Two short online awareness courses covering thermal runaway risk management for lithium-ion batteries and cyber security threats facing superyacht crew. Increasingly expected by flag states, insurers and management companies.
These two short online awareness courses are increasingly bundled together by training providers and are often requested alongside a crew member's core STCW certification. While neither is currently a mandatory STCW requirement, both address genuine and growing risks aboard modern superyachts, and completion is becoming a de facto expectation from management companies and insurers.
The Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Awareness for Superyachts course is approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and typically runs two to three hours online at self-paced. It covers the electrochemical behaviour of lithium-ion cells, what triggers thermal runaway, why conventional marine fire suppression systems have limited effectiveness against lithium battery fires, and the correct procedures for safe charging, storage and disposal of batteries carried aboard. As superyacht tenders, e-bikes, electric jet boards and other battery-powered toys become standard on large yachts, the risk profile has shifted significantly. This course provides crew with the awareness needed to handle and respond to incidents involving those devices.
The Cyber Security Awareness for Yacht Crew course addresses the human element of vessel cyber risk. IMO Resolution MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3 recommends that cyber risk management be embedded in the safety management systems of vessels, and flag state guidance increasingly references crew awareness training as part of that framework. The course covers social engineering, phishing, WIFI security aboard, data protection obligations, crew personal device security and the vulnerabilities that exist within integrated navigational and communications systems. Completion does not confer a qualification under STCW but is recognised by the ISM Code framework and demonstrates due diligence to flag states and port state control.
Both awareness courses sit alongside core STCW certification rather than replacing any element of it. They strengthen a crew member's overall safety profile and are increasingly cited in job descriptions for vessels operating high-value electric toys or carrying charter guests. Completion signals practical risk awareness to captains and management companies reviewing a CV.