in touch with yourself in the end. Dingos writing structure is informal to the way its written with random stories ND using casual language that is easy to understand as if she were speaking to the reader. This makes for the persuasive method of ethos that enables the reader to trust her writings to make a point in using the notebook usefully and efficiently. She asks the reader questions throughout the essay that makes the reader think about how a notebook comes in handy. Why did I write it down? In order to remember, of course, but exactly what was it I wanted to remember? We will write a custom essay sample on Didion specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Didion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Didion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer How much of it actually happened? Did any of it? Why do I keep a notebook at all? It is easy to deceive oneself on all those scores. (76). As she continues to keep the reader questioning, she successfully resumes authority over the reader when she adds in another personal entry. Doing does not make against any argument, but comes to avoid it as she successfully attempts to inform the reader that Sometimes even the maker has difficulty with the meaning,(79) while bringing in playful sarcasm to her explanations, . Yet there it is in my notebook, labeled FACT. 79) causing the reader to respect her point of view. Overall, what she tries to get across to the reader Isnt to record, analyze, or conclude but to keep bits of mindful thoughts. Doing By lexicons In On Keeping a Notebook, Doing writes about the importance in keeping a notebook to record events and personal feelings. She makes it vital to write in the moment that these events, thoughts, and feelings occur. Although, the point is nt to discovers about herself in the process while still applying rhetorical devices of ethos, ethos, and logos in her essay. Her notebook includes personal experiences written erratically, versus to writing in a diary daily. Some of the entries Jotted down have little to no significance to her life and this format enforces the effects to writing in a notebook the same way any average person would. Some of these stories are explanations, Yet there it is in my notebook, labeled FACT. (79) causing the reader to respect her point of view.