IMO Model Courses – Paper Version

Introduction

IMO Model Courses in paper format are an important reference resource for professional maritime training. Developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), these courses are designed to help governments, maritime education and training institutions, instructors and maritime professionals structure, develop, update or complement their training programmes.

The Model Course programme was developed in particular following the adoption of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended. These publications support the implementation of international requirements relating to the training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers. Their use remains sufficiently flexible to be adapted to the needs of different national maritime training systems.

The paper format continues to have an important role in maritime academies, training centres, classrooms, technical libraries and professional environments. It provides instructors and trainees with a structured support for preparing training programmes, organizing teaching sessions and working on learning objectives.

IMO Model Courses cover a wide range of fields, including navigation, safety, marine engineering, cargo operations, tankers, chemical tankers, liquefied gas carriers, ships operating in polar waters, firefighting, maritime security, AIS, Bridge Resource Management and general seafarer competencies.

What Is an IMO Model Course?

An IMO Model Course is not simply a technical textbook intended for individual study. It is primarily a teaching and training tool designed to help instructors develop and organize a consistent maritime training programme.

A Model Course may include:

• an introduction and overview of the relevant subject;

• a general training framework;

• a course plan;

• a detailed teaching programme;

• learning objectives;

• guidance for instructors;

• information relating to trainee assessment.

This structure gives instructors a methodological basis for organizing their teaching. IMO Model Courses can be used to introduce new subjects, improve existing training programmes or supplement and update educational materials.

The paper format is particularly well suited to this educational use, allowing instructors to annotate documents, prepare lessons, consult references in the classroom and work collectively with trainees.

Maritime Training and the STCW Convention

The STCW Convention, International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, provides the fundamental international framework for the training and competence of seafarers.

IMO Model Courses help translate certain regulatory and professional requirements into structured training programmes.

They may therefore be used in the training of:

• masters and officers;

• deck personnel;

• engine personnel;

• electro-technical officers;

• ratings;

• personnel working on specialized vessels;

• maritime security personnel;

• shipping company managers;

• instructors and assessors.

However, Model Courses should not be confused with maritime certificates or professional qualifications in themselves. They are educational tools designed to support the development and delivery of maritime training.

IMO Model Courses for Navigation

Modern maritime navigation requires an increasingly diverse range of skills. IMO Model Courses may cover technologies and procedures used on a daily basis on the bridge.

Relevant subjects include:

• Automatic Identification System (AIS);

• Bridge Resource Management;

• navigation and safety;

• maritime communications;

• GMDSS-related procedures;

• ship handling;

• master and watchkeeping officer competencies.

For example, an AIS Model Course may address the principles of the system, its functions, limitations and use within the navigation environment.

Bridge Resource Management focuses on the effective use of human, technical and informational resources available on the bridge.

These competencies are particularly important in high-density traffic areas such as the English Channel, Dover Strait and North Sea, especially around the ports of Le Havre, Dunkirk, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.

Training for Masters, Officers and Crews

Some IMO Model Courses are directly related to the responsibilities performed on board.

They may cover the training of masters, chief officers, deck officers, marine engineering officers and other members of the crew.

Educational documentation helps structure the knowledge and competencies required to perform onboard duties while taking into account applicable international requirements.

In a maritime academy, a Model Course can therefore provide the basis for a programme combining theoretical instruction, practical exercises, assessments and, depending on the subject, simulator-based training.

IMO Model Courses for Tankers

Ships carrying oil, chemicals or liquefied gases require specialized competencies.

IMO provides Model Courses covering areas such as:

• tanker cargo operations;

• chemical tanker operations;

• liquefied gas tanker operations;

• cargo handling;

• ballast operations;

• cargo operations;

• specialized simulators;

• basic and advanced training.

The current IMO publication programme includes Model Courses relating to advanced training for cargo operations on oil tankers, chemical tankers and liquefied gas tankers. It also includes training associated with the IGF Code for ships using low-flashpoint fuels.

These courses are particularly relevant to major industrial and energy ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Marseille-Fos, Singapore and Houston.

Safety Training and Firefighting

Safety on board is another major area covered by IMO Model Courses.

Training may address:

• fire prevention;

• firefighting;

• safety equipment;

• emergency procedures;

• lifesaving appliances;

• personal safety;

• crew responsibilities.

Advanced firefighting training is among the Model Courses included in the IMO training framework.

The paper format is particularly practical for instructors who need a reference document during classroom-based theoretical training and when preparing practical exercises.

IMO Model Courses and Maritime Security

IMO Model Courses also cover maritime security, which is distinct from maritime safety in terms of accident prevention.

They include subjects such as:

• Ship Security Officer training;

• Company Security Officer training;

• Port Facility Security Officer training;

• security awareness for seafarers;

• security awareness for port facility personnel;

• prevention of piracy and armed robbery against ships.

These Model Courses can be used by maritime training institutions and instructors to organize or supplement their security training programmes.

This documentation is particularly relevant in international ports and on major shipping routes exposed to maritime security risks.

Training for Ships Operating in Polar Waters

Operations in Arctic and Antarctic regions require specific competencies because of severe weather conditions, ice, remoteness from rescue services and particular navigation constraints.

IMO Model Courses include basic and advanced training for ships operating in polar waters.

These courses complement the requirements of the Polar Code and address the specific conditions associated with navigation at high latitudes.

They may be relevant to crews operating in the Arctic, the Barents Sea, the Kara Sea and Antarctic waters.

IMO Model Courses and the Marine Environment

Maritime training is not limited to navigation and personal safety.

Some Model Courses also address marine environmental protection and pollution prevention.

Training may cover:

• prevention of oil spills;

• preparedness for pollution incidents;

• response to marine pollution;

• hazardous and noxious substances;

• environmental management;

• ship energy efficiency.

IMO OPRC Model Courses have been developed to address preparedness, response and cooperation in the event of oil pollution incidents. They are structured around different levels of competence, ranging from awareness to operational, tactical and strategic responsibilities.

Documentation for Maritime Training Centres

IMO Model Courses in paper format are particularly useful for institutions that regularly organize professional maritime training.

They can be used to:

• prepare a training programme;

• structure teaching sessions;

• define learning objectives;

• prepare exercises;

• guide instructors;

• organize assessments;

• supplement existing educational materials;

• update professional training programmes.

The documentation may also be used by shipping companies and departments responsible for the internal training of crews.

Use in Major Maritime Areas

IMO Model Courses have an international purpose and therefore apply to professionals operating on major shipping routes around the world.

In Europe, they may be used for training crews navigating in the English Channel, North Sea, Baltic Sea, North Atlantic, Bay of Biscay and Mediterranean Sea.

Ports such as Le Havre, Marseille-Fos, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Genoa and Barcelona concentrate a wide variety of maritime activities requiring competencies consistent with international standards.

On ocean routes, the same training principles support navigation in the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Pacific Ocean.

IMO documentation can therefore be used alongside the nautical and hydrographic documents required for these different areas, whether produced by SHOM, ADMIRALTY, Imray or NV Charts.

This complementarity is important: nautical charts and hydrographic publications describe the navigational characteristics of a specific area, while IMO Model Courses contribute to the training of professionals who may operate in those waters.

Why Use IMO Model Courses in Paper Format?

The paper format offers several advantages in an educational environment:

• immediate consultation in the classroom;

• ability to annotate pages;

• use without computer equipment;

• easy sharing between instructors and trainees;

• storage in a technical library;

• convenient reference when preparing training sessions;

• practical support for classroom-based courses;

• long-term preservation of an educational reference.

For a maritime training centre, maintaining a paper documentation collection also makes it possible to establish a specialized library covering the different areas of professional maritime training.

Regularly Updated Training Documentation

IMO Model Courses may evolve to reflect regulatory changes, new technologies and developments in maritime practices.

The current IMO publication programme includes recent editions addressing subjects such as piracy prevention, advanced firefighting, Bridge Resource Management, cargo handling and operations involving ships subject to the IGF Code.

When building a maritime training library, it is therefore important to identify the exact Model Course number, title and edition corresponding to the training requirement.

Conclusion

IMO Model Courses in paper format provide an important documentary foundation for professional maritime training. Their purpose is to facilitate the design, organization and updating of training programmes in accordance with international requirements applicable to seafarers.

They cover a very broad range of competencies, including navigation, AIS, Bridge Resource Management, safety, firefighting, lifesaving, tankers, dangerous cargoes, liquefied gases, maritime security, piracy, polar waters, marine environmental protection and emergency management.

Their structure, including course framework, detailed programme, learning objectives, instructor guidance and assessment elements, makes them particularly suitable for maritime academies, training centres, instructors and shipping companies.

The paper format remains highly relevant in this environment: it facilitates classroom consultation, annotation, lesson preparation and the development of a specialized technical library.

FAQ – IMO Model Courses Paper Version

What is an IMO Model Course?

An IMO Model Course is an educational and training tool designed to help governments, maritime education and training institutions and instructors develop, organize, improve or supplement professional maritime training programmes.

Are IMO Model Courses related to the STCW Convention?

Yes. The Model Course programme was developed in particular to support the implementation of the STCW Convention and other relevant IMO instruments.

Who are IMO Model Courses intended for?

They are primarily intended for maritime training institutions, instructors, trainers, administrations, shipping companies and professionals involved in the training of seafarers.

What does an IMO Model Course usually contain?

A Model Course may include a course framework, general programme, detailed teaching programme, learning objectives, instructor guidance and assessment-related elements.

Are there IMO Model Courses for oil tankers and chemical tankers?

Yes. IMO provides Model Courses covering cargo operations on oil tankers, chemical tankers and liquefied gas carriers, with basic and advanced levels depending on the training area.

Are there IMO Model Courses for ships operating in polar waters?

Yes. IMO provides basic and advanced Model Courses for ships operating in polar waters.

Do IMO Model Courses cover maritime security?

Yes. IMO provides Model Courses for Ship Security Officers, Company Security Officers and Port Facility Security Officers, as well as security awareness and piracy-prevention training.

Are IMO Model Courses diplomas or maritime certificates?

No. A Model Course is an educational tool. It provides a basis for designing and delivering training and does not itself constitute a professional certificate or maritime licence.

Why choose the paper version of an IMO Model Course?

The paper format is particularly practical for classroom teaching, lesson preparation, annotation, group consultation and storage in a maritime training library.

Are IMO Model Courses suitable for maritime academies?

Yes. They are specifically designed to help maritime institutes and their instructors organize, introduce, improve, update or supplement their training programmes.

Do IMO Model Courses only cover navigation?

No. They cover many disciplines, including navigation, marine engineering, safety, firefighting, cargo operations, tankers, security, marine environmental protection, polar waters, Bridge Resource Management and other professional competencies.

Are there IMO Model Courses covering marine pollution?

Yes. IMO has developed OPRC Model Courses covering preparedness, response and cooperation in the event of oil pollution incidents, as well as training related to hazardous and noxious substances.

How should the correct edition of an IMO Model Course be selected?

It is recommended to identify the exact Model Course number, title, subject area and edition corresponding to the relevant training programme and applicable regulatory requirements.