International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) chairman Esben Poulsson sent out a strong call today for a comprehensive review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) if it is to remain a vital pillar of the international legal framework for safe and efficient international shipping.

Speaking at the CrewConnect conference in Manila, Poulsson said it has become commonplace for companies to provide additional training and requiring supplementary company assessments prior to seafarer deployment.