STCW Basic Safety Training

STCW Basic Safety Training — formally known as STCW Basic Training (BT) under the 2010 Manila Amendments — is the foundational safety qualification package for anyone entering commercial seafaring. It is governed by STCW Convention Regulation VI/1 and the associated STCW Code Section A-VI/1, administered internationally by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation). In the UK, all courses must be delivered by an MCA-Approved Training Provider and assessed to the standards set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The course covers five competency areas. Personal Survival Techniques (PST) covers sea survival, liferaft deployment and abandonment procedures, assessed in a pool environment. Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) covers fire theory, equipment use and outdoor firefighting drills. Elementary First Aid (EFA) covers immediate life-saving measures, CPR and wound management. Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) covers shipboard safety culture and working environment, updated from January 2026 per IMO MSC.560(180) to include bullying and harassment. Most UK providers also bundle Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) at no extra cost, satisfying STCW Code A-VI/6-1.

Assessment is a mix of continuous practical evaluation and theory examinations. Because PST, FPFF and EFA require hands-on work — pool sessions, live fire drills, practical first aid scenarios — MCA rules prohibit online-only delivery for these modules. The full five-day programme cannot be completed remotely. PST and FPFF certificates require renewal every five years; EFA, PSSR and PSA do not.