Mandatory changes are coming to the STCW’s Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) course, with the course now introducing new minimum competence requirements that promote safe and respectful working environments. All seafarers, including superyacht crew and those entering the yachting industry, must understand how to recognize, prevent, and respond to violence and harassment at sea. The changes take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, but seafarers who have already completed the module will not need to redo PSSR training. The course will now include coverage of issues like sexual harassment, bullying, discriminatory behavior, and sexual assault. The new additions come after the International Maritime Organization adopted Resolution MSC.560(108) on May 24, 2024, introducing new minimum competence requirements to each PSSR course. The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) recommends all seafarers and yacht crew take active steps to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and deepen their understanding of violence- and harassment-related risks at sea. “Awareness is now a central element of professional competence in both commercial shipping and the yachting sector,” a PYA statement said. “Crewmembers at all levels — from entry-level deckhands and stewardesses to officers and senior yacht crew — have a responsibility to understand how harmful behaviors manifest, how they affect onboard culture, and how to respond appropriately and safely.”