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Mandatory 5-yearly update training that keeps your STCW safety certificates current and you legally employable on commercial vessels.
The STCW refresher is not a single course but a regulatory umbrella covering mandatory 5-yearly update training across several safety modules. The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention — enforceable from 1 January 2017 — require all seafarers to demonstrate continued proficiency in certain safety competencies every five years. In the UK, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements and approves this training under MSN 1865(M) and MIN 643(M). Equivalent requirements apply under USCG regulations (46 CFR 11.302(e) and 46 CFR 12.602(e)) and other flag state regimes worldwide.
The key modules that must be refreshed are: Personal Survival Techniques (PST, STCW Table A-VI/1-1); Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FP&FF, STCW Table A-VI/1-2); Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF, STCW Table A-VI/3) for those who hold that certificate; Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB, STCW Table A-VI/2-1) for holders; and Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats (PFRB, STCW Table A-VI/2-2) for holders. The PST + FP&FF combined update is the most common package; the full 4-day combined course (BST + AFF + PSCRB) is the most relevant option for superyacht crew holding a complete suite of advanced certificates.
All modules involve significant practical content: live fire drills, breathing apparatus (SCBA) use, life raft deployment, pool-based survival exercises, and emergency communications. Certificates are issued per module and are valid for 5 years from the date of completion. Non-compliance means a seafarer cannot legally be employed on a commercial vessel above 24 m load line length and cannot revalidate a Certificate of Competency (CoC) with the MCA.
Holding current STCW safety certificates is not a progression milestone in the traditional sense — it is a recurring maintenance requirement for the entire duration of a maritime career. Without them, no officer or rating may legally be employed on a commercial vessel above 24 m load line length, regardless of rank or experience. Superyacht crew at every level — from entry-level deckhand to master — must maintain these endorsements to remain Port State Control-compliant and to progress through rank qualifications with the MCA.
Renewal: All updated STCW certificates expire 5 years from their date of issue. There is no grace period under Port State Control — an expired certificate means the seafarer cannot legally be employed on a commercial vessel. The refresher cycle repeats indefinitely throughout a maritime career. If any certificate lapses beyond 5 years, the seafarer may be required to retake the full initial course rather than the shorter update; verify the current position with your flag state authority or MCA guidance (MSN 1865(M)) before enrolling.
Module pricing guide (UK, indicative): PST update only — from approx. £170 inc. VAT. FP&FF update only — approx. £299 inc. VAT. PST + FP&FF combined — approx. £464–£465 inc. VAT. AFF (Advanced Fire Fighting) update — approx. £200. Full combined package (BST + AFF + PSCRB) — from approx. £1,382 exc. VAT. US providers (e.g. MITAGS) charge from approximately $1,255 for the 3-day Basic Training Refresher. Prices vary significantly by provider and location; always confirm directly.
Compare prices from 11 schools for STCW Advanced/Updates/Refresher, side by side in one table.
| Date | School | Location | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2026 to 27 Sep 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £699 | Book → |
| 28 Sep 2026 to 29 Sep 2026 | Superyacht Crew Academy (Sydney Maritime Institute) | Sydney, Australia | AUD $1,445 | Book → |
| 29 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026 | Crew Training Solutions | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | €595 | Book → |
| 29 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £389 | Book → |
| 6 Oct 2026 to 7 Oct 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £389 | Book → |
| 12 Oct 2026 to 20 Oct 2026 | Superyacht Crew Academy (Sydney Maritime Institute) | Sydney, Australia | AUD $1,945 | Book → |
| 13 Oct 2026 to 14 Oct 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £389 | Book → |
| 14 Oct 2026 to 17 Oct 2026 | Maritime School of the West Indies (MSWI) | Cole Bay, Sint Maarten | $850 | Book → |
| 14 Oct 2026 to 15 Oct 2026 | Crew Training Solutions | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | €595 | Book → |
| 19 Oct 2026 to 20 Oct 2026 | Superyacht Crew Academy (Sydney Maritime Institute) | Sydney, Australia | AUD $1,445 | Book → |
| 20 Oct 2026 to 21 Oct 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £389 | Book → |
| 23 Oct 2026 to 26 Oct 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £699 | Book → |
| 27 Oct 2026 to 28 Oct 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £389 | Book → |
| 28 Oct 2026 to 29 Oct 2026 | Crew Training Solutions | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | €595 | Book → |
| 2 Nov 2026 to 10 Nov 2026 | Superyacht Crew Academy (Sydney Maritime Institute) | Sydney, Australia | AUD $1,945 | Book → |
| 3 Nov 2026 to 4 Nov 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £389 | Book → |
| 9 Nov 2026 to 10 Nov 2026 | Superyacht Crew Academy (Sydney Maritime Institute) | Sydney, Australia | AUD $1,445 | Book → |
| 10 Nov 2026 to 11 Nov 2026 | Seascope Maritime Training | Liverpool, United Kingdom | £389 | Book → |
| 11 Nov 2026 to 14 Nov 2026 | Maritime School of the West Indies (MSWI) | Cole Bay, Sint Maarten | $850 | Book → |
| 11 Nov 2026 to 12 Nov 2026 | Crew Training Solutions | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | €595 | Book → |
Showing first 20 dates. Visit provider pages for full schedules.
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