The mandatory STCW human factors and non-technical skills course for watchkeeping deck officers — required under the 2010 Manila Amendments for all OOW, Chief Mate, and Master CoC holders on vessels of 500 GT or more.
Bridge Resource Management (BRM) is a human factors and non-technical skills training programme for maritime bridge officers. Adapted from aviation Crew Resource Management, the course trains watchkeeping officers to maximise the safe and effective use of all available personnel, information, equipment, and procedures to achieve the safe conduct of a voyage. The first maritime BRM course ran in June 1993, and the concept was formally mandated by the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, which entered into force 1 January 2012 with full compliance required by 1 January 2017.
The governing framework is IMO Model Course 1.22 (Bridge Resource Management), published by the International Maritime Organization. In the UK, the MCA approves providers against this framework and the STCW Code. The relevant STCW provisions are Table A-II/1 (minimum standard of competence for Officers of the Watch on ships of 500 GT or more) and Regulation II/1 (navigation, operational level). Approximately 50% of course time is typically spent in a full-mission bridge simulator, giving practical opportunities to demonstrate and consolidate competencies under realistic conditions.
BRM applies across vessel types including cargo ships, tankers, passenger vessels, offshore vessels, and large yachts operating under MCA Large Yacht Code provisions. It is distinct from Bridge Team Management (BTM) — BTM covers technical navigation procedures, whereas BRM addresses the human factors and non-technical complement. They are not interchangeable, though some providers offer them as a combined package.
BRM is a mandatory step for any commercial deck officer on vessels of 500 GT or more, making it relevant across every sector of the maritime industry — deep sea cargo, tankers, passenger and cruise ships, offshore support, and large commercial yachts. Completing it demonstrates a structured understanding of human factors on the bridge, which is increasingly valued by operators and flag states alike when assessing officers for senior watchkeeping and management roles.
Renewal: The BRM certificate itself carries no standalone expiry — it is a one-time training requirement evidenced by the certificate. This mirrors the treatment of HELM under the Manila Amendments: the course is required for gaining or upgrading a CoC, not for CoC revalidation. The CoC that BRM underpins is revalidated every 5 years under STCW Regulation I/11, but revalidation requires evidence of continued sea service or completion of standard safety refresher courses (PST, FPFF, SCRB, AFF), not a repeat of BRM. Officers seeking a higher-level CoC (such as upgrading from OOW to Master) may need to demonstrate updated BRM or HELM competency as part of that new application.
Additional MCA-approved providers offer this course across the UK. Contact individual providers directly to confirm current dates, availability, and pricing before booking.