Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Prevention of Violence and Harassment Onboard

From 1 January 2026, mandatory PSSR training includes for the first time a specific competence on preventing and responding to violence, sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault on board.

violence harassment STCW PSSR bullying

## Operational Explanation

The STCW amendments in force from 1 January 2026 introduce a new mandatory minimum competence in Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) training, relating to the prevention of and response to violence and harassment on board, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. The competence is inserted into Table A-VI/1-4 of the STCW Code and applies globally to all seafarers undertaking PSSR training from this date onward.

The training programme covers: what constitutes violence and harassment on board, the consequences for ship safety, crew wellbeing and mental health, risk factors (power imbalance, isolation, fatigue, stress, alcohol), the ability to recognise unacceptable behaviour at an early stage, reporting and intervention procedures, and the basic principles of a trauma-informed response for interacting correctly with victims and witnesses.

The Company side, not just the crew: alongside STCW training aimed at seafarers, a revision of the ISM Code Implementation Guidelines is under way that extends responsibility beyond individual training alone, requiring the Company to put in place dedicated organisational and shore-side infrastructure: confidential reporting channels distinct from general whistleblowing, with access to psychological support and victim assistance, and an explicit responsibility of the Company's management — not only the Master on board — to actively promote a culture of prevention. This is a complementary angle to the STCW competence alone: not "what the seafarer must be able to recognise", but "what the Company must actually put in place ashore" when a case arises.

## Regulatory Reference

STCW Code, Table A-VI/1-4 (Specification of minimum standard of competence in personal safety and social responsibilities) — amendments in force from 1 January 2026. Existing PSSR certificates remain valid for their five-year period, but every new certification or renewal from this date must reflect the new training requirements. In parallel, the revision of the ISM Code Implementation Guidelines strengthens the Company's shore-side responsibility for confidential reporting infrastructure and psychological support/victim assistance.

## Scope of Application

Every seafarer undertaking PSSR training from 1 January 2026, and every Company responsible for putting in place prevention policies and reporting/intervention procedures for violence and harassment on board.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Verify that the PSSR courses delivered or required for your crew from 1 January 2026 include the new competence on violence and harassment.
2. Put in place a clear company prevention policy, distinct from the general NC/whistleblowing reporting channels, specific to violence and harassment.
3. Train personnel to recognise risk factors (power imbalance, isolation, fatigue, stress, alcohol) before they turn into an event.
4. Put in place an intervention procedure based on trauma-informed response principles, to provide adequate support to victims and witnesses.
5. Verify the validity of the crew's existing PSSR certificates, planning renewal under the new requirements when necessary.

## Practical Example

Example: a Company updates its induction programme for new joiners to include a dedicated module on the risk factors for violence and harassment (isolation, fatigue, hierarchical power imbalance), distinct from general familiarisation training, in line with the new PSSR requirements.

## Real Cases

The introduction of this STCW competence reflects growing international attention to crew psychological wellbeing: the risk factors identified by the training (prolonged isolation, fatigue, power imbalance typical of the shipboard hierarchy) are structural conditions of life on board, which is why the training aims at early recognition of problematic behaviour rather than only managing an event that has already occurred.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
PSSR training renewed without checking that it includes the new competence on violence and harassment required from 2026 | Certification formally completed but not compliant with the new STCW requirements | Always verify that the PSSR training provider has updated the programme according to Table A-VI/1-4
Prevention of violence and harassment treated as a generic subcategory of whistleblowing, without dedicated policy and procedures | Reports of violence/harassment handled with procedures not suited to the specific sensitivity of the topic | Always put in place a specific policy and intervention procedure, distinct from the general NC reporting channels
Structural risk factors (isolation, fatigue, power imbalance) not proactively monitored on board | Problematic behaviour recognised only after it has already manifested in a serious event | Train personnel to recognise risk factors at an early stage, not only to respond to the event

## PSC Observations

Updated PSSR training is not yet typically subject to specific direct PSC verification at this stage of transition, but the validity of the crew's STCW certificates, including PSSR, remains subject to general verification during inspections.

## Operational Tips

- Always verify that PSSR courses delivered from 2026 include the new competence on violence and harassment; don't assume the training provider has updated it.
- Put in place specific prevention policies and intervention procedures for violence and harassment, distinct from the SMS's general NC reporting channels.
- Train personnel to recognise structural risk factors (isolation, fatigue, power imbalance) before they turn into an event.

## Checklist

- PSSR courses verified as updated to the new competence on violence and harassment (from 2026)
- Specific company prevention policy in place, distinct from general whistleblowing
- Structural risk factors communicated and monitored on board
- Intervention procedure based on trauma-informed response principles in place
- Validity of the crew's PSSR certificates checked against the new requirements

## FAQ

Since when is the new STCW competence on violence and harassment mandatory?
Since 1 January 2026, inserted into Table A-VI/1-4 of the STCW Code relating to Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) training, applicable globally to all seafarers undertaking this training from that date.
Do PSSR certificates already issued before 2026 remain valid?
Yes, they remain valid for their five-year validity period; only new certifications or renewals from 2026 onward must reflect the new training requirements.
What does the new training cover beyond the definition of violence and harassment?
The consequences for safety and mental health, structural risk factors (isolation, fatigue, power imbalance, alcohol), early recognition of unacceptable behaviour, reporting/intervention procedures and the basic principles of trauma-informed response.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Whistleblowing and Anonymous Reporting Handling Seafarer Complaints (MLC 2006)

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