STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) Training Courses

Find accredited STCW BST training providers worldwide. Compare courses, locations, and book directly.

About STCW Basic Safety Training (BST)

STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) is the mandatory entry-level qualification for all professional crew working on commercial vessels. Required under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), it comprises four modules: Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Fire Prevention and Firefighting (FPFF), Elementary First Aid (EFA), and Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB). The full course typically takes four days to complete and costs between £400 and £700 depending on provider and location. Once issued, certificates are valid for five years before revalidation is required. BST is the starting point for every career in professional crewing — without it, you cannot legally work aboard a commercial yacht or ship. Courses are delivered at MCA-approved training centres and USCG-approved facilities worldwide, with practical exercises using actual firefighting equipment, lifeboats, and immersion suits.

Duration
4 days
Validity
5 years
Issued by
MCA-approved / USCG-approved training centres

Frequently Asked Questions

What is STCW BST and who needs it?

STCW Basic Safety Training is mandatory for all professional crew on commercial vessels. It covers survival, firefighting, first aid and rescue, and is required before you can work aboard any commercial yacht or ship.

How long does STCW BST take?

The full four-module STCW BST course takes approximately four days. Providers often run condensed or split formats — check with your chosen school.

How much does STCW BST cost?

Costs range from around £400 to £700 in the UK and Europe, varying by provider and whether you take all four modules together or separately.

How long is STCW BST valid?

STCW BST certificates are valid for five years. After that you must complete a refresher or revalidation course to maintain your certification.

Schools offering this course

47 providers in the YachtSync directory

Maritime Professional Training (MPT)🇺🇸 Fort Lauderdale, United States Maritime School of the West Indies (MSWI)🇸🇽 Cole Bay, Sint Maarten Ondeck Maritime Training (Ondeck Antigua)🇦🇬 English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda Maritime Institute (Training Resources Maritime Institute / TRLMI)🇺🇸 San Diego, United States Confident Captain / Ocean Pros🇺🇸 Newport, United States Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies (MITAGS West)🇺🇸 Seattle, United States Get Onboard Superyacht Academy🇿🇦 Cape Town, South Africa Super Yachting South Africa (SYSA)🇿🇦 Cape Town, South Africa Ocean Star Sailing Academy🇿🇦 Cape Town, South Africa Professional Yachtmaster Training (PYT)🇿🇦 Durban, South Africa Trilogy Luxury Training🇿🇦 Durban, South Africa Superyacht Crew Academy (Sydney Maritime Institute)🇦🇺 Sydney, Australia Crew Pacific Super Yacht Training & Recruitment🇦🇺 Cairns, Australia Flying Fish Australia🇦🇺 Sydney, Australia Galileo Maritime Academy🇹🇭 Phuket, Thailand Crew Training Solutions (CTS) Naples🇮🇹 Naples, Italy Metropolitan College Superyacht Academy🇬🇷 Piraeus (Athens), Greece Athina Training Center (Athina Maritime Learning & Development Center)🇬🇷 Voula (Athens), Greece SSM Training Centre (Split Ship Management)🇭🇷 Split, Croatia Diverso Impex Maritime Training Center🇭🇷 Split, Croatia MaritimeMT🇲🇹 Birzebbugia (Hal Far), Malta XONE Superyacht Academy (Malta)🇲🇹 Pieta, Malta XONE Superyacht Academy (Turkey) / Yeni Vira Superyacht & Sailing Academy🌐 Gocek (Fethiye), Turkey Zephyr Yachting🇫🇷 Antibes, France D&B Crew Services & Training🇫🇷 Antibes, France Crew Training Solutions🇪🇸 Palma de Mallorca, Spain Barcelona Sailing School (Blue Oyster Sailing)🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain Barcelona Crew Academy🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain Anclademia🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain The Nautical Academy (formerly SOVREN Nautical Academy)🇪🇸 Palma de Mallorca, Spain SailWiz Valencia STCW (marketplace listing — Spanish-flag)🇪🇸 Valencia, Spain Ocean Sports Tuition🇬🇧 Southampton, United Kingdom Seascope Maritime Training🇬🇧 Liverpool, United Kingdom SALT Services (Sea Air & Land Training)🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United Kingdom Clyde Training Solutions (RelyOn Glasgow)🇬🇧 Clydebank, United Kingdom Stream Marine Training🇬🇧 Glasgow, United Kingdom South West Maritime Academy🇬🇧 Cromhall, United Kingdom STCW Training UK🇬🇧 Buckfastleigh, United Kingdom BH Marine Academy🇬🇧 Weymouth, United Kingdom City of Glasgow College — Faculty of Nautical Studies🇬🇧 Glasgow, United Kingdom Fleetwood Nautical Campus (Blackpool and The Fylde College)🇬🇧 Fleetwood, United Kingdom South Shields Marine School (Tyne Coast College)🇬🇧 South Shields, United Kingdom Warsash Maritime School — Solent University🇬🇧 Warsash, United Kingdom National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI)🌐 Ringaskiddy, Ireland Glasgow Maritime Academy (GMA)🇬🇧 Glasgow, United Kingdom Flying Fish🇬🇧 Cowes, United Kingdom UKSA (United Kingdom Sailing Academy)🇬🇧 Cowes, United Kingdom

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