From February 10th to February 14th, 2025, the 11th Session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sub-Committee on Human Elements, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) was held in London, United Kingdom. The meeting was chaired and hosted by Mr. Haakon Storhaug (Norway). The Chinese delegation, comprising representatives from the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration, Shandong Maritime Safety Administration, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, Dalian Maritime University, Qingdao Ocean Shipping Mariners College, Jiangsu Maritime Institute, China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, China Merchants Group, and the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom, participated in the session.

The meeting had a total of 11 agenda items and 75 meeting documents, with four proposals submitted by China, including three motion-type proposals such as the "Guidance on Operational Training for Crew on Battery-Powered Ships" and one informational proposal on "Research and Practice of Education and Training for MASS Crew and Remote Operators." Apart from the plenary sessions, the meeting also established three working groups on "Comprehensive Review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code," "Development of Training Requirements for Crew on Ships Using Alternative Fuels and New Technologies," and "IMO Model Courses," as well as a drafting group for "IMO Model Courses." The Chinese delegation participated fully in the plenary sessions, working groups, and drafting group.

The meeting confirmed five model courses as planned and clarified the arrangement for subsequent confirmations of model courses, including approving the revision of Model Course 1.27 on "Operational Use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)"; approving all gap lists identified in Phase 1, the work plan for Phase 2, and the updated roadmap for the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code; and clarifying the approach to developing training requirements for crew on ships using alternative fuels and new technologies through the formulation of a general interim training guide plus several specific fuel/technology interim training guides, which will be published in the form of STCW.7 circulars upon completion, with plans to establish an inter-sessional correspondence group to continue advancing the drafting of the interim training guides. During the meeting, the Chinese delegation actively communicated and coordinated with the HTW Secretariat and relevant countries, successfully securing the task of revising Model Course 1.27; effectively promoting the inclusion of the operational training guide for crew on battery-powered ships in the work plan for developing specific fuel/technology interim guides, and will serve as the coordinator of the inter-sessional correspondence group on this topic, coordinating countries to develop specific interim training guides for crew on methanol/ethanol, ammonia, hydrogen fuel cell, LPG, hydrogen, and electric ships as planned.

The next session (HTW12) is scheduled to be held in London, United Kingdom, from February 23rd to 27th, 2026.