STCW Basic Safety Training

STCW is the abbreviation of the international convention setting training and watchkeeping standards for seafarers. The basic set has four parts: personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibility. These are not classroom subjects but practical training carried out in a pool and on a fire ground.

Everyone, without exception. Experienced or not, whichever position you apply for, you cannot join a commercial vessel without these certificates. For first-time seafarers it comes first in the order.

Duration varies by training centre; it is usually run as an intensive week-long programme. The certificates have validity periods and require periodic refreshing.