IMO Model Course 1.45 — available from Dandy Booksellers Australia

If you manage crew training for a vessel, fleet, or maritime training institution, you have likely encountered references to IMO Model Courses. But with a large and established series covering everything from radar navigation to medical care, knowing which publications you actually need can be confusing.

This guide explains what IMO Model Courses are, how they relate to STCW requirements, and which courses are most commonly sought by maritime operators in Australia and New Zealand.

What Are IMO Model Courses and Why Do They Exist?

The IMO Model Course programme was introduced following the adoption of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) in 1978.^{[ 1 ]} The original goal was straightforward: give maritime training providers around the world a common starting point for developing compliant, high-quality seafarer training.

Specifically, the courses are designed to help demonstrate compliance with the knowledge, understanding, and proficiency (KUP) tables set out in the STCW Code. Each IMO Model Course is reviewed and developed with input from IMO member governments and relevant expert groups. They are not mandatory in themselves. However, they carry significant weight because maritime administrations responsible for approving training courses, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), often reference them as a benchmark when assessing whether a course meets STCW standards.

Training providers must ultimately demonstrate compliance with STCW requirements as implemented by their national maritime administration. Each course publication typically includes a course framework, a timetable outline, a detailed teaching syllabus with learning objectives, instructor guidance notes, and in many cases a student compendium.

How IMO Model Courses Are Numbered and Organised

IMO Model Courses are identified by a numbered reference, for example Model Course 1.45 or Model Course 6.09, that serves primarily as an identifier rather than a strict classification system. The IMO e-publications catalogue organises the series into functional groups including Maritime Safety (the largest group, covering topics such as tanker operations, fire fighting, survival techniques, navigation, and cargo handling), Cargoes (covering dangerous goods and bulk cargo training), and Maritime Administration (covering port state control, survey, flag state implementation, and instructor training).

Within those groups, individual courses carry their numbered reference, for example Model Course 1.20 for Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Model Course 3.09 (2026 Edition) for Port State Control, and Model Course 6.09 for Training Course for Instructors.

The Most Commonly Sought IMO Model Courses for Australian Operators

While the series spans dozens of distinct titles, a relatively small number account for the majority of purchases by Australian and New Zealand maritime operators. The following are among the most frequently requested.

Model Course 1.45 (2019 Edition) — Safe Handling and Transport of Solid Bulk Cargoes

This is one of the most searched IMO Model Courses in the region, and for good reason. Australia is a major exporter of bulk commodities including iron ore, coal, and grain, all of which are subject to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code.^{[ 2 ]}

Model Course 1.45 (2019 Edition) provides the training framework for seafarers and shore-side personnel involved in the acceptance, handling, and transport of solid bulk cargoes. It covers IMSBC Code requirements, cargo liquefaction risks, and enclosed space entry procedures.

See also our guide to the IMDG Code 2024, which covers dangerous goods carried by sea in packaged form.

Model Course 1.22 — Bridge Resource Management

Bridge Resource Management (BRM) is a core STCW competency at management level. Model Course 1.22 (2023 Edition) provides training institutes with the syllabus and instructor framework for teaching effective bridge team communication, situational awareness, and decision-making under pressure. It is particularly relevant for deck officers working toward STCW certification at management level.

Model Course 1.20 — Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting

Mandatory for all seafarers under STCW, fire safety training is one of the most commonly delivered courses in the industry. Model Course 1.20 (2023 Edition) provides the current training framework for basic fire fighting, updated to reflect current practices and equipment.

Model Course 1.10 (2014 Edition) — Dangerous, Hazardous and Harmful Cargo

For seafarers involved in the carriage of dangerous, hazardous, and harmful cargoes by sea, Model Course 1.10 provides the training syllabus aligned with STCW requirements. It covers IMDG Code principles and cargo emergency response procedures.

Model Course 6.09 — Training Course for Instructors

Model Course 6.09 is aimed not at seafarers but at the people who train them. It provides a framework for maritime training instructors to develop and deliver effective, competency-based training that meets STCW requirements. It is commonly used by training providers developing programmes for regulatory approval, and by experienced mariners moving into an instructing or assessing role.

Who Needs to Purchase IMO Model Courses?

IMO Model Courses are primarily purchased by maritime training institutes and academies developing or updating STCW-compliant course programmes, fleet managers and shipping companies establishing or reviewing in-house training, port authorities and terminal operators involved in bulk cargo or dangerous goods training, maritime administrations and flag state representatives assessing training standards, and individual instructors preparing course materials to submit for regulatory approval.

Individual seafarers who simply need to attend a course do not usually need to purchase the model course publication. However, seafarers seeking to understand the scope and competencies of a course they are attending may find the publications useful reference material.

Print or Digital: Which Format Is Right for You?

IMO Model Courses are available in both print and digital (e-Reader) formats. The digital editions are accessed via the IMO Bookshelf platform, with a download link delivered by email within a few hours of purchase, making them the faster option when a training programme is being developed to a deadline.

Print editions are the preferred choice for training institutes that want a physical reference copy for their library, or for instructors who prefer to annotate and work from a hard copy during course development. Both formats carry the same authoritative content.

Dandy Booksellers Australia is an official authorised distributor of IMO publications, supplying the complete range of IMO Model Courses with free delivery to all Australian and New Zealand addresses. You can browse the full range in our IMO Model Courses section.

IMO Model Courses and Dangerous Goods Compliance

Several IMO Model Courses intersect directly with dangerous goods regulations. Model Course 1.10 covers sea transport of dangerous goods in the context of the IMDG Code, while Model Course 1.45 covers solid bulk cargoes under the IMSBC Code. Training providers delivering dangerous goods training for maritime operators should ensure they hold current editions of the relevant model courses alongside the applicable codes.

For a broader overview of how dangerous goods regulations operate across road, air, and sea transport in Australia, see our guide to Dangerous Goods Compliance in Australia.