A Study on the Improvement of Safety Training for Korean Fishing Vessel Personnel in Accordance with the Implementation of the STCW-F Codes

With the global enforcement of the STCW-F Code scheduled for 2026, enhancing the safety competence of fishing vessel personnel has become a key priority. This study investigates the limitations of Korea’s current safety training system for fishing crews, which remains largely based on merchant marine curricula, lacking specialized, practice-oriented modules. A survey of course participants revealed insufficient practical training and limited differentiation by duty or vessel type. By analyzing training systems of STCW-F ratifying countries, this research proposes a revised two-level training framework: a Basic Safety Course (covering survival, firefighting, first aid, pollution prevention) and an Advanced Course (focused on command, decision-making, and scenario-based drills). These reforms aim to strengthen field response capabilities, support international qualification alignment, and improve training effectiveness. Further studies with broader samples are recommended to validate the proposed curriculum.