Personal Survival Techniques (PST)

Personal Survival Techniques (PST) is one of the four elements of STCW basic training, alongside Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. Its standard of competence is set out in Table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code, under the competence “survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment”. In the UK the MCA issues a separate Certificate of Proficiency for each element. MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1 says that for a PST certificate you must be at least 16 and complete the training with an MCA approved training provider.

Booking PST on its own

Most new crew take PST inside a full STCW Basic Safety Training course. The dates on this page include schools that also sell PST as a stand-alone module, which helps if you need to complete one missing element or want to build basic training up module by module around work. A PST certificate on its own is not full basic training: MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1 requires all four elements before you are assigned shipboard duties with designated safety or pollution-prevention responsibilities.

Updating every five years

If you are serving on board, the same notice requires evidence that you completed or updated PST within the last five years, as it does for Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, survival craft and rescue boats, fast rescue boats and advanced fire fighting. Updating courses are listed under STCW refresher and updating courses. PST is also a prerequisite for Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, which additionally needs you to be at least 18 with six months’ approved seagoing service.

Single-module dates on this page

Stream Marine Training in Paisley publishes one-day PST courses running from 08:30 to 17:00 at £150 excluding VAT (£180 including VAT). Flying Fish in Cowes lists PST start dates on its course page without a price, so check the fee on the school’s own page. Seascope France in Golfe-Juan also sells PST as a single module. Confirm the date, price and joining instructions with the school before you travel.

Facts on this page come from MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1 (Maritime and Coastguard Agency, published 19 December 2022, in force from 10 January 2023) and from each school’s own booking page, read on 21 October 2026.