Ukraine Updates STCW-Compliant Maritime Training Institution Register After 7-Year Gap

Ukraine's Ministry for Communities and Territories Development has approved an updated register of maritime training institutions whose programs comply with International STCW Convention standards, marking the first comprehensive revision since 2019. Order No. 457, dated March 9, 2026, establishes the official list of nautical training establishments with approved programs meeting international certification requirements.

The update incorporates amendments to the STCW Code adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.560(108) in May 2024, which took effect January 1, 2026. These amendments specifically target Section VI competencies related to emergency response, safety, security, medical care, and survival functions — areas that have seen increased scrutiny during port state control inspections of Ukrainian-crewed vessels.

Ukraine's Maritime Administration confirmed that training programs listed in the updated register now include enhanced competencies for preventing and responding to sexual assault and sexual harassment incidents, reflecting the new international standards. The revision addresses certification gaps that emerged during the disruption of Ukraine's maritime education sector following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

The approved register is available on the Maritime Administration's official website under the Training Establishments section, with specific notations indicating which programs incorporate the latest IMO amendments. Certificates issued by previously recognized institutions remain valid without retroactive requirements for serving seafarers.