The STCW mandatory qualification for officers with designated fire-fighting duties. Covers command, tactics, suppression systems and live fire drills to STCW Code A-VI/3 standard.
Proficiency in Advanced Fire Fighting (PAFF) is the STCW mandatory certification required by Regulation VI/3 and detailed in Section A-VI/3 of the STCW Code. It is required for seafarers designated to control fire-fighting operations aboard ship, which in practice means any officer serving on a commercial vessel over 24 metres in length.
The course runs over three days and includes live fire drills conducted at a purpose-built fire training facility. Candidates work in realistic scenarios involving class A, B and C fires, enclosed space fires, and accommodation fires, using breathing apparatus sets and fixed suppression systems throughout. The practical element is a requirement of the standard and cannot be waived.
On the command and tactics side, the course covers how to organise a vessel's fire-fighting parties, co-ordinate with shore-side fire services, and conduct post-fire investigations. Successful candidates receive a certificate of proficiency that is valid for five years. Revalidation is by a one-day updating course rather than a full repeat of the programme.
PAFF sits at the officer level within the STCW certification framework. It builds directly on the fire-fighting awareness gained in Basic Safety Training and is a mandatory requirement for any officer with designated fire-fighting responsibilities on a commercial vessel. Holding a current PAFF certificate is a standard requirement when applying for officer berths in the superyacht and commercial shipping sectors.
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