Shipping (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 3 of 1998).

The principal object of this Act is to enable Kiribati take some preliminary legal steps in order to comply with the minimum global standards of knowledge, understanding, experience, and professional competence which are required of seafarers with a view to raising their standards of competence and professionalism and upon whom the safety of life, property and the environment depends. These minimum global standards were adopted by the STCW Conference in 1995. Further these minimum standards of training, certification and competence of seafarers in accordance with the intent of the Parties to the STCW Convention, the industry, and the general public are mandatory in that they must be complied with.