Free for seafarers — never pay for a job Check a crewing agency For employers

STCW basic safety training: the four courses and the five-year refresher

Published

Every seafarer with designated safety or pollution-prevention duties needs Basic Safety Training (BST) under the STCW Convention. Here is what it includes and what to watch.

The four parts of Basic Safety Training

STCW Regulation VI/1 and Section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code describe four elements:

  • Personal Survival Techniques (PST)
  • Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF)
  • Elementary First Aid (EFA)
  • Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR)

Many training centres issue them as one "Basic Safety Training" certificate, some as separate certificates. Both are normal; what matters is that all four are covered and the certificate is accepted by the flag the ship flies.

The five-year rule

Since the 2010 Manila amendments to STCW, seafarers must show evidence of maintaining the required standard of competence every five years for:

  • Personal Survival Techniques and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (Regulation VI/1);
  • Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats — PSCRB (Regulation VI/2);
  • Advanced Fire Fighting — AFF (Regulation VI/3).

In practice this is usually a shorter refresher course. Elementary First Aid and PSSR do not have this five-year requirement in STCW itself, but some flags or companies ask for them anyway.

Other common certificates

Depending on rank and ship type you may also need: Security Awareness or Designated Security Duties, Medical First Aid or Medical Care, GMDSS, ECDIS, Bridge or Engine Room Resource Management, High Voltage, and tanker certificates (oil and chemical, or liquefied gas). The exact list depends on your rank, the vessel and the flag.

How to keep everything valid

  • Write down the expiry date of every certificate. Refreshers often have waiting lists.
  • Check that the training centre is approved by the maritime administration that issues or endorses your certificates.
  • Keep scans for yourself, but never send scans or certificate numbers to unknown "agencies".
  • Add your certificates with expiry dates to your free application form — crewing managers see at once what you have. With Gold we also email you 90, 30 and 7 days before a date.

Rules change and national administrations add their own requirements. Always confirm with your maritime administration or the flag of the vessel.

Source: International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), as amended in 2010 — International Maritime Organization (imo.org).