The STCW qualification for the yacht’s designated security officer.
Every yacht operating under the ISPS Code needs a designated Ship Security Officer, and the SSO course is the STCW qualification for that role. It goes beyond the crew-level PDSD ticket, covering security assessments, the ship security plan, and managing threats and drills. It's typically a two-day course aimed at senior deck crew, mates and captains. Here are MCA-approved centres that run it, led by Flying Fish.
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My own starting point. I trained with Flying Fish back in 2018. Purpose-built superyacht training base on the water in Cowes, RYA Training Centre and MCA-approved, with one of the widest course ranges in the UK: STCW, deckhand and interior packages right through to Yachtmaster. Onsite accommodation can be booked directly with them at a good price alongside your course. Book online and hold a place for 48 hours.
Where I did my own SSO course. Fully online, self-paced, MCA-approved Ship Security Officer training with genuinely good support if you have questions.
From £475
Liverpool-based STCW centre, MCA-approved and GWO-accredited, handy for crew training in the north.
Edinburgh-based STCW and safety centre, MCA-approved, covering the core mandatory tickets including security and refresher courses.
Clydebank centre near Glasgow, MCA-approved with GWO and OPITO offshore accreditations.
Glasgow multi-sector training centre, MCA-approved with GWO and OPITO, and high course frequency across the year.
Major Fort Lauderdale training campus, MCA / USCG / RYA approved, the main US hub for crew training either side of the Atlantic.
Phuket-based, MCA and IYT approved, the leading superyacht training hub in South-East Asia.
Large charity-run academy in Cowes, MCA-approved and an RYA Training Centre, also running full cadetship pathways for crew who want the professional route.
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Looking wider? See our best PDSD security courses →
I did my SSO course with Virsec, entirely online. It's fully self-paced, so it took real discipline to get through in my own time rather than in a classroom over a fixed week, but it was genuinely detailed and thorough, more so than I expected from an online course.
What stood out was the customer service. Any questions I had were answered properly and quickly, which matters when you're working through a course alone rather than alongside an instructor.
For SSO specifically, here's what I'd weigh up:
Online isn't the easy option, it's just a different one. Virsec did it well, but go in expecting it to take real time and discipline.
The Ship Security Officer is the crew member designated as responsible for a vessel’s security under the ISPS Code, including the ship security plan, assessments and drills. The SSO course is the STCW qualification for the role.
PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties) is a short course for all crew with security duties. SSO (Ship Security Officer) is the fuller qualification for the single designated officer responsible for ship security.
Typically senior deck officers, mates and captains who will act as the designated Ship Security Officer. Most other crew only need PDSD.
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