The STCW standard for officers and designated crew members required to provide comprehensive medical care at sea, covering advanced first aid, drug administration, medical reporting and remote consultation via CIRM or MedRadio.
Medical First Aid Aboard Ship (MFAA) is the advanced medical training standard set out under STCW regulation VI/4-1 and detailed in STCW Code Section A-VI/4-1. It is a distinct and higher-level qualification than the Elementary First Aid component found in STCW Basic Safety Training (BST), and must not be confused with it.
The course is required for officers and crew members designated to provide medical care to other persons aboard ship. Where a vessel carries no doctor, these individuals serve as the first line of medical response for serious illness and injury, and must be capable of administering medications, managing ongoing conditions, and consulting with shore-based medical authorities.
In the United Kingdom, courses must be delivered by MCA-approved training providers. The syllabus is defined by the STCW Code and covers a broad range of clinical skills including patient examination, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, management of fractures and dislocations, wound care, burns and scalds treatment, handling medical emergencies, administering medicines from the ship's medicine chest, maintaining medical records, and using remote medical guidance systems such as CIRM (Centro Internazionale Radio Medico) and MedRadio.
On completion, seafarers receive a certificate of proficiency which is valid for five years and must be renewed by retraining before expiry to remain valid for STCW endorsement purposes.
MFAA sits above Basic Safety Training in the STCW medical competency framework. It is an officer-level requirement and a mandatory component for those working towards or holding officer of the watch, chief mate, and master certificates on vessels navigating beyond a coastal radius. Completion demonstrates the ability to act as the responsible medical person aboard when no physician is carried.