FAQ’s: STCW Basic Safety Training Course

How much does the course cost including exam fees?

The STCW Basic Safety Training course will set you back around £1,000 - £1,200 (Approx. $1,500 - $1,775, or 1,375 – 1650 EUROS).

The prices differ from country to country, and the time of year you take it so please contact your preferred training centre for accurate prices.

What will you get out of the course?

This course is a set of international treaty agreed minimum standards for safety at sea for professional seafarers.

As such this course is an essential adjunct to any career path as a professional seafarer. If you wish to be a crewmember or mate aboard a super yacht then this is an essential part of your training.

What are your limits after passing the STCW 95 Basic Safety?

This course will enable you to become a professional seafarer. You need this as part of your training toward the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency Master of Coded Vessels under 200gt for example, and a large number of other certifications around the world.

Where it opens doors into sailing professionally, it is not of itself a certification of your overall seamanship skills.

Is the course theory, practical or both?

The course is a practical, shorebased course. You will learn how to fight fires in special tanks and how to survive at sea in a special pool for instance.

Where can you take the course?

You can take STCW 95 Basic Safety course at most maritime academies around the world. These include nations without developed yachting courses.

Prerequisites - What level of experience do you need before you begin this?

No seafaring experience is required. You should have a high school diploma or equivalent at Grade C or above in English and maths in order to take the course.

What’s the duration of the course?

The course can be done in a series of two day short courses or as a 5 or 6 day intensive block. The former route costs more overall, where the five day course is cheaper but you end up fully certified at the end of it.

What does the course involve?

You will cover a series of units set down by international agreement.

• Elementary First Aid will involve First Aid at sea
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibility covers international rules on not throwing garbage over the side, as well as when to clip on to safety lines and preventing accident and injury at sea. 
• Personal Survival Techniques covers when and how to abandon ship, what to do in the water if you go in, how to use survival equipment, and righting a life raft. 
• Fire prevention and fire fighting. Fire is the most frightening thing at sea, and everyone should be able to tackle a fire as soon as it is found. You will also look at sensible precautions to prevent fire at sea. 
  

How should you progress after completing it?

This is an adjunct to your professional yachting career path. You cannot get professional accreditation without this course. Once you have it the doors open to a career at sea.

Does it give you international accreditation?

Yes. STCW 95 is taught and recognised all over the world.

Where can you learn more about the STCW 95 Basic Safety Training course?

Have a look at the RYA website for courses that require this accreditation. You can also view the itinerary here.