Your STCW safety training lapses after five years. Here is where to revalidate it, fast.
STCW Basic Safety Training doesn't last forever. The fire fighting and sea survival elements have to be refreshed every five years to stay valid, and yachts will check your dates. The updating (revalidation) courses are shorter than the originals, usually two to three days, and get your certificate back in date. Because it's a quick, recurring job, most crew just want a properly MCA-approved centre near where they are. Here are solid options, led by Flying Fish in Cowes.
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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 STCW refresher. MCA-approved centre at Whitecleaves Quarry, Buckfastleigh, Devon, with parking on site and accommodation nearby.
From £299
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.
Solent University's maritime school near Southampton, MCA-approved with MNTB cadet pathways and a strong academic reputation.
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.
This is our shortlist. See every provider offering STCW Advanced / Updates / Refresher in the full STCW Advanced / Updates / Refresher directory →
Looking wider? See our best STCW courses worldwide →
I did my STCW refresher with STCW Training UK at Whitecleaves Quarry in Buckfastleigh, Devon. The facilities were properly set up for it, with parking on site and accommodation nearby, which sounds minor until you're trying to fit a refresher around a busy leave period.
A refresher is a different job to your original STCW. You're not learning from scratch, you're topping up fire fighting and sea survival so your certificate stays valid, so what you actually want is somewhere efficient that doesn't waste your time, not necessarily the biggest school on the coast.
For a refresher specifically, here's what actually matters:
A refresher should be quick and efficient. STCW Training UK did that well for me, and it's a solid shout if you're in the South West.
The fire fighting and sea survival elements of STCW Basic Safety Training must be revalidated every five years. The other elements are updated as required.
The STCW updating/refresher courses are shorter than the originals, typically two to three days in total, depending on which elements you are revalidating.
You complete the STCW updating (revalidation) course to bring it back into date. You generally do not need to redo the full original course.
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