Mandatory STCW regulation V/2 training for all crew serving on passenger vessels carrying more than 12 passengers. Covers muster procedures, emergency crowd management and passenger communication.
STCW Crowd Management and Passenger Safety is the mandatory training required under STCW regulation V/2, paragraph 2 for all seafarers assigned to assist passengers in emergency situations aboard passenger vessels carrying more than 12 passengers. The training applies to commercial yachts, charter vessels and all passenger ships operating under a flag state that has ratified the STCW Convention, which covers the overwhelming majority of vessels in international trade and large yacht charters.
The course teaches crew how to direct and assist passengers during musters, evacuations and other on-board emergencies. It covers the psychology of crowd behaviour, communication strategies for passengers with differing languages and abilities, and the correct use of safety equipment in a passenger context. The programme draws directly on the competence standards set out by the IMO in the STCW Code, Section B-V/2.
Some elements of the awareness training are accepted in an online or blended format by certain flag states, making this one of the more accessible STCW certificates to obtain before joining a vessel. However, crew should always confirm with their flag state or employer which delivery method is accepted for their specific vessel and route. In the UK, providers must hold MCA approval for the course to count towards a UK-flag endorsement.
A closely related but separate qualification exists under STCW V/2, paragraph 3: Crisis Management and Human Behaviour training, which is required for masters, officers and chief stewards. Some providers combine the two elements into a single day, but they remain distinct competencies and should not be confused.
This certificate is a gateway requirement for working on commercial passenger yachts and charter vessels. It is typically completed alongside or shortly after STCW Basic Safety Training and sits within the core compliance stack that all professional crew must hold before stepping aboard a commercially operated passenger vessel. Once earned, it does not need to be renewed under most flag state regimes, making it a permanent entry in your Seafarer Record Book.