Glossary

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (or STCW), 1978, as amended, sets qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships. STCW was adopted in 1978 by conference at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, and entered into force in 1984. The Convention was significantly amended in 1995 and 2010, the latter often being referred to as “the Manila Amendments”.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is an international guideline that describes the achievements of learners of foreign languages through 6 levels of language ability from A1 for beginners up to C2 for those who have mastered a language. It is used by organisations all over the world as a reliable benchmark of language ability.

The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) is a European initiative, allowing for the accumulation and transfer of credits gained through the recognition of learning outcomes in vocational education and training (VET) across Europe. It aims to facilitate the mobility of the workforce in VET, especially across Europe. 

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System is a student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme, objectives preferably specified in terms of learning outcomes and competences to be acquired. It was developed by the European Commission in order to provide generally valid and accepted procedures for the recognition of study qualifications gained by students on courses outside their home country. 

Maritime Education and Training is a term commonly used in the context of merchant marine instruction. 

The European Language Portfolio (ELP) is a document in which those who are learning or have learned one or more languages, whether at school or outside school, can record and reflect on their language learning and intercultural experiences. The concept of ELP was developed by the Language Policy Unit of the Council of Europe.  

Support, operational and management levels are the levels of competences defined in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Support level refers to the competence level of Ratings; operational to the level of Mates and Assistant Engineers; and management to the level of Masters, Chief Mates and Chief Engineers.       

The Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP ) is a comprehensive body of standardised language designed to assist communication, primarily for navigational and safety purposes at sea. It was developed by the International Maritime Organization and adopted in 2002.