Tanzania has called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to strengthen technical cooperation and capacity-building to help developing countries participate more effectively in the review and validation of IMO model courses, arguing that broader representation is necessary for consistent global implementation of seafarer training standards.

The statement was delivered today February 24, 2026, by Dr. Devotha Mandanda, Tanzania’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, during discussions under Agenda item 3 (HTW 12/3/4) on improving expert participation in the model course review process.

Tanzania welcomed the Secretariat’s paper and acknowledged concerns about the low level of Member State engagement in expert review groups tasked with updating model courses. It emphasized that the model course programme plays a key role in supporting the effective and uniform implementation of the STCW Convention and in maintaining the credibility of seafarer education and training systems internationally.

According to Tanzania, limited participation particularly from developing countries should not be mistaken for lack of interest. Instead, the country pointed to practical capacity constraints, including shortages of specialized technical experts and limited financial and institutional resources needed to contribute consistently to highly technical review work.

Tanzania expressed readiness to engage more actively in future model course development and review processes, noting that wider geographical participation would improve the practicality of the courses and strengthen implementation at national level.

To address current barriers, Tanzania supported proposals for enhanced technical cooperation through the IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP), including targeted training, workshops, and support mechanisms for experts from developing countries. Such measures, Tanzania said, would enable Member States not only to apply model courses effectively, but also to contribute meaningfully to their continuous improvement.