Abstract: At its 20th session in November 1997, the IMO Assembly adopted resolution A.850 (20) on the human element vision, principles and goals for the organization. The resolution recalled a previous resolution (A.680 (17)) which invited governments to encourage those responsible for the management and operation of ships to develop, implement and assess safety and pollution prevention management systems and another (A.772 (18)), concerning fatigue factors in manning and safety which aims at increasing awareness of the complexity of fatigue and encourages all parties involved in ship operations to take these factors into account when making operational decisions. The resolution acknowledged the need for increased focus on human-related activities in the safe operation of ships and the need to achieve and maintain high standards of safety and environmental protection for the purpose of significantly reducing maritime casualties. The resolution was updated by resolution A.947 (23) human element vision, principles and goals for the organization adopted by the 23rd Assembly in November-December 2003. Through this study researcher would like to draw attention to three aspects of significance. First to recall the human element vision, principles and goals for the organization, next to review some of major maritime disasters that had taken place in the last century in order to highlight on the role of human element that led to such disasters and then to focus on the needfor sustained and progressive training essentially to the seagoing component of human element in order to overcome the challenges posted by the dizzying rate of change in technology.